Senior Specialist, People Systems

Ancestry; United States; Hybrid; USD 97,000 - 122,000; Full time

Job summary

Ancestry is seeking a Senior Specialist, People Systems with deep Workday expertise across Core HCM and Hire-to-Retire. You will leverage data storytelling, BI tools, and automation to drive strategic HR decisions and system efficiency.

You will lead Workday configurations, reporting, and large-scale improvements while mentoring junior analysts and partnering with senior leaders to align initiatives with business goals.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in HRIS or People Systems with Workday across Core HCM and Hire-to-Retire.
• Hands-on mastery of Workday configuration, BP design, and security.
• Data-driven storyteller with Excel modeling and BI tools (Power BI).
• Automation-focused with experience in process reengineering and RPA.
• Strategic partner capable of translating system capabilities into business solutions.
• Agile project leadership experience in Workday releases and optimizations.
• Mentor for analysts and partners, promoting self-service and data literacy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Bachelor’s degree in HR, IS, or related field; Workday certifications are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Act as Workday SME across Core HCM and Hire-to-Retire processes (Talent, Payroll, Leave).
• Own Workday configurations, business processes, integrations, and security.
• Utilize Workday reporting, data extracts, and advanced Excel modeling to inform decisions.
• Design dashboards using Power BI to enable clear data storytelling from HR systems.
• Lead continuous improvement and implement workflow automation and RPA solutions.
• Define and deliver KPIs for Workday services and outcomes.
• Lead Workday projects and releases using Agile, Scrum, or Waterfall as appropriate.
• Partner with senior HR leaders to translate capabilities into strategic actions.
• Present Workday insights to influence workforce planning and performance roadmaps.
• Diagnose and resolve complex Workday data/process issues; coach junior staff.
• Communicate complex concepts through documentation and presentations.

Skills

HRIS expertise

Workday configuration

Data storytelling

Excel modeling

Power BI

Automation/RPA

Stakeholder partnership

Agile project leadership

Mentoring

Clear communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/IS

Workday certifications (plus)

Tools

Power BI

UiPath

Alteryx

Job description

About Ancestry

About Ancestry: When you join Ancestry, you join a human-centered company where every person’s story is important. Ancestry®, the global leader in family history, connects everyone with their past so they can discover, preserve, and share their unique family stories. With our unparalleled collection of more than 65 billion records, over 3.5 million subscribers, and over 27 million people in our growing DNA network, customers can discover their family story and gain a new level of understanding about their lives. Over the past 40 years, we’ve built trusted relationships with millions of people who have chosen us as the platform for discovering, preserving, and sharing the most important information about themselves and their families. We are committed to our location flexible work approach, allowing you to choose to work in the nearest office, from your home, or a hybrid of both (subject to location restrictions and roles that are required to be in the office- see the full list of eligible US locations HERE). We will continue to hire and promote beyond the boundaries of our office locations, to enable broadened possibilities for employee diversity. Together, we work every day to foster a work environment that's inclusive as well as diverse, and where our people can be themselves. Every idea and perspective is valued so that our products and services reflect the global and diverse clients we serve. Ancestry encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled, protected veterans and all other qualified applicants. Passionate about dedicating your work to enriching people’s lives? Join the curious.

Senior Specialist, People Systems

This role is responsible for delivering long-term People Systems strategies, driving continuous improvement, and enhancing functional capabilities. The position ensures alignment with business objectives and incorporates feedback from customers to inform ongoing development. Leads the People Systems delivery engine, providing organisational partners with the necessary insights, tools, processes, and systems to support high-impact strategic partnerships. Drives modernization, scalability, and operational excellence across People Systems, including technology stacks, workflows, and cross-functional processes, to encourage greater engagement and adoption.

What you’ll do

• Acts as a Workday subject matter expert across Core HCM and Hire-to-Retire (HTR) processes, including Talent, Payroll, and Leave & Absence, with a comprehensive understanding of functional configuration and Workday security.


• Owns and optimises Workday configurations, business processes, integrations, and security frameworks to maintain system stability, scalability, and alignment with organisational requirements.


