Workday HR Data Lead

Job Description Summary

The HR Data Lead is responsible for the end-to-end structure, quality, and governance of HR foundational data across Workday and other core systems. This role ensures organizational structures, legal entities, supervisory/org hierarchies and foundational attributes are designed and maintained to meet HR business needs and enable accurate reporting, compliance, and decision-making. By driving clear data standards, proactive monitoring, and efficient execution of foundational data changes, the HR Data Lead improves Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost by reducing data defects, accelerating controlled org updates, and ensuring compliant, reliable HR data  addition, this role ensures our core processes, data and AI components fit together as one integrated strategy and solution.

• Foundational Data Structures:
  Define and maintain the data model and architecture for HR foundational data in Workday and connected systems; ensure change requests align with design principles, security, reporting requirements and overall strategy.

• Execution of Data Changes:
  Facilitate and oversee accurate, timely execution of foundational data requests (new orgs, restructures, mergers/divestitures, entity changes), partnering with HR, IT, and Finance to plan, test, and deploy changes with minimal disruption.

• Data Governance & Standards:
  Develop, implement, and enforce policies, procedures, and best practices for foundational HR data (e.g., legal entities, supervisory orgs, cost centers, positions, locations) to ensure consistency, compliance, and alignment with business strategy.

• Integrity Monitoring & Controls:
  Establish data quality metrics, dashboards, and automated controls to monitor integrity across systems; investigate discrepancies, lead root‑cause analysis, and implement corrective and preventive actions where needed.

• Point of Contact for Data Use:
  Serve as the primary contact for data usage, requests, and governance inquiries; triage and prioritize demand, provide guidance on standards, and ensure appropriate approvals and documentation.

• Reporting Enablement:
  Partner with HR analytics to ensure foundational data supports accurate headcount, span/ratio, cost and regulatory reporting; enhance data lineage and definitions for analytics clarity.

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Data Management, or related field, or equivalent experience

• Minimum of 5 years in HRIS/HR Data Management and Data Governance roles with proven ownership of data standards and controls

• Extensive, hands‑on Workday experience with foundational data domains (supervisory orgs, positions/jobs, cost centers, locations, companies/legal entities) and HR business processes (HCM core, staffing, comp, security)

• Demonstrated experience defining data models, designing governance frameworks, and executing complex org changes in controlled environments

• Strong skills in data quality management, root cause analysis, and remediation; proficiency with reporting and validation tools (e.g., Workday Report Writer, EIBs, audits)

• Workday certifications (e.g., HCM, Reporting, Security)

• Experience supporting reorganizations, M&A, or divestitures in a global enterprise

• Experience with AI and working knowledge to ensure our foundational structures and processes support the use of AI technology

• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills with ability to translate technical data concepts into business terms

• Functional experience with integrations and middleware (e.g., Workday Studio, EIBs, APIs) and downstream systems (Payroll, Finance/ERP, Identity)

• Background in data governance frameworks, data stewardship operating models, and metadata/data lineage practices

• Familiarity with regulatory and compliance requirements impacting HR data (privacy, records retention, audit controls)

• Lean/Six Sigma experience with measurable process improvements (cycle time, defect reduction)

• The base pay range for this position is $136,. The specific pay offered may be influenced by a variety of factors, including the candidate’s experience, education, and…