Senior Systems Analyst - Workday Data Modeling & Configuration

Northeastern University; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Northeastern University in Boston is seeking a Workday System Analyst, Data Modeling & Configuration to maintain and optimize Workday foundational data structures, including supervisory orgs, job catalog, positions, and cost centers. You will conduct data audits, resolve inconsistencies across HR, Finance, and other systems, configure business processes, and support testing cycles.

The role is hybrid, requiring on-site collaboration at least three days per week in Boston.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Business Administration, Computer Science, or related field required.
• 3-5 years of Workday configuration experience.
• Expert knowledge of Workday business process configuration and optimization.
• Proficiency with Workday tools: Business Process Framework, EIBs, Calculated Fields, Custom Reports, BIRT, Workday Studio.

Responsibilities

• Configure and maintain business processes, notifications, and approval workflows across all Workday modules.
• Manage organizational structures, supervisory organizations, and cost center hierarchies.
• Administer custom fields, custom objects, and custom validations.
• Configure and test functionality for Workday releases (bi-annual updates) and weekly service packs.
• Lead configuration sessions for new implementations and modules.
• Collaborate with functional teams on system requirements and testing.

Skills

Workday configuration

HCM Finance Payroll modules

Analytical problem solving

Translate business to tech

Documentation & communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Information Systems/Business/CS

Tools

Workday Studio

EIBs

Calculated Fields

Custom Reports

Workday BP Framework

Job description

The Workday System Analyst, Data Modeling & Configuration is responsible to maintain and optimize Workday foundational data structures (supervisory orgs, job catalog, positions, cost centers, academic/administrative hierarchies).

Conduct regular data audits, resolve inconsistencies, and ensure alignment across HR, Finance, and other institutional systems.

Configure and maintain Workday business processes, calculated fields, condition rules and support data mappings and crosswalks.

Follow established IT change control procedures, maintain documentation, ensure consistent data definitions and support testing cycles.

24/7 business continuity:

This role requires availability outside of traditional working hours on a rotating basis to ensure continuous operation of critical AI systems and platforms. Responsibilities include monitoring system health, responding to alerts, troubleshooting performance issues, and implementing emergency fixes as needed. The ideal candidate must be able to quickly diagnose and resolve AI system and platform incidents, prioritize issues based on business impact, and coordinate with technical teams to restore service. A strong commitment to system reliability and service continuity is essential for success in this position.

Other duties as required:

This role requires flexibility in performing duties outside of the primary responsibilities to support the evolving AI ecosystem at the university. The ideal candidate must be adaptable and willing to take on additional tasks or projects as required, ensuring consistent and reliable AI and platform operations. This may include assisting with knowledge management, documentation updates, user training, data preparation, or special projects related to AI system improvements. A problem-solving mindset and willingness to tackle emerging challenges are essential for thriving in this dynamic environment.

This role is hybrid and in the office a minimum of three days a week in Boston to facilitate collaboration with both technical teams and operations staff. In-office presence enables effective coordination with support teams, direct access to infrastructure, and hands-on troubleshooting of AI systems and platforms. Physical presence is particularly important for incident response, change management activities, and cross-functional problem-solving sessions that benefit from in-person collaboration and real-time communication.

*Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The University is unable to work sponsor for this role, now or in the future.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Business Administration, Computer Science, or related field required.

Experience:

• 3-5 years of Workday configuration experience


• Demonstrated expertise with Workday HCM, Finance, and Payroll modules


• Background in higher education ERP systems strongly preferred


• Experience with Workday Student a plus


• Expert knowledge of Workday business process configuration and optimization


• Proficiency with Workday tools: Business Process Framework, EIBs, Calculated Fields, Custom Reports, BIRT, Workday Studio


• Understanding of Workday data model and reporting frameworks


• Experience with data conversion, migration, and validation processes


• Ability to troubleshoot system issues and coordinate with technical teams

Required Skills:

• Strong understanding of higher education business processes (academic, HR, finance)


• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities


• Ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions


• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work effectively in team environments


• Excellent documentation and communication skills


• Strong organizational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities


• Experience with change management and ITIL processes

Preferred Qualifications

• Workday Certification (HCM, Financials, or Student)


• Workday Pro or Partner certification


• Additional Workday module certifications (Absence, Benefits, Recruiting, Learning, Compensation)


• Experience with Workday Adaptive Planning or PRISM Analytics


• Knowledge of Workday Extend platform development


• Familiarity with Agile methodologies and iterative development approaches


• Experience with other higher education ERPs (Banner, PeopleSoft, Oracle)


• Familiarity with data analytics and visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI)

Key Responsibilities

Workday Configuration and Administration

• Configure and maintain business processes, notifications, and approval workflows across all Workday modules


• Manage organizational structures, supervisory organizations, and cost center hierarchies


• Administer custom fields, custom objects, and custom validations


• Configure and test functionality for Workday releases (bi-annual updates) and weekly service packs


• Maintain configuration workbooks and process documentation


• Implement and optimize business process definitions and routing


• Collaborate with functional teams (HR, Finance, Payroll, Student Services) on system requirements


• Lead configuration sessions for new implementations and modules


• Support business cycle configuration and system setup activities (payroll cycles, academic periods, financial periods)


• Manage system configuration requests through ServiceNow or ticketing system


• Facilitate training for functional users and super users

Business Analysis and Process Optimization

• Conduct requirements gathering sessions with stakeholders


• Analyze current business processes and identify optimization opportunities


• Develop functional specifications and design documents


• Perform gap analysis between business requirements and system capabilities


• Create process flow diagrams and system documentation


• Design and implement custom reports and dashboards


• Conduct user acceptance testing (UAT) coordination and support


• Develop test scripts and testing scenarios


• Monitor system performance and user adoption metrics


• Create business intelligence dashboards for leadership visibility


• Support data governance initiatives and data quality improvements


• Maintain standard operating procedures and user guides

Technical Support and Data Management

• Create and maintain EIB (Enterprise Interface Builder) templates for data imports/exports


• Monitor and troubleshoot EIB processes and data loads


• Provide technical support for system issues and coordinate resolution with appropriate teams


• Troubleshoot system errors and coordinate with Workday support as needed


• Support data validation and reconciliation activities


• Maintain data quality and integrity across Workday modules


• Document technical processes and data specifications


• Assist with data conversion and migration activities during implementations

Stakeholder Engagement and Management

• Participate in Workday implementation and enhancement initiatives


• Collaborate with project management team on deliverables and timelines


• Serve as subject matter expert in cross-functional teams


• Facilitate requirements gathering sessions and workshops with stakeholders


• Support user story development and acceptance criteria definition


• Provide input for sprint planning and backlog prioritization


• Conduct user training and knowledge transfer sessions


• Partner with change management team on user adoption strategies


• Maintain strong relationships with business stakeholders across departments