Director of HR Systems Optimization

001 University of Rochester; United States; On-site; USD 123,000 - 184,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Rochester is seeking an experienced HR Systems Project Manager to lead the planning, development, and optimization of Workday, UKG, and Cornerstone platforms. You will oversee a team of HR data analysts delivering actionable insights for HR leadership, executives, and the Board.

You will partner with University IT and HR leaders to drive strategic initiatives, improve employee experience, and ensure data accuracy and accessibility across systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and 8+ years of HR systems project management experience, including 5+ years leading a team and optimizing Workday platforms.
• Experience driving Workday, UKG Time & Attendance, and Cornerstone optimization to improve HR processes and reporting.
• PM certification and strong communication, collaboration and change-management skills are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Leads planning, development, and prioritization of HRIS projects and enhancements.
• Leads a team of HR data analysts delivering insights for HR leadership and Board.
• Drives HR system innovation to improve the employee experience and operational efficiency.
• Collaborates with HR leadership, University IT, HRIS teams, URMC IT, and University leadership to deliver solutions.
• Oversees reports, dashboards, and analytics for strategic decision-making at all levels.

Skills

Workday HCM

UKG Time & Attendance

Cornerstone Software Suite

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Systems Analysis or Business Administration

Tools

Workday

Cornerstone

UKG

Job description

As a community, the University of Rochester is defined by a deep commitment to Meliora - Ever Better. Embedded in that ideal are the values we share: equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and accountability. Together, we will set the highest standards for how we treat each other to ensure our community is welcoming to all and is a place where all can thrive.

Job Location (Full Address): 60 Corporate Woods, Brighton, New York, United States of America, 14623
Opening: Worker Subtype: Regular Time Type: Full time
Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40
Department: 100984 Ofc HR - VP Office Work Shift: UR - Day (United States of America) Range: UR URG 117
Compensation Range: $122,600.00 - $184,000.00 The referenced pay range represents the minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job's compensation range, and will be determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, market data, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, and internal equity considerations.

Responsibilities:

• Leads the planning, development, and prioritization of projects and enhancements for various human resources information systems.
• Leads a team of human resources data analysts to deliver actionable insights and reporting that inform strategic decision-making at all levels, including HR leadership, executive teams, and the Board of Directors.
• Drives innovation and utilization of HR systems as a member of the human resources leadership team to enhance the employee experience, improve operational efficiency, and align systems and processes with organizational goals.
• Works collaboratively with Human Resources Leadership, University IT, the HRIS systems team, URMC IT, and University Leadership to deliver impactful solutions.

Essential Functions:

• Acts as the central agent within Human Resources leading the Workday, UKG, and myPath (Cornerstone) optimization efforts, with a primary focus on enhancing the employee experience and advancing human resources (HR) capabilities while fostering collaboration and engagement.
• Through direct contact with human resources stakeholders, drives the strategy behind the Workday platform roadmap in collaboration with the University IT HRIS team, identifying solutions, estimating effort to implement, and ensuring teams adhere to process timelines and action plans, translating projects into workplans for organizational change.
• Acts as a solutions-oriented leader, promoting and supporting innovation, process improvements, and maximizing platform utilization while supporting new offerings.
• Enhances utilization of the Cornerstone on Demand software suite, ensuring tools and procedures for talent development and talent management in partnership with Learning and Development leadership.
• Identifies and develops opportunities for automation across human resources business processes relative to Workday, UKG solutions, and all human resources system offerings.
• Leads and develops a high-performing team of HR data analysts, setting clear objectives and providing mentorship to foster career growth and technical expertise.
• Oversees the creation and delivery of sophisticated data reporting, dashboards, and analytics to support strategic decision-making at all levels, including HR leadership, executive teams, and the Board of Directors.
• Drives the team’s efforts to develop insights that inform organizational priorities, workforce planning, and operational improvements.
• Ensures the team delivers consistent, accurate, and high-quality data outputs while building innovative analytics capabilities.
• Champions a collaborative and innovative culture, encouraging the team to adopt new tools, techniques, and best practices in HR data and analytics.
• Works collaboratively with the University IT HR systems team to prioritize projects and tasks across HR systems, ensuring alignment with strategic HR initiatives and accuracy of data.
• Develops strategic plans for system upgrades and enhancement projects, adoption of new features, migrations to new platforms, and identification of new applications and systems to support the University and HR Strategic plans.
• Obtains sponsorship for application implementation projects.
• Ensures accessibility and usability of the tools provided are understood and measured as relevant to the overall value of the system.
• Utilizes change management, training and communication resources and strategies in all system change efforts with a focus on transparency.
• Ensures the continuous operation of HR Systems, maintaining business continuity and disaster recovery plans in collaboration with Finance and University IT.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education & Experience:

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Systems Analysis or Business Administration and 8 years of related experience in HR Systems Project Management, including 5 years of team leadership and Workday Platform optimization experience, contributing to the Workday implementation(s) of HR products – HCM, Compensation, Benefits, Payroll, Learning, Recruiting required or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills required
• Ability to work collaboratively and build strong team-based relationships required
• Flexibility and problem-solving skills required
• Experience with Workday HCM, UKG Time and Attendance preferred
• Experience with Cornerstone Software Suite preferred

Licenses and Certifications:

• Project Management Professional certification preferred

The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture to advance the University’s Mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create – and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law (Protected Characteristics). This commitment extends to non-discrimination in the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates, for all persons consistent with our values and based on applicable law.

Learn. Discover. Heal. Create.

Located in western New York, Rochester is our namesake and our home. One of the world’s leading research universities, Rochester has a long tradition of breaking boundaries—always pushing and questioning, learning and unlearning. We transform ideas into enterprises that create value and make the world ever better. If you’re looking for a career in higher education or health care, the University of Rochester may offer the perfect opportunity for your background and goals. At the University of Rochester, we are committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture and are united by a strong commitment to be ever better—Meliora. It is an ideal that informs our shared mission to ensure all members of our community feel safe, respected, included, and valued.