HR Technology Director

United States Digital Space LLC; Greater London, Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

United States Digital Space LLC seeks a Director, HR Technology & Solutions Delivery to lead strategy, design and delivery of our global HR technology ecosystem, with initial focus on Workday. You will own end-to-end IT for Workday, drive platform engineering, security, integrations, and governance, and partner with HR to translate requirements into scalable solutions.

This role reports to CIO and leads a cross-functional team to enable enterprise-wide HR transformation.

Qualifications

• Extensive Workday delivery experience in enterprise settings.
• Strong architecture and governance knowledge.
• Leadership of large technology teams.
• Experience with security and data privacy in HR tech.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end Workday platform operations and enhancements.
• Translate HR requirements into scalable Workday solutions.
• Lead Workday IT Operations team and manage incidents.
• Define technology strategy and multi-year roadmap for HR tech.
• Establish delivery governance and manage vendors.
• Drive platform engineering and automation.

Skills

Workday

HR Technology

Platform engineering

Leadership

Security & IAM

Job description

About the role

The Director, HR Technology & Solutions Delivery is a senior technology leadership role responsible for the strategy, design, delivery, operation and evolution of the company's global HR technology ecosystem.

In the near term, the role has significant accountability for Workday, leading day-to-day IT operations, functional solution design, enhancements, continuous improvement and strategic HR technology projects.

Over time, the role will evolve HR Technology towards a stronger platform engineering and architecture-led model, establishing the technical strategy, engineering practices, integration architecture, governance, security and operational capabilities required to support the company at scale.

This requires a leader who can operate across both the functional and technical dimensions of Workday – translating HR requirements into effective solutions while bringing the technical depth and engineering mindset to shape the future HR technology landscape.

You will have end-to-end IT accountability for Workday and the wider HR technology ecosystem. The Workday IT Operations team will report directly to this role, which reports to the Deputy Chief Information Officer.

ResponsibilitiesWorkday Platform, Operations & Functional Design

• Provide end-to-end IT ownership of Workday, covering functional design, configuration, operations, support, enhancements and continuous improvement.

• Partner with HR People Services and Centres of Excellence to translate business requirements into scalable, sustainable Workday solutions aligned with global standards.

• Provide senior oversight of Workday business processes, configuration, security, reporting, integrations and adoption of new platform capabilities.

• Lead the Workday IT Operations team, ensuring effective management of incidents, requests, defects, changes, enhancements and releases.

• Establish effective service levels, operational KPIs, demand and backlog management, root-cause analysis, testing, documentation and operational controls.

• Drive continuous improvement, automation and proactive platform management to improve user experience, reliability and operational efficiency.

• Act as the senior escalation and decision point for significant Workday functional, technical and operational matters.

HR Technology Project & Solutions Delivery

• HR Technology Strategy: Own end-to-end technology delivery of significant Workday and wider HR technology initiatives, from requirements and solution design through build, integration, testing, deployment, stabilisation and BAU transition.

• Lead Workday enhancements, module implementations, optimisation initiatives and HR transformation projects.

• Ensure solutions align with business outcomes, architecture principles and the longer-term HR technology roadmap.

• Establish delivery governance across scope, plans, dependencies, resources, risks, quality and budget.

• Hold systems integrators and delivery partners accountable for delivery, solution quality, knowledge transfer and sustainable support.

Architecture & Engineering

• Define the technology strategy, target architecture and multi-year roadmap for the company's global HR technology ecosystem.

• Establish architecture and engineering principles across platforms, integrations, APIs, data, identity, security, environments, testing, deployment, monitoring and operational resilience.

• Lead the progressive evolution of HR Technology towards a stronger platform engineering operating model, increasing automation, standardisation and engineering discipline.

• Ensure HR technology is scalable, secure, resilient, maintainable and aligned with the company's wider enterprise technology strategy.

• Manage technical debt and identify opportunities to simplify and modernise the HR technology estate.

• Develop internal technical capability and reduce unnecessary reliance on external partners for core platform knowledge.

Integrations, Security & Technical Governance

• Own technical governance across HR technology architecture, integrations, security and change.

• Ensure secure and reliable connectivity between Workday, HR applications, enterprise platforms, identity services, data platforms and external providers.

• Establish appropriate integration patterns, APIs, middleware and data standards, reducing unnecessary point-to-point connectivity.

• Ensure appropriate controls across cyber security, data privacy, identity and access management, privileged access, segregation of duties and change management.

