Sr Manager/Director Digital HR Technology – RAIL Sector (m/f/d) in Redcar

Overview

Location: Remote – Gloucestershire, United Kingdom

Job ID: R

Date Posted:

Company Name: HITACHI EUROPE LTD.

Profession (Job Category): Other

Job Schedule: Full time

Remote: Yes

What you’ll be doing

Role Overview

The Director Digital HR Technology – RAIL Sector is accountable for leading the HR technology strategy, execution, and adoption for the RAIL sector, aligned with the Global Digital HR (DHR) vision and governance.

This role owns Workday as the core HR platform for the sector, oversees complementary HR technologies, and leads AI and automation initiatives that enhance workforce experience and operational effectiveness. The Director manages a small sector HR technology team and serves as the primary point of contact (POC) to Global Digital HR, ensuring seamless alignment between global standards and sector-specific needs.

The role will also be responsible for:

Key Outcomes of the Role:

• Effective and compliant deployment and adoption of Workday across the RAIL sector.
• Strong alignment between sector HR priorities and global HR technology strategy.
• Measurable business value from AI-enabled HR solutions.
• Clear governance, accountability, and simplification of the HR technology landscape.

Responsibilities

1. Sector HR Technology Leadership

   • Own the end-to-end HR technology landscape for the RAIL sector.
   • Produce and maintain the 3-year HR technology roadmap and budget
   • Act as the senior HR technology advisor to RAIL HR leadership
   • Balance global standardization with sector-specific operational requirements.
   • Represent RAIL in global HR technology governance forums.

2. Workday Platform Ownership (Sector Scope)

   • Lead sector-level ownership of Workday in partnership with Global DHR Product Leads.
   • Sponsor Rail Sector projects and oversee configuration, enhancements, releases, and prioritization across all Functional Areas: Core HCM, Recruiting & Onboarding, Talent & Performance, Compensation & Advanced Compensation, Security, Learning, Absence, Time Tracking, Reporting and Payroll (where applicable).
   • Ensure high-quality data, reporting consistency, and compliance with global standards.
   • Drive adoption of Workday best practices and limit non-standard customizations.
   • Deploy, manage and evolve the Tier 0, 1 & 2 Workday support model. Primary customer PoC for Tier 3 from Global DHR Delivery team.

3. Complementary HR Technology & Integrations

   • Govern sector usage of complementary HR technologies, including:
   • Payroll and Benefit platforms in conjunction with Sector Countries and HR Shared Services.
   • HR Case & Knowledge Management (Workday Help and/or ServiceNow HRSD).
   • Talent tools (assessments, interviewing, skills intelligence).
   • Learning Management Systems (LMS); Learning Experience (LXP) platforms and integrations with learning content providers.
   • Contingent workforce VMS platforms.

4. Partner with IT and vendors to ensure: Secure, scalable integrations, Stable operations and release coordination, Cost and vendor rationalization.

5. AI in HR & Automation (Sector Champion)

   • Serve as the sector lead for AI in HR initiatives, aligned with global AI governance.
   • Identify, pilot, and scale AI use cases across HR from Hire to Retire.
   • Ensure responsible AI practices, including bias mitigation, data privacy, and auditability.

6. People Leadership & Operating Model

   • Lead and develop a sector HR technology team, including:
   • Direct management of sector HR tech resources.
   • Governance of Regional Digital HR support teams
   • Coordination with global shared services / support model POCs.

   Define clear roles, ownership boundaries, and escalation paths.

   Foster a high-performing, globally distributed team culture.

7. Global Digital HR (DHR) Liaison & Governance

   Act as the primary POC between the RAIL sector and Global Digital HR

   Translate sector needs into structured, prioritized requirements

   Ensure sector adherence to:

   • Global HR technology architecture.
   • Data, security, and compliance standards
   • Release and change governance

   Monitor and hold Global DHR to account for:

   • Application availability
   • Service and Project delivery
   • Cost and efficiency

   Contribute to global roadmap shaping and strategic discussion

   Collaboration and support with other DHR Sector Leads.

8. Adoption, Change & Value Realization

   • Drive adoption and user experience across the RAIL sector
   • Define and track KPIs related to: System engagement; utilization; Employee & Manager self-service, HR operational efficiency, Business value and ROI
   • Develop and promote all technology learning channels and guides.
   • Partner with HR Operations, Change, and Communications teams to embed technology into everyday work.

What you bring to the team

We’re looking for a team player, who is motivated by delivering great work and the Hitachi vision.

The ideal candidate will possess the following skills and background required:

• 10–15+ years of experience in HR Technology / Digital HR / HRIS
• Strong, hands-on experience with Workday in complex, global environments
• Proven people leadership experience (direct and matrixed teams)
• Experience operating in global, federated HR models
• Strong understanding of HR processes, integrations, and data governance
• Excellent verbal and written communications – primary business language is English.

Preferred

• Experience leading AI or automation initiatives in HR
• Exposure to applications in Case Management; Contingent VMS; skills & competencies; learning; payroll and benefits.
• Experience in Rail, Transportation, Infrastructure, or Engineering-led industries
• Prior experience working across Europe and/or India delivery models

Our Values

Weareproudtosayweareanequalopportunityemployerandwelcomeallapplicantsforemploymentwithoutattentiontoanyfactorthat doesn’t impactyourability todothejob,includingrace,colour,religion,sex,sexualorientation,genderidentity,nationalorigin,veteranordisabilitystatus.WeareproudofJapaneseheritage,withourvaluesexpressedthroughtheHitachiSpirit:

Wa–Harmony,Trust,Respect

Makoto–Sincerity,Fairness,Honesty,Integrity

Kaitakusha-Seishin–PioneeringSpirit,Challenge

This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of HR technology for a critical global sector, working at the intersection of Workday, AI, and large-scale digital transformation, while being deeply connected to a global HR technology community.

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