Cutover Programme Manager

Job Description

Cutover Programme Manager

Initial 12 Month FTC

Coventry/Manchester

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Cutover Programme Manager to lead the end-to-end cutover planning and execution for a complex Workday migration programme. This role will oversee the transition from legacy back-office systems (e.g., Oracle, SAP, PeopleSoft, etc.) to Workday, ensuring business continuity, risk mitigation, and minimal disruption during go-live.

You will work cross-functionally with Workday implementation partners, business teams (HR, Finance, IT), system integrators, and technical teams to coordinate the readiness, execution, and stabilization phases of cutover.

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Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and own the overall cutover strategy and integrated cutover plan across workstreams.
• Lead the cutover planning process, including defining scope, key milestones, Go/No-Go criteria, and critical path.
• Coordinate the sequencing of data migration, configuration, testing, training, and go-live support activities.
• Act as a single point of accountability for cutover execution across business and technical teams.
• Identify, assess, and manage cutover-related risks, dependencies, and issues.
• Chair daily/weekly cutover readiness meetings and Go/No-Go checkpoints.
• Align with business leads and operational owners to ensure business readiness.
• Work closely with Workday partners and internal stakeholders to ensure all systems, interfaces, and processes are ready for transition.
• Define and manage dry run cycles, mock cutovers, and rollback strategies.
• Ensure that post go-live hypercare and early life support plans are robust and resourced appropriately.
• Produce cutover status reports and stakeholder updates at executive and programme level.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Proven experience as a Cutover Manager on at least one large-scale Workday implementation or migration, ideally across multiple functional areas (HR, Finance, Payroll).
• Strong background in ERP or SaaS system cutovers, with understanding of back-office systems and integrations.
• Expertise in cutover methodologies, including mock runs, blackout periods, and contingency planning.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills, including ability to influence senior executives.
• Experience in coordinating cross-functional teams across business and IT.
• Strong project and programme management skills – planning, execution, governance, and risk control.
• Familiarity with data migration concepts and tools.
• Ability to work under pressure in fast-paced transformation environments.

Key Deliverables:

Cutover Strategy & Plan

Integrated Cutover Schedule

Go/No-Go Criteria

Mock Cutover Execution Reports

Cutover Risk & Issue Logs

Hypercare Plan & Handover Documents