About the Role
We are seeking a seasoned and strategic Workday HCM Product Owner to lead the vision, roadmap, and delivery of our Workday Human Capital Management platform. This is a high-impact, senior role that sits at the intersection of HR, Technology, and Business Operations — serving as the primary driver of platform strategy, governance, and continuous improvement across the full Workday HCM suite.
The ideal candidate is a product-minded leader with deep Workday HCM expertise, a strong understanding of HR processes and people strategy, and the ability to influence executive stakeholders while managing a complex, multi-stakeholder product environment. This role requires equal parts strategic vision and hands-on platform knowledge.
Key Responsibilities
Product Strategy & Roadmap
Own and drive the Workday HCM product roadmap, prioritizing enhancements and initiatives in alignment with HR strategy, business needs, and platform capabilities
Serve as the primary voice of the business for Workday HCM, balancing competing stakeholder priorities with platform scalability and governance requirements
Evaluate and champion the adoption of new Workday features and modules released in bi-annual updates, leading impact assessments and deployment planning
Define product vision, success metrics, and business outcomes for each initiative, ensuring measurable value delivery
Governance & Demand Management
Establish and lead governance frameworks for intake, prioritization, and approval of Workday HCM enhancements and projects
Own and actively manage the product backlog, ensuring items are well-defined, properly sequenced, and aligned with organizational priorities
Develop and enforce change management standards and configuration governance processes across the platform
Partner with HR leadership, IT, and Finance to ensure cross-functional alignment on platform decisions
Platform Ownership & Configuration
Serve as the enterprise subject matter expert across core Workday HCM modules including Core HR, Recruiting, Onboarding, Talent & Performance, Learning, Compensation, Benefits, Absence, and Time Tracking
Translate business requirements into clear, actionable functional specifications and solution designs for the Workday configuration team
Lead UAT planning and execution, ensuring solutions meet business requirements before deployment
Oversee security role design and business process framework governance across HCM modules
Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
Build and maintain strong partnerships with HR Business Partners, Total Rewards, Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, Payroll, Finance, and IT
Communicate product strategy, roadmap, and initiative status to executive leadership including CHRO and CPO
Translate complex platform capabilities and constraints into clear, non-technical language for HR and business stakeholders
Lead and facilitate working sessions, design workshops, and stakeholder reviews throughout the product delivery lifecycle
Team Leadership
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Workday HCM analysts, configuration specialists, and business analysts
Foster a culture of continuous improvement, user-centered design, and delivery excellence within the HR Technology team
Manage vendor and implementation partner relationships, ensuring accountability for quality and timelines
Required Qualifications
8–12 years of Workday HCM experience, with at least 3–5 years in a product ownership, product management, or platform lead capacity
Deep functional expertise across multiple Workday HCM modules — Core HR, Recruiting, Talent & Performance, and Compensation at minimum
Proven experience owning and managing a Workday HCM product roadmap in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment
Strong understanding of HR processes, HR data architecture, and people strategy across the full employee lifecycle
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives from requirements through deployment, including UAT and change management
Experience managing governance frameworks, demand intake processes, and backlog prioritization
Excellent communication and executive presence — comfortable presenting to and influencing C-suite stakeholders
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to resolve ambiguity and drive decisions
Preferred Qualifications
Workday HCM Pro certification in one or more modules
Experience leading or supporting a full Workday HCM implementation or major module deployment
Familiarity with Workday Extend, Prism Analytics, or People Analytics
Experience with Workday integrations (EIB, Core Connectors, Studio)
Background in Agile/Scrum product delivery methodologies; Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) or PMP a plus
Prior experience in a regulated industry (financial services, healthcare, life sciences) preferred
Experience in a global, multi-entity organization with international HCM requirements (multi-currency, localization)
Education
Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Information Systems, Business Administration, or related field required
MBA or advanced degree a plus
Location & Schedule
Fully remote with East Coast hours required (EST or within one hour)
Occasional travel for team offsites, key project milestones, or stakeholder meetings (up to 15%)
