At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Workday platform, driving user adoption and optimising system performance.
- Company: Focus on WD connects top Workday talent with exciting opportunities across the UK and Europe.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, bonus, private medical, life assurance, and 25 days annual leave.
- Why this job: Be part of a major Workday transformation in a strategic role with a supportive culture.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in senior Workday or HRIS roles, with deep expertise across Workday modules.
- Other info: Flexible hybrid working model, with 3-4 days per week in the London office.
The predicted salary is between 110000 - 130000 £ per year.
Location: Hybrid working pattern which can vary between 2-4 days per week onsite in London.
Salary: £110,000 – £130,000 per annum + Bonus + Benefits.
Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent.
Eligibility: Applicants must have the right to work in the UK – sponsorship is not available.
Overview
Focus on WD are proud to be partnering with a superb Workday end-customer who are preparing for their imminent Workday go-live. As they move into this pivotal post-implementation phase, the business is seeking a strategic, hands-on, and highly experienced Workday leader to join in a permanent capacity as Workday Systems Manager. This is a key leadership role responsible for owning the Workday platform across the full HCM suite. The successful candidate will drive user adoption, optimize system performance, and steer the long-term Workday and People Systems roadmap. You will be instrumental in delivering ongoing value from the platform while embedding Workday deeply into the organisation’s operational DNA.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Ownership: Lead the overall Workday and People Systems strategy, aligning with business priorities and delivering ongoing innovation and value.
- Workday Platform Lead: Act as the SME across all Workday modules including HCM, Recruiting, Compensation (Core & Advanced), Learning, Benefits, Absence, and Talent & Performance.
- Roadmap Delivery: Drive the execution of the Workday roadmap through Phase 2 and beyond, ensuring continued growth, system enhancement, and business alignment.
- Platform Stabilisation: Guide the organisation through post-go-live stabilisation, ensuring data integrity, user adoption, and process optimisation.
- Leadership: Lead and support a small Workday team, fostering capability development and operational excellence.
- Continuous Improvement: Identify and implement enhancements to optimise Workday functionality, improve UX, and support wider business efficiency.
- Cross-Functional Engagement: Collaborate closely with HR, IT, Finance, and senior leadership to ensure Workday supports and accelerates strategic objectives.
- Change Management: Champion Workday within the organisation, promoting adoption, delivering training, and leading change initiatives.
Key Requirements
- Workday Expertise: Deep experience across the Workday HCM suite, with proven ability to design, configure, and manage complex business processes.
- Leadership Experience: 5+ years in a senior Workday or HRIS leadership role, ideally within a global or complex organisation.
- Strategic Thinking: Demonstrated success in shaping and delivering long-term platform strategy and roadmap.
- Modular Strength: Proven hands-on experience across Workday modules including HCM, Recruiting, Learning, Absence, Talent, Compensation (Core & Advanced), and Benefits.
- Change & Adoption Focus: Experience driving post-go-live transformation, user engagement, and ongoing system optimisation.
- Stakeholder Influence: Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to manage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
- Autonomy & Collaboration: Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively to lead initiatives and deliver results.
Why Join?
- Be at the helm of a major Workday transformation in its most impactful stage – post go-live optimisation and roadmap execution.
- Work in a visible, strategic role reporting into senior leadership with full ownership of the platform.
- Enjoy a flexible hybrid working model (3-4 days per week in the London office).
- Join a supportive culture committed to innovation, efficiency, and people-first technology strategy.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary: £110,000 – £130,000 per annum.
- Discretionary performance-based bonus.
- Excellent benefits package including Private Medical, Life Assurance.
- 25 Days Annual Leave, plus bank holidays & Christmas shut down period.
- Flexible hybrid working.
About Focus on WD
At Focus on WD, we specialise exclusively in recruitment for the Workday ecosystem. It’s what we do, and we do it well. Our in-depth knowledge, industry insight, and singular focus set us apart and enable us to connect the best Workday talent with the most exciting opportunities across the UK and Europe.
Workday Systems Manager (London) employer: Focus on WD
Contact Detail:
Focus on WD Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Workday Systems Manager (London)
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the Workday ecosystem. Attend industry events, webinars, or local meetups to connect with others who are already in similar roles. This can help you gain insights into the company culture and expectations.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with the latest Workday updates and features. Being knowledgeable about recent changes can set you apart during discussions and demonstrate your commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and experiences in driving user adoption and change management. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully led teams through transitions and optimised system performance.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the company's strategic goals and how they align with Workday's capabilities. Tailor your conversations to show how your expertise can directly contribute to their objectives and enhance their operational efficiency.
We think you need these skills to ace Workday Systems Manager (London)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience with Workday and relevant leadership roles. Use specific examples that demonstrate your expertise in the HCM suite and your ability to drive user adoption and system optimisation.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Discuss how your strategic thinking and hands-on experience align with the responsibilities of the Workday Systems Manager position.
Highlight Relevant Achievements: When detailing your work history, focus on achievements that showcase your ability to lead Workday implementations and transformations. Quantify your successes where possible, such as improvements in user engagement or system performance.
Prepare for Potential Questions: Anticipate questions related to your experience with Workday modules and your approach to change management. Be ready to discuss specific strategies you've employed to enhance system functionality and user adoption.
How to prepare for a job interview at Focus on WD
✨Showcase Your Workday Expertise
Make sure to highlight your deep experience with the Workday HCM suite during the interview. Be prepared to discuss specific modules you've worked with, such as HCM, Recruiting, and Compensation, and provide examples of how you've successfully managed complex business processes.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
The role requires a strategic mindset, so be ready to share your vision for the Workday platform. Discuss how you have previously shaped and delivered long-term strategies and roadmaps, and how you plan to align these with business priorities in this new position.
✨Emphasise Leadership Experience
As a key leadership role, it's crucial to convey your leadership experience. Share examples of how you've led teams, fostered capability development, and driven operational excellence in previous roles, especially in a global or complex organisation.
✨Prepare for Change Management Questions
Expect questions about your experience with change management and user adoption. Be ready to discuss how you've championed new systems within an organisation, promoted user engagement, and delivered effective training to ensure successful transitions.