Workday Payroll Configuration Lead

About the role

Our client is seeking a Workday Payroll Configuration Lead to join their team. The Workday Payroll Configuration Lead is the primary technical owner for payroll configuration within Workday. This role translates payroll requirements into secure, scalable configuration; leads testing and controlled releases; resolves complex system issues; and builds durable internal capability through documentation, training, and knowledge transfer. The role sits within HR Systems & Technology and works closely with Payroll, HR Operations, Finance, Benefits, Security, Integrations, and external payroll providers.

Responsibilities

• Workday Payroll Configuration and Process Ownership: Own the design, configuration, documentation, and maintenance of Workday Payroll functionality and related business processes. Translate approved payroll requirements into sustainable configuration, including earnings, deductions, payroll inputs, calculations, retroactive processing, withholding, costing, settlement, and year-end processes. Evaluate downstream effects across HCM, Compensation, Benefits, Time Tracking, Absence, Reporting, Security, and integrations before implementing changes. Apply enterprise configuration standards and favor scalable design over one-off exceptions. Train internal resources on Workday configuration.
• Testing, Release and Operational Support: Create and execute unit, regression, end-to-end and post‑production validation plans for payroll changes. Lead technical triage and root‑cause analysis for payroll system defects, calculate business impact, and drive issues through resolution. Monitor recurring defects and support trends to identify opportunities for process redesign, automation, and preventive controls.
• Knowledge Transfer and Capability Building: Complete structured knowledge transfer from the interim payroll configuration consultant and convert that knowledge into repeatable internal procedures. Maintain configuration, decision logs, runbooks, test libraries, release checklists, and support documentation. Train and mentor a designated backup resource so payroll configuration knowledge is not concentrated in one person. Develop functional understanding across the HR Technology team and reinforce clear boundaries between business ownership and system administration.
• Optimization and Payroll Technology Strategy: Identify opportunities to simplify payroll processes, automate manual work, improve controls, and increase adoption of native Workday capabilities. Assess Workday releases and payroll product enhancements, recommend relevant features, and lead adoption through the governance process. Support the long‑term global payroll strategy, including evaluation of capabilities that could be brought into Workday to reduce vendor complexity and operating cost.

Required Qualifications

• At least five years of experience supporting payroll technology, payroll operations, or enterprise HR systems, including at least three years of hands‑on Workday Payroll configuration experience.
• Strong understanding of payroll processing, earnings, deductions, taxes, retroactivity, costing, settlements, reconciliations, and year‑end requirements.
• Experience configuring Workday business processes and working across related areas such as HCM, Benefits, Time Tracking, Absence, Reporting, Integrations, and Security.
• Demonstrated experience with controlled system changes, test planning, defect management, production releases, documentation, and audit support.
• Ability to translate business requirements into maintainable technical solutions and explain design decisions to both functional and technical audiences.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, organizational, and stakeholder‑management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Workday Payroll certification, Workday Pro accreditation, or comparable advanced Workday training.
• Experience with multi‑state U.S. payroll, global payroll providers, payroll accounting, and complex enterprise organizations.
• Experience participating in Workday Payroll implementation, reimplementation, major redesign, acquisition integration, or global payroll transformation.
• Experience training internal team members and reducing reliance on external professional services.

Skills

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Excellent organizational and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Ability to translate business requirements into maintainable technical solutions.
• Capacity to explain design decisions to both functional and technical audiences.

Pay

$65‑$70/HR (depends on experience level). This is a contract position.

Schedule

Expected to work 40 hours/week.