Michael Donatus - SAP SuccessFactors Project Manager

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Available

Heidelberg, Germany

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Experience

May 2025 - Present

1 year 4 months

Project Manager SuccessFactors

Sysmex Europe SE

Deployment SAP HANA - SuccessFactors

Implementation of sub-modules Recruiting + EC Benefits + TeamGoals
Global rollout with adaptation to country-specific legal requirements incl. standardization
International stakeholder management
Onboarding of new group companies in Kenya and Greece regarding SAP SuccessFactors

Jul 2024 - Dec 2024

6 months

Switzerland

Consultant

Regio Energie Solothurn

Development of vehicle concept
Implementation of the emission targets of the city and canton
Project communication between the parties involved and stakeholders
Concept development and usage optimization

Aug 2023 - Dec 2024

1 year 5 months

Project Manager

Salzgitter AG

Introduction of the IT license asset management tool Flexera
Clarification of the technical implementation and setup of professional license management incl. inventory in 38 country companies of the trading division
Global communication between the parties involved and stakeholders
Global rollout of the application in the companies of the trading division
Complete removal and replacement of Oracle Java in all country companies
Introduction of digital signature processes with DocuSign and communication of the project, the benefits and the approach in 36 companies worldwide
Process capture, suitability assessment, piloting and test management
International rollout and implementation of the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) with compliance to legal requirements
Interface optimization between self-developed transfer tool, SAP and LkSG tool Osapiens

Sep 2022 - Jan 2023

5 months

Project Manager Harmonization HR-IT Applications

NVL/Lürssen

Harmonization of user processes in ADP and related systems in the companies of the group
As-is analysis at the sites and license harmonization
Project planning, control, conflict management, communication platform and risk management
Selection and management of external service providers
Support for the IT team in implementing ADP payroll topics
Process analysis and optimization as well as integration of ADP-Travel into the workflow
Stakeholder communication internally via intranet and externally to trade media

Apr 2022 - Sep 2022

6 months

Project Manager IT Program OZG Digitalization Platform

IHK Digital

Project management in the business area Agency – Platform and Innovation (PlaIn) as well as control of the portal area
Agile project with eight external service providers and agencies, 30+ developers and business analysts for 95 legally defined IHK services
Stakeholder communication via reports, intranet and MS Teams
Tools used: JIRA, Confluence, Clarizen, Zeplin, MS Teams

Jan 2022 - Apr 2022

4 months

IT Program Manager Administration 4.0

Helmholtz-Institut Rossendorf

Creating a roadmap for the transformation to SAP HANA
Gathering requirements from specialist departments and analyzing feasibility as well as cost-benefit comparison of alternative solutions
Communication, documentation, and tool selection

Sep 2021 - Apr 2022

8 months

Project Manager "Cashless Payment"

Berliner Verkehrsgesellschaft BVG

Project management and Scrum Master as well as quality assurance
Creating process documentation and SAP interface descriptions
Coordinating six external partners and four internal departments
Communication between departments, internal media, and external project partners

Jul 2020 - Nov 2020

5 months

SCRUM Product Owner Sales and Innovation / Project Manager Business Development

LRT – Labor- und Reinraumtechnik Arnsdorf GmbH

Product Owner for Sales and Innovation during ERP implementation
Portfolio development as well as market and product analysis
Supporting existing customers and active acquisition of new customers, especially key accounts
Expansion of the international dealer network
Business development for laboratory technology incl. hot water solutions and joint product innovations with customers and dealers
Brand building with guidance of agencies and presentations at trade fairs and congresses with specialist talks
Sales training and coaching of the company's technical experts

Aug 2019 - Aug 2021

2 years 1 month

Project Manager Circular Economy "Liquid Sun"

Vorwerk Nickern GmbH

Evaluation and further development of the circular business model into an IT-based service model
Review of alternative energy sources for system suitability
Requirements management and detailing of business requirements into processes and services
Acquisition and selection of cooperation partners from science
Presentation to political committees, funding bodies, and potential partners as well as publications in trade media
Organizing workflows and coordinating project participants

Jan 2017 - Jul 2019

2 years 7 months

General Management & IT Project Manager

FAD Fertigungs- & Automatisierungstechnik GmbH

Introduction of digital processes in the automotive sector
Requirements analysis as well as selection and implementation of an ERP system with CRM, DMS, and shop floor data collection
Commercial management and management of external company succession
Controlling with the setup of a KPI system for operational and strategic management
Establishing modern HR management
Active acquisition of new customers and internationalization, expansion of the service portfolio in special machine construction
Agile coaching and training and development of managers in sales, communication, and leadership
Building an intranet and creating press articles as well as specialist publications

