Product Owner, Core Compensation & Benefits Enterprise Innovation & Solution

Novartis India; Hyderabad; On-site; INR 2,500,000 - 4,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Novartis India in Hyderabad is seeking an HR Technology Product Owner to own Reward and Benefits platforms, including Workday modules, and to drive AI-enabled improvements across HR systems. You will coordinate with DDIT, HR stakeholders, and vendors, manage changes, governance, and release management, while ensuring reliable service delivery and user experience.

The role requires strong data/AI fluency, 5+ years Workday experience, and broad HR tech background, with leadership in enterprise

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or equivalent HR systems background.
• 5+ years' experience with Workday Rewards & Benefits end-to-end processes.
• 10+ years in HR technologies/tools including Workday, ServiceNow, SAP HCM, Cornerstone, and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day relationships with rewards/benefits technology vendors and cluster benefits leads.
• Collect change requests from cluster leads, review requirements, and obtain PTDI governance approval.
• Lead enterprise-level system enhancements and assess vendor features.
• Oversee vendor management, SLAs/KPIs, cost management and service delivery.
• Collaborate with HR tech systems to maintain HR systems and support releases.
• Serve as AI-literate Product Owner, defining and scaling AI solutions.
• Partner with PTDI teams and HR stakeholders for requirements, design, configuration, training, release.
• Act as Level 3 support owner for incidents and enhancements.

Skills

AI Fluency

Product Thinking

Agile Methodologies

Vendor Management

Communication Skills

Stakeholder Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or equivalent HR systems background

Tools

Workday

Workday Rewards & Benefits

ServiceNow

SAP HCM

Cornerstone On Demand

Reporting

Job description

About The Role

The HR Technology Product Owner acts as owner of specific HR technologies/modules, managing the Reward and Benefits technology in Workday and other tools. The focus is on reviewing change request requirements from countries, governing change requests, coordinating with Data Digital & IT (DDIT) on internal IT aspects, deploying new technical enhancements from technology vendors, and managing vendors to improve the user experience and benefits administration service delivery. The role collaborates closely with cluster benefits and compensation leads, APD, DDIT, and other HR functions. Location: Hyderabad, India. The position reports directly to the Director Reward Enterprise and Innovation Solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage day‑to‑day relationships with Rewards and Benefit technology vendors and cluster benefits leads on benefits platform management.
• Collect change requests from cluster leads, review the requirements, and obtain approval from the PTDI governance board.
• Assess new features from technology vendors and lead enterprise‑level system enhancements.
• Handle vendor management related to service delivery (SLAs/KPIs), cost management, and other responsibilities.
• Work with other HR technology systems in scope—Talent Acquisition, Learning, Performance Management, Talent Management, Rewards, People Experience, and Services systems—to manage and maintain various HR systems (GxP and non‑GxP), provide knowledge and guidance, resolve incidents, implement system changes, and support vendor releases.
• Serve as an AI‑literate Product Owner capable of defining, delivering, and scaling enterprise AI solutions—combining strong data/AI fluency, hands‑on AI application, and governance‑led product thinking.
• Partner with PTDI teams, HR business stakeholders (e.g. GPOs, COEs, PS&S), and DDIT for all aspects related to current technologies, including integration of new technologies, design and delivery of system enhancements, HR projects, prioritization of business requirements, solution design & configuration, translations, knowledge management, training, and release management.
• Act as Level 3 support owner; highest escalation point to address incidents and approve enhancement requests for existing technologies.

Essential Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or equivalent experience in HR systems or related field.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in Workday Reward and Benefit end‑to‑end process knowledge, including Workday Core Compensation, Advanced Compensation, and Workday Benefits Module.
• Overall at least 10 years of experience with HR technologies and tools (e.g. Workday, ServiceNow, SAP HCM, Cornerstone on Demand, and Reporting).
• Experience in system implementation, configuration, and support with strong experience using Agile methodologies; service management and delivery expertise.
• AI Fluency & Product Thinking (baseline requirement). Solid knowledge of AI/ML fundamentals (LLMs, GenAI, Agents, ML basics). Ability to translate business problems into AI use cases and product features; understand where AI adds value versus where it should not be applied; manage AI lifecycle from idea to PoC to MVP to scale.
• Comfortable with probabilistic systems and continuous improvement loops.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience in global, multinational, complex, and matrixed organizations.
• Workday certifications in Advanced Compensation, Core Compensation, and Workday Benefits would be a strong advantage.
• Working knowledge of benefits administration platforms such as Benefex, Equatex, or similar benefits and equity management solutions.
• Experience configuring, supporting, or enhancing benefits and compensation processes within Workday and related integrated platforms.

Why Novartis

Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you—collaborating, supporting, and inspiring each other—to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? Learn more about our people and culture.

Benefits and Rewards

Learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally. Read our handbook (PDF 30 MB).