• Embed security, risk and compliance requirements into solution design and delivery and maintain appropriate controls and audit evidence.

• Partner with Enterprise Architecture, Cyber Security, Data and Integration teams to ensure HR technology aligns with enterprise standards.

Vendor, Commercial & HR Partnership

• Act as the senior IT partner to HR leadership, translating HR strategy and operational priorities into an actionable technology roadmap.

• Work with HR People Services and Centres of Excellence to shape solutions and prioritise BAU enhancements, projects and strategic investments.

• Provide guidance on Workday capabilities and wider opportunities including automation, AI and emerging HR technologies.

• Manage strategic relationships with Workday, technology vendors, systems integrators and specialist partners.

• Hold partners accountable for technical capability, solution quality, service, delivery and commercial outcomes and provide technology leadership for vendor selection and investment decisions.

Leadership & Capability Building

• Build and lead a high-performing HR Technology team with the right balance of Workday functional, technical, integration, engineering and operational capabilities.

• Develop the technical maturity of the function through coaching, standards and strong engineering practices.

• Foster collaboration across HR, Enterprise Architecture, Cyber Security, Data, Integration and wider IT.

• Establish a culture of ownership, customer focus, engineering quality, accountability and continuous improvement.

• Act as a visible and credible senior technology leader across the organisation.

About you

You are an experienced HR technology leader who combines strong Workday functional and delivery expertise with technical depth and an engineering mindset.

You understand how Workday supports end-to-end HR processes and can lead functional solution design and delivery, while being equally comfortable discussing integrations, architecture, security, engineering and enterprise technology.

You will bring:

• Significant experience leading Workday in a complex enterprise environment across functional design, BAU operations, enhancements and project delivery.

• Strong Workday functional solution-design expertise across multiple areas, with an understanding of HCM processes, configuration, security, reporting, integrations and data.

• Proven experience delivering significant Workday implementations, module deployments, transformations or optimisation programmes.

• Strong understanding of enterprise integrations, APIs, middleware, data integration and connectivity.

• Understanding of platform engineering practices including testing, deployment, monitoring, automation and operational resilience.

• Strong understanding of application security, identity and access management, technology risk, data privacy and change controls.

• Experience establishing effective technical and functional governance for enterprise applications.

• Demonstrated success managing systems integrators, vendors and strategic partners.

• Experience building and leading multidisciplinary technology teams.

• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills across HR and Technology leadership.

Critically, you will be comfortable operating across the full spectrum from Workday functional design and day-to-day platform decisions through to enterprise architecture and technology strategy.

Desirable

• Senior Manager, Director or equivalent experience within a global organisation.

• Deep experience across Workday HCM and multiple Workday modules, supported by Workday certifications and/or demonstrable functional and technical expertise.

• Experience leading global Workday deployments, optimisation programmes or major HR transformations.

• Experience within consulting, technology, pharmaceutical, life sciences or another complex multinational environment.

• Experience introducing platform engineering, DevOps, automation or product-oriented ways of working into enterprise applications.

About the company

At the company, we're a global team motivated by a shared purpose: to reimagine health.

Formed in 2022, we unite decades of experience and expertise with data, technology, and AI to create tailored solutions that drive Intelligent Commercialization™ at every stage of the journey - from discovery to post-launch.

Our global network of over 10,000 experts operates across 50 countries, supporting clients with strategic insight, medical excellence, creative engagement, and real-world delivery. We work with the world's leading health and life sciences businesses to solve complex challenges and accomplish meaningful outcomes for our clients and patients.

What sets the company apart is our people - and we believe everyone should excel. Here, you're encouraged to reimagine your possibilities: to grow, to be curious and to make change happen. We value your individuality, support your development, and celebrate your ambition. If you're ready to push boundaries and accelerate your career, the company is the best place to be.

Our Pledge

At the company, we value inclusivity, recognize the power of diversity and inspire the next generation of change-makers. We are an equal opportunities employer. We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity, equity and inclusion. We aim to recruit from a diverse slate of candidates and foster an environment that provides the right conditions for long-term success. We welcome all applications. We consider them regardless of race, color, religion, or belief. We also consider them regardless of gender, gender identity, age, national origin, marital status, military veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disability.

Artificial Intelligence

the company may use AI technologies to support certain aspects of our recruitment process, but all hiring decisions at the company are made by our human recruiting team. We are committed to fair, inclusive, and human-led hiring practices.

#LI-DT2 #LI-HYBRID