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- Tasks: Lead the improvement of Talent and Performance processes in Workday.
- Company: Join Arriva, a leading European transport partner with a strong sustainability agenda.
- Benefits: Full-time role with competitive salary and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by optimising HR processes and enhancing user experience.
- Qualifications: Experience in HR processes and a passion for driving improvements.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities to collaborate across multiple countries.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 ÂŁ per year.
Arriva is a leading European passenger transport partner, operating in 11 countries across the UK and Europe. The company employs around 35,000 people, delivering more than 1.5 billion passenger journeys connecting people and communities safely, reliably and sustainably. We have strong roots dating back to 1938, an ambitious growth and sustainability agenda, and a continuously developing relationship with I Squared Capital – a global infrastructure investment fund manager – who acquired Arriva in 2024.
We are looking for a Workday Senior Functional Partner – Performance & Talent to join our Workday team on a full‑time, permanent basis. This role will be based from either our Sunderland or London office. The role is responsible for the delivery and continuous improvement of Talent and Performance processes and the implementation of updates and changes to configuration, security and business processes in Workday. The successful candidate will serve as an architect and strategist overseeing junior analysts, focusing on research, solution design, and advising functional business leaders. By partnering with business stakeholders, they will ensure efficient processes, adopt best‑in‑class functionality, and deliver maximum value from the product.
Direct Responsibilities
- SME in Workday Performance and Talent, responsible for the maintenance, change requests and upgrades across these areas.
- Support other Functional Specialists to deliver the People Solution’s solution for Performance and Talent, building relationships with key stakeholders to agree a continuous improvement plan for core HR transactions and processes.
- Develop the roadmap for the adoption of Talent and Performance and any future enhancements, in consultation with business stakeholders.
- Serve as a critical enabler for BUs to maximise automation opportunities and reduce off‑system processes.
- Own communications for the Talent and Performance, Absence and Integrations Workstreams, seeking feedback from end users and using relevant channels as appropriate.
- Host and facilitate workshops and demonstrations virtually and in‑person to help stakeholders understand what good looks like.
- Utilise Workday Community and Workday Success Plans to understand best practice, market trends and connect with Workday to bring external knowledge into relevant opportunities.
- Assess all change impacts in these areas and follow the governance model to reduce risk and identify improvement.
- Configure and maintain reports that fall under the category of Performance and Talent with other Functional Partners.
- Configure and maintain any updates to business processes and security policies.
- Test new functionality or upgrades/releases.
- Support resolution of escalated issues; manage incidents, track ticket status and partner with other support teams to resolve under SLA.
- Identify and recommend process areas that could be simplified, improved or changed to enhance user experience and drive simplification.
- Support the development of training activities and materials, including user guides, FAQ, recorded demos, SharePoint content, etc.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
- Experience with core HR processes and interaction between HR and payroll/other external systems such as time recording and recruiting.
- Experience operating as a business partner, comfortable with proactively seeking ideas to drive improvement and gathering feedback on change effectiveness.
- Experience dealing with multi‑national organisations.
- Experience with multi‑business implementations.
- Experience with sales & divestitures and their impact on Workday.
- Experience aligning with areas of the product that involve the most innovation, configuration and consulting opportunities.
- Attained or working toward Workday Pro certification for Performance and Talent.
The closing date for applications is Monday 8th December 2025. Arriva Group reserves the right to close this vacancy early.
Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level
Employment type: Full‑time
Job function: Business Development and Sales
Workday Senior Functional Partner - Performance & Talent employer: Arriva Group
Contact Detail:
Arriva Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Workday Senior Functional Partner - Performance & Talent
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Arriva or in the Workday community. A friendly chat can give us insider info and might just get your foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research common questions for Workday Senior Functional Partner roles and practice your answers. We want to show off our expertise in Performance and Talent, so let’s nail it!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills! Bring examples of how you’ve improved processes or driven change in previous roles. We need to demonstrate that we can deliver maximum value from Workday.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we can keep track of our progress and stay updated on any new opportunities.
We think you need these skills to ace Workday Senior Functional Partner - Performance & Talent
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Workday Senior Functional Partner role. Highlight your experience with Performance and Talent processes, and don’t forget to mention any relevant certifications or projects that showcase your skills.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re the perfect fit for this role at Arriva. Share specific examples of how you've improved HR processes in the past and how you can bring that expertise to our team.
Showcase Your Stakeholder Engagement Skills: Since this role involves working closely with business stakeholders, make sure to highlight your experience in building relationships and gathering feedback. We want to see how you’ve successfully collaborated with others to drive improvements.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at Arriva Group
✨Know Your Workday Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your Workday knowledge, especially around Performance and Talent modules. Familiarise yourself with the latest updates and best practices from the Workday Community, as this will show your commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.
✨Showcase Your Business Partner Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully partnered with business stakeholders in the past. Highlight your ability to gather feedback, drive improvements, and implement changes effectively. This will demonstrate that you can be a strategic enabler for the business.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Change Management
Expect questions about how you handle change impacts and governance models. Have specific examples ready that illustrate your experience in managing change within HR processes, especially in multi-national organisations.
✨Engage with Real Scenarios
Think of potential scenarios or challenges that could arise in the role and how you would address them. Be prepared to discuss how you would facilitate workshops or training sessions to help stakeholders understand new functionalities and processes.
