Analytics Service Transition Manager | Asahi

GT was founded in 2019 by a former Apple, Nest, and Google executive. GT’s mission is to connect the world’s best talent with product careers offered by high-growth companies in the UK, USA, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. On behalf of our client Asahi Europe & International, GT is looking for the Analytics Service Transition Manager.   Note: this is a full-time project-based role planned until the end of 2026, with a possible extension. Occasional business trips may be required (up to once per month maximum).   ABOUT THE CLIENT Imagine working with some of the most iconic brands in the world – including Grolsch and Peroni Nastro Azzurro. At Asahi Europe & International, you’ll join a global leader in the beer and beverage industry, with a rich portfolio that spans from premium beers to innovative beverages. Asahi Europe & International is part of Asahi Group Holdings, a global beer, spirits, soft drinks and food group with leading positions in European and Asia-Pacific markets, listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Japan. As of November 2020, Asahi Europe & International Group runs 19 production facilities in 8 countries across Europe, and is the custodian of some of the best beer brands in the world, including Asahi Super Dry, Pilsner Urquell, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Grolsch and Kozel. Within the Asahi Group, the remit of Asahi Europe and International is also to develop and manage all export markets globally, outside of Japan and Oceania. Covering 90 markets and with over 10,000 passionate colleagues on board, the business is well positioned to inspire people around the world to drink better. ABOUT THE ROLE The Transition Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and governing the end-to-end transition of data and reporting services from development teams and partners into a new managed service. The service transitioned are Application Management Support (AMS) support for a greenfield data platform being implemented as part of a broader transformation program to upgrade SAP ECC to SAP S4. We are currently in the finalization of the build & test phase. Supported technologies include: SAP Datasphere, SAP Analytics Cloud (Reporting), Azure Databricks based on dbt models, and Microsoft PowerBI. The services scope covers Infrastructure, Application Security, Platform and Data Engineering, and Visualisation Development/Analytics Engineering support across the above different technologies. The responsibilities include ensuring service readiness across people, process, documentation, systems, governance- from service design, transition planning to execution including knowledge transfer, cutover, and stabilisation activities. The role acts as the central point of management between internal business and technology teams, service providers, platform partners, and operational support teams. The Analytics Service Transition Manager will collaborate with the broader program team leading Business Readiness, Service Design and Cut over and will ensure that the Analytics services integrate effectively with broader end-to-end design and plans. The role is critical to ensure that services are transitioned with minimal operational disruption and cost. Clear accountability, robust documentation, validated knowledge transfer, fit-for-purpose support processes, and effective post-go-live governance will be critical to establish a successful transition. RESPONSIBILITIES: 1) TRANSITION PLANNING & MOBILISATION - Define and manage the transition plan, governance cadence, status reporting, RAID management, and phase exit readiness across contracting, mobilisation, transition, cutover, and stabilization in collaboration with our AMS partner as an integral part to a broader transition approach for the program - Coordinate stakeholders across internal teams, incumbent suppliers, incoming service providers, and platform partners to ensure timely completion of transition dependencies. - Review and implement transition checklists, templates, service design documents, and exit criteria required for service readiness in alignment with broader standards set at program level, but with the required detail of ‘built’ Analytics services - Support mobilisation of supplier resources, including onboarding coordination, training set up and access, and readiness tracking. 2) KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER & SERVICE READINESS - Lead the end-to-end knowledge transfer process for in scope services, covering data models, platforms, technical components, and ways of working. - Ensure required documentation is identified, reviewed, updated, and handed over, including SOPs, service documentation, operational procedures, and support artefacts. - Organise and coordinate walkthroughs, shadowing, reverse shadowing, playback sessions, and knowledge validation activities. - Assess knowledge transfer effectiveness, identify gaps, and drive remediation actions before service acceptance. 