Looking for MES Cutover Lead / Cutover Manager- EST

We are seeking an experienced Cutover Lead (MES) to drive and manage the end-to-end cutover process for Manufacturing Execution System (MES) implementations. This role is critical to ensuring a seamless transition from project delivery to production go-live by coordinating across manufacturing, IT, operations, and project teams. The ideal candidate brings strong project management expertise, deep MES knowledge, and proven experience leading complex cutover activities in high-impact environments.

Location: Preferably Raynham/Boston, MA (Remote candidates within EST time zone considered)
Duration: 6+ Months

Key Responsibilities

Cutover Planning & Strategy

• Develop and own a comprehensive cutover plan including tasks, dependencies, timelines, and resource allocation tailored to MES deployments
• Define system freeze windows, migration sequences, and go-live strategies

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Lead cutover workshops and align stakeholders across business, functional, technical, and infrastructure teams
• Clearly define ownership, execution steps, and validation checkpoints

Risk & Issue Management

• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks related to cutover activities
• Develop contingency, rollback, and recovery plans to ensure business continuity

Execution Oversight

• Oversee all cutover activities including system freeze, data migration, configurations, and technical deployments
• Ensure readiness and alignment across all teams during go-live execution

Testing & Validation

• Plan and manage cutover rehearsals, mock runs, and validation cycles
• Ensure all systems, integrations, and business processes function as expected

Stakeholder Communication

• Act as the central point of communication during cutover execution and go-live
• Provide real-time updates, escalate issues, and support transition to hypercare

Governance & Best Practices

• Ensure adherence to MES standards, governance frameworks, and organizational policies
• Maintain documentation, audit readiness, and compliance standards

Continuous Improvement

• Capture lessons learned and recommend improvements for future MES implementations

Required Qualifications

• Experience:3 8+ years in MES or ERP project delivery with hands-on cutover leadership experience
• MES Expertise:Strong understanding of MES systems, data migration, integrations, and manufacturing workflows
• Project Management:Proven ability to manage complex timelines, dependencies, and cross-functional teams under pressure
• Tools & Technologies:Experience with MES platforms such as SAP S/4HANA MES, Siemens MES, along with tools like Microsoft Project, Jira, ServiceNow, and SAP Solution Manager
• Soft Skills:Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving abilities

Why This Role Matters

The Cutover Lead plays a pivotal role in ensuring a smooth MES go-live with minimal disruption to manufacturing operations. Success in this role directly impacts production continuity, system stability, data accuracy, and overall program success.

Candidate Note

Applicants should highlight:

• MES-specific cutover and go-live experience
• Leadership in cross-functional coordination
• Proven success in executing large-scale system transitions