Workday Functional Consultant

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Workday Functional Lead on a outside IR-35 contract basis to join a high-visibility HR systems transformation program starting in March .

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the way in ensuring Workday is secure, compliant, efficient, and delivers excellent employee and candidate experiences.
• Be the go-to expert across Workday modules, including Core HCM, Absence, Security, Business Processes (BP), Payroll, Recruiting, and Talent —turning ideas into seamless solutions.
• Champion continuous improvement by reviewing configurations and identifying opportunities to boost performance and value.
• Own Workday release cycles - investigate changes, plan ahead, and ensure smooth rollouts.
• Collaborate with Tech teams to manage Workday integrations and ensure systems operate smoothly together.
• Support users by resolving escalated queries and ensuring high-quality service across all touchpoints.
• Develop training materials, lead demos, and drive change-readiness across the business.
• Create dashboards and reports that enable teams to make informed decisions quickly.
• Support major HR events, such as salary reviews, bonus cycles, and other organizational milestones.
• Conduct audits, data cleanses, and system deep-dives as needed.
• Mentor junior analysts and contribute to a culture of collaboration and growth.
• Help manage the HR systems ecosystem end-to-end, ensuring compliance, security, and operational excellence.
• Facilitate workshops, demos, and feedback sessions, translating business needs into actionable Workday configuration changes.
• Document processes, solutions, and configurations for knowledge transfer to internal teams and external partners.

Key Requirements

• 5+ years of hands-on Workday configuration experience, including Core HCM, Absence, Security, Business Processes, Payroll, Recruiting, and Talent modules .
• Proven experience leading full lifecycle Workday implementations (preferred).
• Strong communication skills, capable of engaging and influencing C-level executives and business SMEs.
• Ability to work independently as the Workday SME within a small, lean, and dynamic team.
• Skilled in facilitating workshops, gathering requirements, and translating business needs into Workday solutions.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and fast-paced, evolving requirements.
• Detail-oriented, data-savvy, and able to balance big-picture strategy with hands-on configuration.
• Experience handling sensitive, confidential data with a privacy-first mindset.

Desirable Experience

• Prior experience in retail, hospitality, or customer-facing industries.
• Experience implementing integrations with third-party HR, payroll, or learning systems.
• Experience documenting processes and supporting knowledge transfer to partners or internal teams.

Note: This role is scheduled to start in late March . The advert is being shared in advance to identify available contractors and allow candidates to plan accordingly.