Workday Solutions Specialist

Pick n Pay Retailers; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Pick n Pay Retailers seeks a Workday Solution Specialist to own, configure and optimize the Workday environment. You will partner with People leadership, HR Shared Services and IT to translate requirements into scalable Workday solutions and manage security, testing and deployment.

The role requires 3–5 years’ hands-on Workday experience, strong problem solving, and the ability to operate with independence and technical judgement within a large retail HR ecosystem. Closing date: 7 September 2026.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in IS, HR, Business, Technology or related field.
• Workday Pro Certification and/or Workday certification/training.
• Certification in areas like HCM, Recruiting, Talent, Learning, Absence, Security or Extend is advantageous.
• Additional HR tech, data, project or change management training is beneficial.
• 3–5 years’ hands-on Workday/HCM experience and able to configure business processes.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary internal functional and technical specialist for the Workday platform.
• Own and maintain Workday configuration across modules and related setup.
• Translate People and business requirements into scalable Workday solutions.
• Provide technical guidance to Functional Leads and challenge requirements where needed.
• Lead design, configuration, testing and deployment of changes and improvements.

Skills

Workday expertise

HRIS implementations

Data analysis

Problem solving

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Workday certification

HR technology training

Job description

It’s fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they’re doing! The Workday Solution Specialist provides functional and technical ownership of Pick n Pay’s Workday environment, ensuring that the platform is stable, secure, effectively configured and continuously improved to support the organisation’s People processes and employee experience. Working in close partnership with People functional leads, HR Shared Services, IT and external Workday partners, the role translates business requirements into scalable Workday solutions and provides hands‑on configuration and technical problem solving across the platform. The role is accountable for Workday configuration, business processes, security, testing, release management, reporting, data and integration coordination, technical governance and complex issue resolution. As Pick n Pay’s dedicated internal Workday technical capability, the role is expected to operate with a high level of independence and technical judgement, proactively identifying opportunities to simplify, automate and optimise People processes rather than operating only as a reactive support resource.

Minimum Qualifications

• Relevant Bachelor’s degree, diploma or equivalent qualification in Information Systems, Human Resources, Business, Technology or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Workday Pro Certification and/or relevant Workday certification/accredited training
• Workday training or certification across relevant areas such as HCM, Recruiting, Talent, Learning, Absence, Compensation/Benefits, Security, Reporting or Workday Extend would be advantageous.
• Additional qualifications or training in HR technology, systems analysis, data, project management or change management would be advantageous.

Minimum Experience

• 3-5 years’ experience working in an HRIS/HCM platform environment, with strong hands‑on Workday experience.
• At least 3 years’ practical experience configuring Workday business processes and functionality.
• Demonstrable experience in Workday security, testing, release management and complex issue resolution.
• Experience translating HR/business requirements into system solutions.
• Experience working with HR data, reporting and inbound/outbound interfaces or integrations.
• Experience operating independently in a specialist HR technology or Workday role.

Technical Skills

• Advanced Workday functional configuration and business process knowledge.
• Workday security configuration and access governance.
• Workday reporting, dashboards and calculated fields.
• Release management, regression testing and UAT.
• Strong understanding of HR data structures, interfaces and integration dependencies.
• Root‑cause analysis and complex technical troubleshooting.
• System documentation, configuration governance and change control.
• Strong understanding of the employee lifecycle and core HR processes.
• Strong understanding of Workday leading practices and the ability to identify, assess and implement relevant Workday solutions within the Pick n Pay environment.

Competencies

• Analysis & Attention to Detail
• Judgement & Decision‑Making
• Problem Solving Drive, Ownership & Solution Mindset
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement
• Stakeholder & Partnership Leadership
• Customer Service Orientation
• Influencing Verbal & Written Communication
• Planning & Organising
• Learning Agility
• Knowledge Management

Key Responsibilities

Workday Functional & Technical Ownership

Act as the primary internal functional and technical specialist for the Workday platform. Own and maintain Workday configuration across implemented modules, including business processes, workflows, notifications, calculated fields and related system setup. Translate People and business requirements into appropriate, scalable Workday solutions. Assess the impact and downstream implications of proposed configuration changes before implementation.Provide technical advice to Functional Leads and challenge requirements where alternative solutions may improve efficiency, control or employee experience.

Solution Design, Configuration & Continuous Improvement

Design, configure, test and implement new functionality, enhancements and changes to existing Workday processes. Review existing configuration and business processes to identify opportunities for simplification, standardisation and automation. Partner with People teams to improve manager and employee self‑service and reduce unnecessary manual administration. Support the Workday optimisation roadmap and implementation of future Workday capabilities and modules. Maintain awareness of Workday functionality, product developments and leading practices through Workday Community and relevant networks.

Incident, Problem & Technical Support

Provide specialist escalation support for complex Workday issues that cannot be resolved through first‑line or functional support. Diagnose system issues, conduct root‑cause analysis and implement sustainable solutions that prevent recurrence. Manage technical cases and escalations with Workday and external partners where required. Establish clear prioritisation and tracking of technical requests, incidents and enhancements.

Security, Governance & Compliance

Maintain Workday security configuration, security groups, roles and access in line with organisational policies and segregation‑of‑duties requirements. Conduct regular security and access reviews and support audit requirements. Ensure configuration changes follow appropriate governance, approval, testing and deployment controls. Maintain configuration registers, change logs, technical specifications, test evidence and relevant system documentation. Support data privacy, security and compliance requirements within the Workday environment.

Release & Change Management

Review Workday releases and assess mandatory changes, risks and opportunities for Pick n Pay. Coordinate impact assessments with Functional Leads and relevant technical stakeholders. Configure, test, validate and deploy release‑related changes. Coordinate system, regression and user acceptance testing and ensure issues are resolved before production deployment. Support change, communication and training activities required for successful adoption of system changes.

Data, Reporting & Integration Coordination

Maintain and support Workday reporting, dashboards and data outputs required by People stakeholders. Support data quality and integrity through appropriate controls, audits and issue resolution. Understand inbound and outbound Workday integrations and data flows and coordinate technical resolution with IT and external specialists where required. Participate in integration design and testing and assess the impact of Workday configuration changes on connected systems.

Stakeholder, Partnership & Workday Best Practice Leadership

Lead the functional partnership with Workday and relevant implementation/support partners, acting as the key internal link between Workday capability and Pick n Pay’s People requirements. Proactively engage Workday to identify available solutions, new functionality, product developments and leading practices that can improve Pick n Pay’s Workday environment. Evaluate Workday‑recommended solutions and best practices and translate them into practical, scalable solutions for Pick n Pay. Lead the introduction and implementation of relevant Workday best practices, ensuring that Pick n Pay remains aligned to the intended design and capability of the platform.Build strong working relationships with People Functional Leads, HR Shared Services, IT, Data teams and other internal stakeholders to understand requirements and shape appropriate solutions. Coordinate Workday and external partners in resolving complex issues and delivering system improvements, ensuring clear ownership and follow‑through. Translate technical concepts, Workday recommendations and solution options into clear business language to support informed decision‑making. Provide technical guidance, knowledge transfer and thought partnership to Functional Leads and super users. Knowledge Management & Capability Sustainability Ensure critical Workday knowledge is documented and not dependent on a single individual. Maintain up‑to‑date technical and process documentation for key configurations and changes.

Closing Date

7 September 2026

Discover who we are

At Pick n Pay, we are more than just a retailer; we are an organisation of dedicated people committed to creating an exceptional shopping experience for our customers and an enriching, vibrant work environment for our employees. Founded in 1967, Pick n Pay is one of the largest retail chains in South Africa, serving millions of customers across the African continent. Our reputation is built upon our commitment to offering customers the best in quality, and value.

Our Mission

We serve with our hearts, we create a great place to be and With our minds, we create an excellent place to shop

Our Values

Our values are deeply embedded in our culture and guide our actions: Passion for our Customers: We are passionate about our customers and will fight for their rights. Our customers are our priority, and their satisfaction is our success. Respect and Care: We care for and respect each other. We value our team's diversity and treat each other with kindness and understanding. Personal Growth and Opportunity: We foster personal growth and opportunities. We believe in empowering our employees, providing opportunities for learning and advancement. Leadership and Innovation: We nurture leadership and vision, and reward innovation. We encourage our employees to be leaders in their roles and think outside the box. Honesty and Integrity: We live by honesty and integrity. We operate with transparency and trustworthiness in all our interactions. Community Support: We support and participate in our communities. We believe in making a positive impact and giving back to our communities. Individual Responsibility: We take individual responsibility. We are responsible for our actions and decisions. Accountability: We hold ourselves accountable. We hold ourselves responsible for delivering on our commitments to our customers, each other, and our business.

Why Pick n Pay?

At Pick n Pay, our strength lies in our people. We strive to be the employer of choice, attracting and retaining the best talent in the industry. We create a work environment that fosters growth, celebrates achievements, and values individual contributions. Here, your work will be meaningful, recognized, and rewarded. Experience the joy of being part of Pick n Pay. Let’s shape the future of retail in Africa together. View our career opportunities.