Workday HCM Architect

The Planet Group; United States; Remote; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

The Planet Group is seeking an experienced Workday HCM Architect / Workstream Lead to own and guide the HCM workstream, including Core HCM, Compensation, and Security. This hands-on leadership role requires deep Workday expertise and the ability to drive design decisions and lead configuration efforts across the organization.

The ideal candidate will own the HCM foundation and ensure alignment with downstream Workday areas, serving as a trusted advisor to HR and business stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on Workday Core HCM experience.
• Active Workday HCM Certification REQUIRED and Help Certification preferred.
• Experience working for a Workday Certified Services Partner is an ABSOLUTE MUST.
• Extensive hands-on configuration across Workday Core HCM, Compensation, Security.
• Proven ability to lead HCM workstreams during full-cycle Workday implementations.
• Strong understanding of Workday architecture, staffing models, and worker lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Own and lead the Workday HCM workstream from design through configuration and optimization.
• Provide hands-on configuration across supervisory organizations, job profiles, positions, staffing models, and lifecycle processes.
• Design and configure compensation plans, grades, and eligibility rules and related processes.
• Own Workday security architecture including groups, domain policies, and role assignments.
• Advise HR and stakeholders, translating requirements into scalable Workday solutions and leading practices.
• Coordinate with adjacent Workday workstreams to manage dependencies and alignment.
• Lead testing, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis for complex Workday issues.
• Deliver knowledge transfer and coaching to internal teams to improve Workday knowledge.
• Support releases, regression testing, and ongoing system optimization.

Job description

Job Title: Workday HCM Architect / Workstream Lead (Core HCM, Compensation & Security)

Location: USA

Onsite Requirements: Remote

Benefits: if applicable

Introduction

Our client is seeking an experienced Workday HCM Architect / Workstream Lead to own and lead its HCM workstream, including Core HCM, Compensation, and Security.

This is a hands-on leadership opportunity for someone with deep Workday functional expertise who can drive design decisions, lead configuration efforts, and serve as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders. The ideal candidate will be comfortable operating independently, identifying gaps, recommending solutions, and guiding teams through Workday leading practices rather than simply executing predefined requirements.

The organization is looking for someone who can take full ownership of the HCM foundation while ensuring alignment and integration with downstream Workday functional areas.

An active Workday HCM Certification and previous experience working for a Workday Certified Services Partner are mandatory requirements.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Own and lead the overall Workday HCM workstream, including Core HCM, Compensation, and Security, from design through configuration and ongoing optimization.
• Drive functional design decisions and provide hands-on configuration across supervisory organizations, job profiles, positions, staffing models, and worker lifecycle processes.
• Design and configure compensation plans, grades, grade profiles, compensation packages, eligibility rules, and related business processes.
• Own Workday security architecture, including security groups, domain security policies, business process security, and role assignments.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to HR and business stakeholders, translating business requirements into scalable Workday solutions and recommending leading practices.
• Partner with adjacent Workday workstreams, including Payroll, Benefits, Time Tracking, Absence, Talent, and Recruiting, to manage dependencies and ensure alignment.
• Lead testing, troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and resolution of complex Workday issues.
• Provide knowledge transfer, coaching, and guidance to internal teams to improve their Workday knowledge and self-sufficiency.
• Support Workday releases, regression testing, and ongoing system optimization.

Required Skills & Qualifications

Must-have qualifications that candidates must meet to be considered.

• 5+ years of hands-on Workday Core HCM experience.
• Active Workday HCM Certification REQUIRED and Help Certification is preferred
• Previous experience working for a Workday Certified Services Partner is an ABSOLUTE MUST.
• Extensive hands-on configuration experience across Workday Core HCM, Compensation, and Security.
• Proven experience leading or owning HCM workstreams during full-cycle Workday implementations.
• Strong understanding of Workday architecture, organizational structures, staffing models, job architecture, and worker lifecycle processes.
• Deep experience with Workday business process configuration, condition rules, approvals, notifications, and validations.
• Hands-on experience designing and configuring compensation plans, grades, packages, and eligibility rules.
• Hands-on experience designing and configuring Workday security groups, domain security policies, and business process security.
• Proven ability to independently lead stakeholders, drive functional design decisions, and own deliverables through completion.
• Strong client-facing communication skills and the ability to explain complex Workday concepts to stakeholders with varying levels of technical expertise.

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

Nice-to-have skills that would make a candidate more competitive but are not required.

• Previous consulting experience supporting non-profit or mission-driven organizations.
• Experience working with lean internal HRIS or Workday teams.
• Experience supporting high-touch client environments requiring significant stakeholder guidance, education, and hands-on support.
• Experience serving as a client-side Workday HCM advisor or functional lead.
• Experience supporting both Workday implementations and post-production environments.
• Additional Workday expertise across Payroll, Benefits, Time Tracking, Absence, Talent, and/or Recruiting.
• Experience with Workday reporting, calculated fields, dashboards, and security.
• Experience supporting Workday releases, regression testing, and ongoing optimization.
• Experience improving organizational structures, job architecture, and foundational Workday design.