Workday System Admin

Hays Electrical Services is implementing Workday as its new Human Capital Management (HCM) platform. We are seeking an experienced Workday System Administrator to join the HR team and lead the technical and functional administration of the system through implementation and beyond. This role sits within HR and serves as the primary in-house Workday expert, partnering closely with the implementation partner/consultants, IT, Payroll, and HR leadership to configure, test, deploy, and continuously improve the platform. The ideal candidate brings demonstrated hands-on Workday experience from a prior implementation or major system upgrade and can independently manage configuration, security, integrations, and reporting while building the long-term administrative foundation for the system once it goes live.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the internal subject-matter expert during the Workday implementation, working alongside the implementation partner to translate Hays' business requirements into system configuration.

• Participate in design workshops; document current-state and future-state business processes.

• Build and maintain business process configurations, security groups, condition rules, calculated fields, and organizational hierarchies.

• Support data conversion, including reviewing legacy data extracts, validating data mapping, and reconciling converted data against source systems.

• Develop and execute test scripts for unit testing, system integration testing (SIT), and user acceptance testing (UAT); log and track defects through resolution.

• Support parallel payroll and benefits testing to confirm accuracy before go-live.

• Help plan and execute cutover activities and go-live readiness checklists across HR, Payroll, IT, and business stakeholders.

• Provide hypercare support immediately following go-live, including rapid triage and resolution of post-launch issues.

• Own day-to-day administration of the Workday tenant, including security groups, role-based permissions, and business process routing

• Build, maintain, and troubleshoot integrations (EIBs, Workday Studio, Core Connectors, third-party interfaces with benefits carriers, payroll vendors, and time-tracking systems)

• Configure and maintain calculated fields, custom reports, and dashboards using Workday Report Writer and BIRT

• Manage periodic Workday releases (twice-yearly updates): review release notes, test new features in sandbox/preview, and coordinate regression testing before production

• Maintain system documentation, including configuration workbooks, business process maps, and security matrices

• Serve as the escalation point for complex HRIS support tickets beyond the scope of HR generalists or the help desk

• Audit data quality and business process compliance on a recurring basis

• Support compensation cycles, open enrollment, annual performance/talent cycles, and other HR calendar events from a systems perspective

• Partner with HR, Payroll, IT, and Finance to identify and implement process improvements and new Workday functionality as the organization matures on the platform

• Develop end-user training materials and job aids; train HR staff, managers, and employees on new processes and self-service functionality

• Establish and enforce data governance standards (naming conventions, security role definitions, change management procedures for configuration changes)

• Ensure Workday configuration supports compliance with employment law, wage and hour regulations, ACA/benefits reporting, and data privacy requirements

• Maintain an audit trail of configuration changes and support internal/external audits as needed

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• On-time completion of assigned configuration and testing milestones against the project plan.

• UAT defect rate - under 5% of test scripts generating critical/high-severity defects at final UAT pass

• Data migration accuracy rate - % of converted records reconciled without discrepancy against legacy data (target 99%)

• Parallel payroll & benefits testing accuracy - zero unresolved discrepancies prior to go-live sign-off.

• On-time go-live readiness - all assigned cutover tasks completed per the go-live checklist.

• HRIS ticket resolution time - average time to resolve Tire 2/3 Workday support tickets within 2 business days.

• User adoption rate - 95% of employees/managers actively using self-service functionality within 90-days of go-live

• Data quality audit results - implement

Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience

• Minimum 4 years of hands-on Workday administration experience, including direct participation in at least one full Workday HCM implementation or major module rollout (design through go-live and stabilization)

• Prior experience in an HR or HRIS function, ideally within a mid-size organization undergoing systems transformation.

• Experience supporting payroll, benefits, or compliance reporting within an HRIS platform.

• Hands-on configuration experience in Workday HCM Core: organizational structures, business process framework, security groups (domain and business process policies), and condition rules

• Practical experience with two or more of the following modules: Benefits, Compensation & Advanced Compensation, Absence Management, Time Tracking, Recruiting, Talent & Performance, or Payroll

• Experience building and maintaining integrations, including EIBs, Workday Studio, Core Connectors, and/or Workday APIs;

• Proficiency in Workday reporting tools: Advanced Reports, Matrix Reports, Composite Reports, and calculated fields;

• Strong Excel skills for data analysis, reconciliation, and mass data loads (EIB templates)

• Working knowledge of how HCM, Benefits, Compensation, and Payroll data interrelate

• Familiarity with SQL or other query tools is a plus but not required

• Experience working directly with a Workday implementation partner or Workday Services team strongly preferred

• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability; comfortable translating ambiguous business requirements into precise system configuration

• Excellent attention to detail, particularly around data accuracy, security permissions, and compliance-sensitive configuration (pay and benefits)

• Strong project management instincts; able to manage multiple concurrent workstreams and testing cycles during a live implementation

• Effective written and verbal communication, including the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders

• Sound judgment and discretion when handling sensitive employee and compensation data

• Change management mindset with the ability to drive user adoption of new processes

• Consultative, service-oriented approach that balances HR's operational needs with system best practices and scalability

• Resilience and composure under implementation deadlines and go-live cutover pressure

• Workday Pro Certification in HCM Core strongly preferred; certification in an additional module (Benefits, Compensation, Absence, Recruiting, etc.) is a plus.

• Experience in construction, electrical contracting, skilled trades, or field-services industries is a plus.

• Prior experience with Miter HRIS.

• Familiarity with XML/XSLT.

• Business Intelligence and Reporting Tools (BIRT) experience.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

Sedentary: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required remain a stationary position over 75% of the time, constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery which can include a copy machine or printer, frequently communicates with internal and external contacts, and must be able to exchange accurate information. The employee is occasionally required to move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, and handle up to 20 pounds (files or office supplies). Must be able to detect, determine, distinguish, inspect, assess, and adjust focus. Management reserves the right to change this position description at any time according to business needs.

Benefits Include:

• Competitive salary based on experience

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance

• Generous paid time off and company holidays

• Opportunities for professional growth and development in a supportive, fast-paced environment