ERP Program Director

US-NJ-Princeton

Job ID: 2025-20638
Type: Full-Time
# of Openings: 1
Category: Institutional Research and Planning

Overview

Princeton University seeks a strategic and collaborative leader to fill the new role of ERP Program Director. The ERP Program Director will report to the Executive Vice President (EVP), who serves as the chief administrative officer of the University. The EVP and Provost are the executive sponsors for the ERP transformation program and will provide joint oversight and direction for the ERP Program Director. The role is responsible for providing strategic leadership to successfully execute ERP readiness activities followed by vendor selection and implementation. This position is a 5 year benefits eligible term position. 

The ERP Program Director will be a member of the Program Steering Committee comprised of senior functional, IT, and data leaders. The Program Steering Committee will be governed by the cabinet level Executive Steering Committee for critical decision making to drive the direction of the ERP program. The Program Director will interact with cabinet members including the Vice President for Finance, Vice President for Human Resources, Vice President for Information Technology / CIO, and Dean of the Faculty, and other academic and administrative leaders across the University.

For full consideration, please submit resume and cover letter. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until position is filled. 

Summary of Key Responsibilities

The Program Director will coordinate all planning milestones and workstream activities across HCM, finance, and academic functions, provide progress updates to key committees and offices, manage risks and issues, and gather feedback to resolve any conflicts, challenges, or changes in direction. This role will lead a team of project managers across the workstreams, and is responsible for the following:

• Communicate the vision and goals for the ERP program.
• Manage and direct the ERP program for HCM, finance, academic, related reporting, integrations, and enabling technology functions.
• Partner closely with the Executive Steering Committee, Program Steering Committee, and key stakeholder groups to facilitate decision making for the project.
• Direct organizational change management efforts to ensure that communication and change management best practices are adapted to suit the needs and culture of the University in preparation for the ERP implementation.
• Prioritize program efforts necessary to achieve identified milestones.
• Partner with campus leaders and external partners (consultants, advisors, etc.) to optimize successful execution of the program.
• Anticipate, surface, address, and communicate to leadership critical risks and/or roadblocks.
• Lead and guide workstream project managers to ensure project deliverables are executed successfully, on time and within budget.
• Promote team cohesiveness and morale through the life of the program.
• Manage scope and changes that impact deliverables and timeline.
• Manage vendor relationships.
• Uphold Princeton’s diversity, equity and inclusion goals and principles.

The ideal candidate will excel at team development, clarifying common goals among diverse stakeholders, gaining consensus on an overall approach, and building a collaborative environment in which results are achieved and celebrated. An excellent listener and communicator, this individual will be known for having an approachable style and for developing collaborative relationships within diverse groups internally and externally. This individual will have the demonstrated ability to creatively and effectively manage an agenda of change across the University.

The successful candidate will be an accomplished leader with deep knowledge and experience in business transformation and enterprise system implementation, particularly SaaS solutions. They will excel at establishing and navigating multi-threaded teams, lead complex project management deliverables and timelines, driving organizational change, engaging with diverse stakeholder groups, managing vendor relationships and deliverables, and aligning critical intersections across the workstreams that support HCM, finance, and academic functions.

Experience & Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and 10+ years of experience successfully leading large, complex digital and business transformation initiatives e.g., ERP readiness and implementation.
• Demonstrated experience in higher-education settings, with a working understanding of higher education business practices and organizational culture.
• Senior program leadership experience that includes building strong relationships with university leaders, managing complex organizational structures, budget management, and process transformation.
• Strong ability to carry out direction from executive leadership and translate priorities to specific activities for project managers and staff.
• Project management (PMP) certification or equivalent work experience.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in at least one of the following functional areas in higher education: HCM, finance, academic/student.
• Experience in decentralized and diverse functional environments.
• Workday and/or Oracle Cloud ERP implementation experience and expertise in R1 institutions.

Key Competencies:

• Exceptional interpersonal skills including confidence, maturity, and presence to engage effectively with all constituencies, and the humility, honesty, and service-orientation to build trust.
• A record of building effective teams, establishing and sustaining productive working relationships with a range of constituencies, and achieving results through collaboration and influence. Understanding and incorporating viewpoints from all key stakeholders to drive decision-making. An active listener.
• Demonstrated capacity to communicate broadly across a large organization, cultivate and sustain collegial relationships and build unity around complex issues. Demonstrates strong emotional intelligence and an ability to communicate clearly and persuasively.
• An ability to inspire trust and partnership with others through compelling influence and passion.
• Creates a sense of purpose and meaning for the team.
• Devotion to the highest ethical standards. Viewed by others as having a high degree of integrity and forethought in their approach to making decisions; demonstrates sound judgement and discretion; the ability to act in an open and consistent manner while always acting in the University’s best interests.
• Handles conflict situations effectively; facilitates integrating diverse views and finding common ground or acceptable alternatives; settles differences productively; facilitates resolution.
• The inclination to seek and analyze information from a variety of sources to support decisions and to align others with the University’s overall strategy.
• The ability and acumen to effectively balance the need for broad change with clear, realistic goals and implementation plans.
• Comfort with ambiguity and uncertainty; the ability to adapt nimbly and lead others through complex situations.
• The ability to persevere in the face of challenges and to exhibit a steadfast resolve.
• Ability to identify and mobilize employees across the organization to support continued engagement and change management.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS