Senior HRIS (Workday) Analyst

Grand Canyon Education (GCE) is a rapidly growing educational service company that has long been an industry leader in providing educational, operational and technological support services to the post-secondary education sector. Formerly part of Grand Canyon University (GCU), GCE still works closely with GCU to benefit thousands of students, families and the local inner-city community. We put people first, drive innovation, and do good in the community that we live and work in.

About the Role

The Senior HRIS Analyst will be responsible for a broad range of activities, including configuring the HRIS system (Workday), developing and documenting technical configuration requirements based on business needs, and mapping end-to-end business processes supported by system configurations. The role provides technical expertise for assigned projects and functional areas, analyzes current processes, and recommends improvements. The Senior HRIS Analyst also implements best practices and system enhancements to support internal customers, business strategies, and operational goals, including proactively reviewing existing configurations to ensure alignment with industry standards and emerging best practices.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a Workday configuration Subject Matter Expert with deep knowledge of current functionality and capabilities, including business processes, integrations, and security.
• Lead highly technical, specialized, and complex projects.
• Oversee the implementation of system upgrades and enhancements, as well as the design of system test plans and test scenarios.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on Workday capabilities for the institution, client groups, and individuals with a focus on product and service development, delivery, and support, and applying key technologies.
• Stay informed about trends in information systems training, materials, and techniques through the Workday Community and other sources to continually enhance both HR knowledge and HRIS application/tools knowledge.
• Recommend and implement process/user experience improvements, as well as innovative solutions.
• Serve as a key liaison with internal customers (e.g., payroll, recruiting, benefits, compensation, and other departments).
• Use project management skills in managing projects.
• Assist in reviewing, testing, and implementing HCM upgrades or patches. Collaborate with functional and technical staff to coordinate the application of the upgrade or fix. Document process and results.
• Assist in the maintenance of the HRIS helpdesk tickets and ensure resolution to all tickets in a timely manner.
• Lead and/or participate in the review, testing, and implementation of Workday releases and communicate the potential benefit of these features to stakeholders.
• Write, maintain, and support a variety of reports or queries using appropriate reporting tools. Assist in developing standard reports to meet ongoing customer needs.
• Help maintain data integrity in systems by running queries and analyzing data.
• Optimize modules such as Time Tracking, Absence, Integrations, and Security (planned for 2026).

Requirements

• 7+ years of Workday experience with demonstrated experience in the design and hands-on configuration of Workday HCM, including Compensation, Absence, Timekeeping, Talent, and Benefits modules.
• Experience should include systems implementations, integrations, complex reporting, and project management.
• At least 2 years in a senior or lead-level role, managing the full life cycle of projects.
• Project experience in a technical or techno-functional role on one or more HR ERP implementations.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline, such as Human Resources, Information Systems, or similar, from a regionally accredited institution. An equivalent combination of education and related work experience may be substituted, subject to the hiring supervisor’s approval.

Skills

• Proactive, solutions-oriented individual with strong problem-solving skills and a high level of initiative.
• Customer-focused HRIS consultant, working closely with internal client groups to understand business needs, ask the right questions, and deliver solutions that prioritize the end-user experience.
• Confident subject matter expert, collaborating across departments, including IT, Compliance, and HR, effectively influencing and facilitating communication between business and technical teams.
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority tasks, adapt to shifting priorities, and consistently meet deadlines.
• Resourceful, proactive, and persistent in finding solutions and delivering results.
• Enjoys sharing ideas, working as part of a team, and helping internal HR clients understand the rationale behind work.

Benefits

• Exceptional workplace benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• 401K savings plan.
• Generous time off plan and 11 paid holidays.
• Paid time off to volunteer in the community or at GCU-sponsored events.
• Free covered parking.
• Education Tuition Discount Program for full-time employees, their spouses, and dependent children.