3) OPERATIONAL PROCESS DESIGN - Define the overall reporting / analytical services and capabilities model in support of the D&A strategy and operating model and in alignment with broader stakeholders. Specifically addressing approach to what reporting capabiltiies / products will be centralised and delivered by the Digital team vs. self service for broader business users to develop themselves on the platforms. - Define the ‘self service’ strategy for reporting and how to ensure appropriate governance and operational processes required to enable this going forward. - Define or improve operational processes required to support in scope services, including incident management, service request handling, monitoring, escalation paths, and governance routines as part of and in an integrated and consistent approach to broader operational and service management framework. - Coordinate setup or refinement of service management tooling, resolver groups, account/access requirements, service catalogue entries, and integration between support platforms (e.g. systems and DevOps tooling). - Establish security and user management processes, roles, and operating responsibilities needed for stable service operations in alignment with broader Security policies and standards. - Support the creation of support models for infrastructure, security, platform and data products and reports where required. 4) GOVERNANCE, PERFORMANCE & ACCEPTANCE - Define and implement transition governance, service performance measures, acceptance criteria, and reporting mechanisms for the transitioned service in collaboration with development and support partners for Analytics services within overall AMS framework - Participate in performance management and governance sessions to ensure readiness of SLAs, service controls, and supplier accountability. - Ensure monitoring and incident management arrangements are in place and fit for purpose before service handover. - Track transition progress, risks, issues, and decisions and escalate where needed to maintain timeline and quality. 5) CUTOVER & STABILISATION - Coordinate transition cutover activities, including access readiness, operational handover checkpoints, communications, and hypercare/stabilisation planning for both the support services but potentially also for the technical systems. - Support post-transition stabilisation by monitoring service performance, tracking incidents and change requests, and ensuring unresolved issues are closed out. - Work with operations, factory, and service delivery teams to baseline service performance, identify improvements, and embed sustainable BAU processes. 6) STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT & CHANGE SUPPORT - Act as the key transition contact point across business, D&A, IT, operations, and external partners. - Communicate transition scope, timelines, impacts, and readiness status to stakeholders clearly and proactively. - Support change management and business communication activities related to process, support model, and service changes. KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES - Successful transition of in scope services into a defined support and operating model. - Completion and sign-off of knowledge transfer, documentation, SOPs, and service readiness deliverables. - Readiness of operational tooling, governance, support processes, and access/security setup. - Controlled cutover with minimal disruption to analytics operations and business users. - Effective stabilisation and transition into BAU performance management. ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE: - Proven experience managing service transitions or managed services environments, most preferably in analytics, data, SAP reporting (BW/Datasphere). High level understanding of technologies is an asset. - Experience coordinating transitions across multiple internal teams, service providers, and third parties - Strong understanding of service management processes, including incident management, service requests, governance, SLAs, and operational readiness. - Experience with knowledge transfer, documentation governance, SOP creation/review, and service acceptance activities. - Good experience with ITSM and delivery tooling such as ServiceNow, Azure DevOps in the context of data and reporting is required. In particular good · grasp or experience in setting up technical delivery practices: CI/CD, code versioning and branching strategy, backlog management, multi environement datasphere/BW development and transport mechanisms. - Experience working in complex analytics or enterprise technology landscapes/programmes involving data platforms, reporting services, infrastructure/platform dependencies, and external support providers across multiple phases: planning and execution of cutover, hypercare, and stabilisation. MUST-HAVE SKILLS - Strong programme and transition management - Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional coordination - Structured planning and execution discipline - Ability to drive clarity in ambiguous or evolving environments - Strong documentation and governance mindset - Analytical problem solving and risk management - Effective communication and facilitation skills - Ability to challenge suppliers and internal teams constructively - High attention to detail with a strong focus on service continuity and operational control TYPICAL DELIVERABLES 1. Transition plans and status reports 2. RAID logs and action trackers 3. Service design and readiness documents 4. Knowledge transfer plans and completion records 5. SOP inventory and quality review outputs 6. Support model and governance framework 7. Cutover and stabilisation plans 8. Service acceptance criteria and sign-off packs SUCCESS MEASURES - Transition milestones achieved on time and within scope - Knowledge transfer completed and validated successfully - Required SOPs and operational documentation delivered to agreed quality - Service management tooling and governance operational before go-live - Limited disruption during cutover and stabilisation - SLA and performance governance are embedded successfully in BAU INTERVIEW STEPS 1. GT interview with Recruiter 2. Technical interview 3. Final interview