Workday HCM Functional Lead

Focus on WD; Greater London; On-site; GBP 111,000 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

Focus on WD is seeking a Workday Functional Lead for a high-profile transformation in the UK, ideally near London. You will operate at functional lead/solution-architect level, guiding Workday HCM, Absence and Compensation initiatives, and leading governance across realisation, deployment, adoption and BAU.

This 3-4 month contract offers an outside IR35 day rate and involves senior stakeholder collaboration, strategic and detailed design work, and delivery-oriented focus.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6+ years in senior functional roles within Workday.
• Proven experience across Workday deployment and BAU environments.
• Ability to translate business needs into Workday solutions and drive delivery.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and workshop facilitation skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior functional leadership across the Workday HCM landscape.
• Lead workshops and discussions with senior business and HR stakeholders.
• Shape and validate Workday solutions in line with requirements and best practice.
• Guide configuration, business processes and functional design.
• Support resolution of complex functional issues and continuous improvement.
• Ensure transition from deployment into BAU and ongoing optimisation.
• Champion Workday adoption and maximise platform value.
• Act as functional point of contact between business, Workday teams and delivery teams.
• Drive governance and solution assurance across the programme.

Skills

Workday leadership

Senior stakeholder management

Workday HCM

System realisation

BAU deployment

Workday configuration guidance

Workday adoption

Workshop facilitation

Job description

Workday HCM Functional Lead

Contract:Full-Time Contract
Duration:3-4 months initially, with scope for extension
Start Date:September 2026
Location:UK - ideally within commuting distance of London
Day Rate:Competitive, Outside IR35

The Opportunity We are seeking an experiencedWorkday Functional Leadto join a high-profile transformation programme with ahousehold-name UK organisation.

This is an excellent opportunity to work with a prestigious brand and deliver meaningful impact across the Workday estate. The successful candidate will operate atFunctional Lead / Solution Architect level, providing senior functional leadership across system realisation, adoption, stabilisation and ongoing optimisation.

With a strong blend ofWorkday deployment and BAU experience, you will be comfortable operating strategically with senior stakeholders while also having the functional depth to drive solutions through to successful delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide senior functional leadership across the Workday HCM landscape.
• Lead functional activities throughsystem realisation, deployment, adoption, stabilisation and optimisation.
• Act as the key functional point of contact between business stakeholders, Workday teams and technical/project delivery teams.
• Shape and validate Workday solutions in line with business requirements and best practice.
• Provide expert guidance across configuration, business processes and functional design.
• Support the resolution of complex functional issues and drive continuous improvement across the Workday platform.
• Lead workshops and discussions with senior business and HR stakeholders.
• Translate business requirements into pragmatic, scalable Workday solutions.
• Support governance, decision-making and solution assurance across the programme.
• Ensure successful transition from deployment intoBAU and ongoing optimisation.
• Champion Workday adoption and help maximise the value of the platform.

Required Experience

• 6+ years of Workday experiencein senior functional roles.
• Strong experience across bothWorkday deployment and BAU environments.
• Proven experience operating as aWorkday Functional Lead, Senior Functional Consultant or Solution Architect.
• Strong hands-on functional expertise across:
  • Workday HCM
  • Workday Absence
  • Workday Compensation
• Experience taking Workday solutions through implementation/deployment and into stabilisation and BAU.
• Strong understanding of Workday functional architecture, business processes and solution design.
• Proven ability to work with and influencesenior stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, workshop facilitation and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to operate at both strategic and detailed functional levels.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical capability.

Desirable

• Workday Learningexperience.
• Experience within a large, complex UK enterprise environment.
• Experience supporting Workday adoption and organisational change.
• Experience with Workday optimisation and continuous improvement programmes.
• Previous experience working for a major household-name organisation.

The Person We are looking for someone who canhit the ground runningand provide immediate senior-level functional leadership.

You will be confident challenging and advising senior stakeholders, comfortable navigating complex Workday environments, and capable of moving seamlessly between high-level solution design and detailed functional discussions.

You will bring a pragmatic, delivery-focused approach, with the credibility to operate as thefunctional authority for Workdaythroughout the engagement.

Why This Role?

• Work with ahousehold-name UK organisation.
• Excellent brand/logo exposure for your CV.
• SeniorWorkday Functional Lead / Solution Architect-levelposition.
• Opportunity to influence a major Workday estate beyond initial deployment.
• Initial3-4 month contract with scope for extension.
• Competitive day rate, Outside IR35