Workday Senior Functional Architect

We are seeking a collaborative and skilled Techno-Functional Workday HCM Architect to join our HRIS team. This role will focus on designing and optimizing Workday HCM solutions, with expertise in Absence Management, US Payroll and Compensation modules. In this role, you will help shape scalable and efficient Workday solutions that support our evolving HR strategies.

Serve as the “go-to” implementation leader, expected to provide expert guidance and delivery for functional area engagements. This individual serves as the functional leader on Workday projects.

This role requires working closely with Product Management, PMO, functional area leaders, and Technology team resources. Additionally, this role will provide overarching strategic guidance and leadership on all HRIS initiatives to ensure a robust and complete solution that meets the stakeholder needs and allows for future enhancements with limited rework.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide functional leadership on multiple, concurrent Workday projects across all functional areas (for example, Core HCM, Core and Advanced Compensation, Benefits, Payroll, Absence Management, Talent, Performance and Recruiting).

• Oversee functional area Architect Workshops and Client Confirmation Sessions across initial discovery, design and testing feedback, besides operational improvement requests, ensuring efficient and accurate design and configuration of the delivered solution.

• Act as a sounding board and provide ad-hoc advice for HR Product and HR Transformation and HRIS leads and serve as an advocate and escalation point for the functional team and ensure issues are being addressed.

• Help team to understand and adhere to methodology to deliver Workday enhancements and projects and provide feedback to appropriate parties internally to support continuous enhancement of our tools and process, which includes driving team members to keep these tools current.

• Mentor junior team resources by providing guidance allowing them to learn new skills and functional areas, lead stakeholder sessions, and configure the solution. 

• Ensures cohesive structures and project communications are in place for cross functional delivery between project focus area and the following areas: Absence, Time Tracking, HCM, Payroll, Integrations, Organizational Change & Training, Data Conversion, Reporting and others as applicable.

• Drive enhancements and new feature rollouts within HCM, focusing on usability, automation, and compliance while leveraging AI enable features.

• Provide technical leadership and guidance to Workday developers and analysts.

• Troubleshoot and resolve complex configuration, data issues, system issues and performance bottlenecks.

• Manage and lead regular HRIS calls for and with support areas.

• Partner with HR Product, HR Transformation, Integrations, Reporting & Analytics, QA and PMO, to drive team and individuals to achieve high end user satisfaction levels and provide feedback to and facilitate team member growth and development.

• Ensure that issues and risks are documented and discussed openly with appropriate stakeholders.

• Support the functional delivery team by:
  • Owning the HRIS end of the process related to estimating project level of effort, resource requirements and timelines balanced against other initiatives and resource availability.
  • Estimating and socializing project changes and change orders with vendors across all HRIS supported functional areas.
  • Creating and maintaining or facilitating the creation and maintenance of documentation, process diagrams, and configuration workbook(s).

• Performs other related duties and special projects as requested.

• Complies with all policies and standards.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS

• Completion of a four (4) year college degree and/or successful completion of some industry course work
• 6+ years of experience in HRIS (or relevant)
• 3+ years experience with one or more full lifecycle(s) of Workday HCM Implementation(s) and / or large-scale Workday HCM optimization for large global organization(s).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Proficient in Microsoft, including Excel formulas and Visio.

• Analytical and organization skills to work and lead effectively in a detail-oriented environment.

• Superior interpersonal skills to effectively function in lead roles and work well within a team environment.

• Must be able to work independently or collaboratively and cooperatively in a team environment.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Ability to work under deadline pressure, cope well with changing priorities and effectively manage multiple projects, which may require flexible work hours and the ability to escalate to management.

• Very well organized, high attention to detail, with logical problem-solving skills and must be able to maintain the confidentiality of employee information.

• Excellent understanding of interfaces with 3rd party platforms/vendors.

• Experience understanding how all Workday modules work together, specifically, HCM, Absence, Benefits, Compensation, Payroll, Talent Management, Recruiting, Onboarding, and Time Tracking.

• Proven experience and robust knowledge in Multi-State US-based Absence configuration and compliance including PTO and Sick plans and Leave Types.

• Ability to build relationships with many different areas of the organization to effectively manage HRIS projects and programs.

• Strong accountability and attention to detail.

• Effective team player with collaborative focus and ability to train/coach others.

• Ability to summarize technical information into easy-to-understand content.

• Adaptable to changing environment and ongoing technology changes.

 

Inspire is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 33,000 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC restaurants worldwide.

We’re made up of some of the world’s most iconic restaurant brands, but we’re much more than just a restaurant company. We’re a team of hundreds of thousands who individually and collectively are changing the way people eat, drink, and gather around the table. We know that food is much more than a staple—it’s an experience. At Inspire, that’s our purpose: to ignite and nourish flavorful experiences.