Workday Engagement Leader - Senior Director - Higher Ed

Huron; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 215,000 - 275,000; Full time

Job summary

Huron is seeking a Senior Director to lead executive client relationships and Delivery leadership for high-impact Workday engagements in Higher Education. You will collaborate with client senior leaders, navigate complex governance, and drive strategic initiatives across ERP, HCM, and finance transformations.

You will guide delivery teams, ensure program performance, and champion Huron methodologies while expanding revenue through cross-selling and alliance partnerships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 10+ years of consulting, IT, enterprise software, or transformation leadership.
• Experience leading complex enterprise implementations and working with software vendors and alliance partners.
• Workday implementation or Workday ecosystem experience.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the program executive and trusted advisor for Higher Education Workday engagements at R1 institutions.
• Build and maintain relationships with c-suite executives including CIOs, CFOs, CHROs.
• Lead executive steering committees and governance discussions with strategic direction and status updates.
• Oversee delivery teams, risk management, and change management to ensure client value and satisfaction.
• Identify opportunities for account growth, cross-sell and renewals with Workday and related services.

Skills

Executive leadership

Relationship management

Workday expertise

Cloud ERP

Strategic advisory

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business, Information Systems, Computer Science, Human Resources, Higher Education Administration, or related field

Tools

Workday

ERP systems

Job description

Huron helps its clients drive growth, enhance performance and sustain leadership in the markets they serve. We collaborate with education organizations to develop strategies and implement solutions that enable the transformative change our clients need to own their future. Together, we empower clients to drive innovation, create sustainable funding streams and deliver better student outcomes.

Today, leaders of higher education institutions and academic medical centers are spending too much time reacting to market forces, rather than focusing on the essential priorities that help students, faculty and staff thrive. The most productive path forward requires an intentional approach and innovative thinking, whereby stakeholders across the entire institution rally around a shared vision and embrace the hard work of effecting change.

You’ll help our clients to achieve organizational effectiveness, improve student outcomes, implement new technologies and align resources and investments to ensure long‑term sustainability.

Join our team as the expert you are now and create your future.

At Huron, Senior Directors belong where leaders are elevated and celebrated. They effectively collaborate with Huron and client senior leaders to design and implement goal‑achieving solutions while delivering remarkable results (ones that meet but usually exceed specified engagement objectives). Throughout the process, they construct enduring relationships that benefit the firm in profound ways including selling additional project work into clients.

Their talents and leadership instill passion and followership in clients, juniors, and management. So if you’re defined by ongoing progress—if you can lead teams, create solutions, and masterfully communicate on every level…If you’re a consummate professional, a prospective champion of Huron's core values, and an inspiration of confidence and trust… then you can and will—leave your mark on the future of professional services.

We see what’s possible in you and help you achieve it.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Client Leadership & Relationship Management

• Serve as the program executive and trusted advisor for Higher Education Workday engagements, preferably at R1 institutions
• Build and maintain strong relationships with the c‑suite, including CIOs, CFOs, CHROs, and CIOs
• Partner with senior client stakeholders to align project objectives with institutional goals and strategic priorities.
• Anticipate client challenges and proactively recommend solutions that drive operational improvement and long‑term value.
• Lead executive steering committees and governance discussions while providing strategic direction and status communication.
• Serve as the senior escalation point for complex engagement, relationship, delivery, or governance issues.

Program & Delivery Leadership

• Partnering with Huron Managing Directors/Principles, serve as the Delivery Leader of large‑scale Workday transformation engagements including post‑production support engagements
• Ensure successful execution across scope, timeline, budget, quality, and client satisfaction objectives.
• Guide delivery teams through strategic decision‑making, risk mitigation, organizational change management, and issue resolution.
• Champion Huron implementation methodologies, delivery standards, and Higher Education leading practices.
• Oversee program financial performance, including forecasts, margins, resource planning, billing, and overall engagement health.
• Ensure delivery teams maintain accountability for project outcomes and client commitments.

Higher Education Industry Advisory

• Serve as a subject matter advisor on Higher Education administration, operations, and technology‑enabled transformation.
• Lead conversations around institutional effectiveness, workforce transformation, finance modernization, student administration, research administration, and shared services strategies.
• Advise clients on industry trends, leading practices, regulatory considerations, and emerging opportunities within the Higher Education ecosystem.
• Facilitate executive‑level discussions regarding Agentic AI, future‑state operating models, and digital transformation strategies.
• Provide strategic guidance regarding Workday roadmap alignment and institutional adoption strategies.

Business Development & Account Growth

• Identify, cultivate, and expand strategic client relationships.
• Partner with Managing Directors and leadership to drive account growth strategies.
• Lead sales pursuits, executive presentations, proposal development, pricing discussions, and contract negotiations.
• Identify additional opportunities across Workday, Digital, Enterprise Transformation, and Managed Services offerings.
• Support alliance relationships and collaborate with Workday sales and leadership teams to drive mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Contribute to revenue growth through cross‑selling, upselling, and proactive business development activities.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop Engagement Leaders, Project Managers, Directors, and consulting teams.
• Foster a high‑performance culture focused on client success, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Coach future leaders on engagement management, executive communication, delivery excellence, and business development.
• Support recruiting, onboarding, professional development, and retention initiatives across the Workday practice.
• Promote Huron's core values and leadership principles while developing future practice leaders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Information Systems, Computer Science, Human Resources, Higher Education Administration, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in consulting, information technology, enterprise software, or digital transformation leadership.
• 10+ years of experience leading complex enterprise application implementations and transformation programs.
• 10+ years of experience working with software vendors, alliance partners, and executive sales organizations.
• Prior Workday implementation or Workday ecosystem experience.
• Previous consulting experience focused on HR, Finance, Student, Payroll, or Enterprise Transformation initiatives.
• Experience serving Higher Education institutions, including colleges, universities, research organizations, or academic health systems.
• Demonstrated success leading large‑scale cloud ERP, HCM, Finance, or Student transformation initiatives.
• Experience with contract negotiations, alliance management, and complex sales pursuits.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a trusted advisor to executive stakeholders.
• Strong financial acumen, including engagement forecasting, budgeting, pricing, and profitability management.
• Experience managing large, geographically dispersed, and matrixed project teams.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, negotiation, and executive presentation skills.
• Proven experience leading multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Willingness and ability to travel as required.

The estimated base salary range for this job is $215,000 - $275,000. The range represents a good faith estimate of the range that Huron reasonably expects to pay for this job at the time of the job posting. The actual salary paid to an individual will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to specific skills or certifications, years of experience, market changes, and required travel. This job is also eligible to participate in Huron’s annual incentive compensation program, which reflects Huron’s pay for performance philosophy. Inclusive of annual incentive compensation opportunity, the total estimated compensation range for this job is $279,500 - $357,500. The job is also eligible to participate in Huron’s benefit plans which include medical, dental and vision coverage and other wellness programs. The salary range information provided is in accordance with applicable state and local laws regarding salary transparency that are currently in effect and may be implemented in the future.

Position Level

Senior Director

Country

United States of America