Job Description

Workday Project Manager (HCM & Financials)

Higher Education Required

Our client, a prestigious academic institution, is seeking an experienced Workday Project Manager with Higher Education experience to lead medium to large-scale Workday HCM and Financial Management initiatives . This role will be responsible for planning, leading, and executing complex Workday implementations and enhancements, partnering closely with third-party implementation vendors, internal IT leadership, functional leaders across HR and Finance, and peer Project Managers.

The Project Manager will own end-to-end delivery, ensuring projects are executed on time, within scope, and on budget, while adhering to established project management methodologies and governance standards within an academic environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage Workday implementations and optimization projects across HCM and Financial Management modules , from initiation through post-go-live stabilization.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, schedules, RAID logs, status reports, and governance artifacts.
• Serve as the primary point of contact between internal stakeholders and external implementation partners, ensuring clear accountability and delivery alignment.
• Partner closely with HR, Finance, Payroll, and IT leaders within a higher education setting to understand business needs, translate requirements into executable plans, and manage expectations.
• Oversee vendor performance, deliverables, and contractual milestones, escalating risks and issues as needed.
• Facilitate project governance forums, steering committee meetings, and executive-level status updates.
• Ensure adherence to project management best practices, institutional standards, and change management principles.
• Coordinate cross-functional dependencies including integrations, data conversion, testing, training, and cutover activities.
• Support post-implementation activities, including optimization, stabilization, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Mentor junior PMs and contribute to PMO process maturity, as appropriate.

Required Skills & Experience

• Required: Demonstrated project management experience within a Higher Education institution , including familiarity with academic calendars, governance models, and decentralized stakeholder environments.
• Extensive experience leading complex enterprise systems implementations , including direct management of vendors and system integrators.
• Strong working knowledge of Workday HCM , with demonstrated experience in modules such as:
• Recruiting
• Academic Pay
• Academic Appointments
• Working knowledge of Workday Financial Management , including areas such as:
• Financial Accounting
• Procurement
• Expenses
• Grants or Adaptive Planning (preferred, not required)
• Solid understanding of HR and Finance business processes in an academic context.
• Proven ability to manage multiple workstreams and cross-functional stakeholders simultaneously.
• Excellent facilitation, presentation, and executive-level communication skills.
• Highly professional, confident, and collaborative leadership style with a strong focus on customer success.
• Exceptional listening and relationship-building skills to ensure stakeholder alignment.
• Experience with ERP implementations beyond Workday is a plus.
• PMP or equivalent project management certification preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.

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