Jan 2015 - Dec 2016

2 years

Change Management Implementation Consultant

VPD Vakuum- und Präzisionsteilefertigung Dresden GmbH

Change management as part of the family succession process
New product development as well as cleanup and improvement of the customer structure
Building strategic HR work with talent management, culture, and communication change
Training and coaching of managers in communication, leadership, and sales
Agile coaching of the management team and senior employees during the succession process
Concept and moderation of workshops for conflict resolution

Apr 2014 - Aug 2016

2 years 5 months

Change Management Implementation Consultant

ITARICON Gesellschaft für IT-Architektur und Integrationsberatung mbH

Change management as part of the family succession process
Leadership development and coaching in communication, leadership, and sales after the establishment of a BU structure
Sales training for employed subject matter experts

Jan 2013 - Dec 2013

1 year

Business Consultant Sales

Mitt Systeme GmbH

Business model development for a self-developed ERP software
Consulting, training, and implementation in IT sales
Definition and targeting of customer groups

Jan 2013 - Dec 2013

1 year

Dresden, Germany

On-site

Co-founder and internal Business Consultant

Zentrale für Management und Qualität e.G.

Business model and organizational development
Building the sales structure
Expanding the member base
Sharpening the service offering for new members and customers of the network

Jan 2013 - Dec 2013

1 year

Project Manager

Zielklub

Building the website and setting up Google Analytics and AdWords
Business model development and development of the sales strategy

Jan 2013 - Dec 2013

1 year

Project Manager

cloudsters-Dresden

Transfer and adaptation of the IT co-working space model from Lübeck to Dresden
Coordination of construction work and training at the Lübeck and Dresden locations
Creation and implementation of a communication structure

Jan 2012 - Dec 2014

3 years

Trainer for Leadership, Communication and Sales

IHK Dresden / BSW Sachsen

Training in leadership, communication, and sales
Clients: Chamber of Industry and Commerce, mid-sized companies in the region
Creation of own training concepts, including with a focus on conflict management

Jan 2012 - Dec 2012

1 year

Berlin, Germany

On-site

Business Consultant and Trainer

BTA Berlin, agentur wortweiss, agentur Textwirtschaft, etc.

Development and implementation of sales structures and strategies for IT and manufacturing companies
Planning and delivery of training on sales, communication, and employee leadership
Business and executive coaching
Clients: SMEs with 50–100 employees, mainly from the machinery, automotive, and IT sectors, as well as national and international training and consulting companies

Jan 2012 - Dec 2012

1 year

Project Manager

Grusskarte-3D.de

Building my own online shop and an Amazon shop
Business model development, supplier and model development
Introduction of additional sales channels

Jan 2012 - Dec 2012

1 year

Berlin, Germany

Hybrid

Business Consultant

lokalnetz.com

Sales consulting for lokalnetz.com, development of strategic partnerships

Jan 2008 - Dec 2012

5 years

Head of Electrical Engineering / Electronics Department

Yacht Teccon Engineering GmbH & Co. KG

Building and leading the Electrical Engineering/Electronics department, including hardware and software development and electrical design, with 17 specialists
Acquiring new customers and project management in the development area (C, FORTRAN, mechanical design)
Change management during the merger of Yacht and Teccon as well as the merger with Randstad Technology
Supporting employees during the implementation of new processes and helping with de-escalation, communication, and motivation

Jan 2006 - Dec 2007

2 years

Sales and CRM Consultant

GWT TUD GmbH

Introduction and customization of a CRM software
Transfer of debtors into the active CRM
Development and implementation of a national and international sales structure
Sales controlling as well as analysis and adjustment of the sales strategy
Presentations at trade fairs and international conferences
Building and maintaining contacts with professional associations and preparing specialist presentations
Research and purchasing of scientific resources
Customer support, new customer acquisition, and key account management

Jan 2004 - Dec 2005

2 years

Seminar and Consulting Sales

TÜV Rheinland Akademie

New product development and standardization
Seminar and consulting sales

Jan 2003 - Dec 2003

1 year

On-site

Sales concept development

Non-food retail

Successful introduction of a retail concept

Jan 2002 - Dec 2002

1 year

On-site

POS sales

HDI Insurance

Consulting and selling insurance products for wealth building

Jan 2002 - Dec 2002

1 year

Conflict and Complaint Management

Thomas Cook AG

Support for hotels and negotiation and handling of complaint cases Destination support with active sales

Jan 2001 - Dec 2001

1 year

Berlin, Germany

On-site

Pricing Analyst

Air Berlin

Capacity management on assigned flight routes through short-term price adjustments

Industry Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.

Experienced in Manufacturing, Professional Services, Education, Information Technology, Automotive, and Energy.

Manufacturing

Professional Services

Education

Information Technology

Automotive

Energy

Business Area Experience

See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.

Experienced in Project Management, Information Technology, Sales, Product Development, Human Resources, and Strategy.

Project Management

Information Technology

Sales

Product Development

Human Resources

Strategy

Summary

Senior IT Project Manager with 25+ years of experience delivering large-scale international transformation programs, specializing in SAP SuccessFactors, HR IT, and digital transformation. I help organizations successfully implement and scale global HR systems, manage complex stakeholder environments, and deliver measurable business value through structured project leadership and agile methodologies. Key Achievements

Delivered SAP SuccessFactors global rollouts across multiple regions
Managed IT transformation programs in up to 38 countries
Led international teams (30+ developers, multiple vendors)
Implemented digital transformation initiatives reducing process complexity and increasing efficiency Core Expertise SAP SuccessFactors | HR Transformation | Global IT Programs | Stakeholder Management | Agile Delivery (Scrum) | PRINCE2 What I bring
Strong execution focus
Clear communication across all levels
Ability to align business & IT
Proven track record in high-complexity environments

Open to interim leadership roles, global programs, and transformation projects

Skills

At A Glance – Over 25 Years Of Expertise In It Projects, Sales, Change

Project Management: Project Leadership, Structured It Transformation Project Management, Classic Project Management According To Prince2, Ipma And Hermes (Basic), Agile Project Management With Scrum, Waterfall Project Method
Requirements Management: Requirements Engineering, Requirements Gathering, Requirements Analysis And Specification, Requirements Verification, Coordination, Planning And Tracking
Rollout & Testing: International Rollout Of It Applications, Testing Execution (Especially Uat And Functional Testing), Training Concept Development, Alignment Of National Restrictions For Using An Application
Introduction Of Crm & Dms Systems: Methods And Tool Selection, Bitrix24, Deleco, Elo
Sap Knowledge: Sap Hana, Sap Successfactors Deployment (Implementation Of Core Modules Such As Recruiting, Ec Benefits, Teamgoals)
Own Workshops & Seminars: Requirements Analysis For It Systems, Sales For Engineers And It, Change And Succession Process Management, Sales (Especially Technical Sales), Communication And Conflict Management, Leadership And Communication For Junior Managers, Leadership In Theory And Practice, Group Peer Groups Leadership & Sales
Sales & Business Development: Over 20 Years Of Experience In (Key) Account Management, Sales Management And As Head Of Sales; Over 10 Years Of Experience In The (Further) Development Of Companies, People And Business And Operating Models
Industries: Renewable Energy & Circular Economy; It System Houses; Automotive Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Public Sector; Infrastructure And Transport (Public Transport); Universities, Institutes; Healthcare – Laboratories
Tools: Good To Very Good User Skills With Ms Teams, Sharepoint, Jira, Miro, Confluence, M365, Ms Office, O365, Projects, Flexera, Docusign

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Spanish

Intermediate

French

Elementary

Russian

Elementary

Education

Sep 1995 - May 2000

Friedrich Schiller University Jena

Diplom-Kaufmann · Business Administration

Specialized in human resources, controlling and intercultural business communication

Certifications & licenses

EXIN

Design Thinking

IndiSoft

Axelos / PeopleCert

TÜV

Certified Personal Trainer

Highlight / HutCon

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 27

Experience in Manufacturing 13 y

Avg length 1 y 4 m

Longest experience 4 y 11 m

Global Experience

Countries worked in 2 (Germany, Switzerland)

Primary country Germany

Expertise

Recent roles Project Manager SuccessFactors, Consultant, Project Manager

Main industries Manufacturing, Professional Services, Education

Main business areas Project Management, Information Technology, Sales

Qualifications

Certifications earned 8

Profile

Created

November 2024

Last Update

August 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Have questions? Find more information here.

Michael is based in Heidelberg, Germany and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.

Michael speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), Spanish (Intermediate), French (Elementary), Russian (Elementary).

Michael has at least 25 years of experience. During this time, Michael has worked in at least 23 different roles and for 27 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 11 months. Note that Michael may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Based on recent experience, Michael would be well-suited for roles such as: Project Manager SuccessFactors, Consultant, Project Manager.

Michael's most recent position is Project Manager SuccessFactors at Sysmex Europe SE.

In recent years, Michael has worked for Sysmex Europe SE, Regio Energie Solothurn, Salzgitter AG, NVL/Lürssen, and IHK Digital.

Michael is most experienced in industries like Manufacturing, Professional Services, and Education. Michael also has some experience in Information Technology, Automotive, and Energy.

Michael is most experienced in business areas like Project Management, Information Technology, and Sales. Michael also has some experience in Product Development, Human Resources, and Strategy.

Michael has recently worked in industries like Manufacturing, Energy, and Government and Administration.

Michael has recently worked in business areas like Project Management, Information Technology, and Research and Development.

Michael attended Friedrich Schiller University Jena for Business Administration.

Michael has 8 certificates. Among them, these include: Agile Scrum Foundation, Agile Scrum Master, and Agile Scrum Product Owner.

Michael is immediately available part-time for suitable projects.

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Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.

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Daily rate avg. 870 €

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Median rate 900 €

The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.

Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.