Team Leader, Management

Overview

EMBL is seeking an experienced and motivated Workday Team Leader to lead the delivery, optimisation, and ongoing support of the Workday platform across the organisation. As EMBL transitions to a full Workday platform by the end of 2026, this role will play a key part in ensuring Workday reliably supports HR, Finance, Payroll, Procurement, and related business processes across EMBL s complex international research environment.

The Workday Team Leader will manage a small inhouse functional and technical specialists (currently a team of
4), as well as the relationship with and delivery of external Workday service providers. The Team Leader will serve as the primary liaison between stakeholders and technical Workday experts, ensure reliable and high-quality service delivery, and collaborate with the ERP Team and its Team Leader on the wider ERP landscape and system integrations.

This is a PAN-EMBL role and will involve regular business travel between EMBL s six operational sites, supporting collaboration and consistency across locations.

In This Role You Will

• Leadership & Team Management
  • Lead, mentor, and develop the Workday support and implementation team
  • Set priorities, manage workload, and ensure timely delivery of services and projects
  • Foster a collaborative, service-oriented, and inclusive team culture
• Workday Platform Ownership
  • Act as the overall owner of the Workday platform at EMBL and, in collaboration with the ERP Integrations and IT teams, oversee the Workday integration components of the broader system landscape
  • Ensure stable operation, performance and IT security of the Workday application
  • Oversee configuration, releases, testing, and deployment of Workday updates
  • Develop, maintain, and execute business continuity plans to manage risk and ensure continuity of critical Workday services
• Business Partnership & Stakeholder Management
  • Work closely with colleagues in HR, Finance, Payroll, and other stakeholders to understand business needs
  • Translate organisational requirements into effective Workday solutions
  • Serve as a trusted advisor on Workday best practices and capabilities
  • Continuously assess Workday s evolving capabilities and shape EMBL s Workday roadmap, advising senior leadership on strategic direction and priorities.
• Project & Change Management
  • Lead Workday-related projects, enhancements, and module implementations
  • Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with EMBL strategy
  • Support change management activities, including the delivery of user adoption strategies
• Vendor & External Partner Management
  • Manage relationships with Workday and external implementation or support partners
  • Ensure service quality, contractual compliance, and cost effectiveness
• Governance, Compliance & Documentation
  • Establish and maintain governance, standards, and documentation for Workday
  • Ensure compliance with data protection, security, and audit requirements
  • Support EMBL policies related to data privacy and internal controls

• University degree in Information Systems, Business Administration, Human Resources, Finance, or a related field
• Workday certifications (e.g. HCM, Financial Management, Integrations)
• Several years of hands-on experience working as a project lead in implementing various Workday modules within an international multicultural context
• Proven experience leading teams or acting in a senior/lead Workday role for at least 5 years
• Strong understanding of business processes in HR and/or Finance
• Familiarity with agile or IT service management practices
• Experience working in an international and complex organisational environment
• Excellent communication skills in English

• Leadership and people management
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving
• Stakeholder engagement and service orientation
• Ability to balance operational support with continuous improvement
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills

• Experience in higher education, research organisations, or non-profit international institutions
• Knowledge of integrations, reporting, and security frameworks within Workday
• Working knowledge of German and/or French