• Utilises Workday reporting, data extracts, and advanced Excel-based modelling to analyse workforce data, identify trends, and support strategic HR and business decisions.


• Designs and delivers impactful analytics and dashboards using Power BI or similar business intelligence tools, facilitating clear data storytelling from Workday and related HR systems.


• Leads continuous improvement initiatives by reengineering Workday-enabled processes and implementing workflow automation and RPA solutions (e.g., UiPath, Alteryx) to boost efficiency and data quality.


• Defines, tracks, and delivers against process performance KPIs for Workday services and operational outcomes.


• Leads and contributes to Workday projects and releases, including enhancements, optimisations, and large‑scale transformations, utilising Agile, Scrum, or Waterfall methodologies as appropriate.


• Partners with senior HR leaders and business stakeholders to translate Workday system capabilities and data insights into actionable strategies and informed decision-making.


• Serves as a trusted advisor to stakeholders by presenting Workday insights and recommendations that influence workforce planning, operational performance, and continuous improvement roadmaps.


• Diagnoses and resolves complex Workday system, data, and process issues through structured problem‑solving and data‑driven analysis.


• Coaches and mentors’ junior analysts and functional partners on Workday capabilities, reporting, and analytics, promoting self‑service and enhancing overall system adoption and maturity.


• Effectively communicates complex Workday and people‑data concepts to both technical and non‑technical audiences through clear storytelling, documentation, and presentations.

Who you are

5+ years of experience in HRIS or People Systems, with a deep specialization in Workday across Core HCM and the full Hire-to-Retire lifecycle (Talent, Payroll, Leave & Absence).

A Workday Expert with hands‑on mastery of functional configuration, business process (BP) design, and complex security frameworks.

A "Builder" by nature who thrives on transforming under‑optimized systems into scalable, best‑practice environments rather than just maintaining the status quo.

Data‑driven storyteller proficient in advanced Excel modeling and business intelligence tools like Power BI, with the ability to turn complex system data into actionable executive insights.

Automation‑focused professional with experience re‑engineering processes and a working knowledge of RPA or workflow tools (e.g., UiPath, Alteryx) to drive operational efficiency.

Strategic partner who can navigate complex stakeholder relationships, translating technical system capabilities into business solutions for People Business Partners and COEs.

Agile project leader experienced in managing Workday releases and large‑scale optimizations using Agile, Scrum, or Waterfall methodologies.

Natural mentor who enjoys coaching junior analysts and empowering non‑technical teams to embrace system self‑service and data literacy.

Clear communicator capable of explaining sophisticated technical concepts to non-technical audiences through high‑quality documentation and presentations.

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Information Systems, or a related field; Workday certifications are a significant plus.

Why Ancestry?

Join a dedicated team working to connect millions of people with their past and enrich their futures. At Ancestry, you will play a role in pioneering legal solutions that shape the consumer genomics industry. Your contributions will help foster and protect our workforce that is dedicated to helping our customers tell their own stories, while supporting a brand recognized and trusted around the world. We offer a collaborative workplace, competitive compensation, and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference.

Compensation

Compensation Ancestry values pay transparency and equity. As a signatory of the ParityPledge in Support of Women and the ParityPledge in Support of People of Color, we are pleased to share the base salary range for this position: $97,000 - $122,000, with eligibility for bonus, equity, and comprehensive benefits including health, dental, and vision. Actual salary will depend on location and experience. We will provide detailed compensation data for a specific location during the recruiting process.

Additional Information

Ancestry is an Equal Opportunity Employer that makes employment decisions without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, mental or physical disability, medical condition, military or veteran status, citizenship, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. In addition, Ancestry will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. All job offers are contingent on a background check screen that complies with applicable law. For candidates who live in San Francisco, CA, pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Ancestry will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Ancestry is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Let’s write the next chapter of history together. Our employees are fueled by our inquisitive nature and united by our shared commitment to help people discover, craft, and connect their family history. Whether you’re a natural problem solver, a strategic builder, an inspired creative, or something in between—we invite you to share your story and join us in making history.