At Northwestern Mutual, we are strong, innovative and growing. We invest in our people. We care and make a positive difference.
The HR Technology Lead plays an integral role connecting HR COEs with our HR Technology (Workday) team. The HRT Lead is a relationship-builder who is deeply invested in the strategy and goals of the teams in their portfolios. A vital link between these two parties, the HRT Lead leads prioritization, requirements-gathering, change management, and the achievement of strategic HR objectives through technology and data. As a strategic consultant, the HRT Lead will review configuration and business processes to identify gaps and recommend solutions. As a project manager, the person in this role will coordinate cross-functional teams across both short- and long-term projects to optimize Workday configuration and empower HR with the tools and resources to both perform and transform. This role uses business acuity, user experience data, customer feedback, and technical expertise to drive the optimized performance of Workday for a portfolio of HR teams.
OUTCOMES DRIVEN BY THIS ROLE

• Innovative, flexible solutions that drive business results according to HR strategy, COE strategy, and key business results
• Deep, strong, nurtured relationships with key HR partners to understand strategic roadmaps as well as emergent needs; management of both expectations and work to deliver solutions on time and within resource constraints.
• Strong partnership: the ability to successfully explain information and persuade others, including negotiating with and influencing project teams and business partners towards solutions and results.
• Alignment and support: the ability to operate as a liaison to facilitate an understanding and partnership between business clients. Ownership of the resources and vendors assigned to their projects, including driving adoption and success and removing roadblocks to set all parties up for success.
• Successful prioritization of HR Technology projects, both within the COE and across COEs, aligned to overall HR strategy. Effective prioritization of work on ad hoc requests, logged defects, needed reports, and security/access tickets for Workday, the VMS, and other platforms.
• Optimized configuration and smooth operation of Workday, with expert analysis of configuration in comparison to desired functionality, and thoughtful diagnosis of gaps, roadblocks, and inefficiencies.
• An accountable and flexible project management approach that ensures the key issues of cost, time, scope and above all, client satisfaction, can be realized. Clear and detailed documentation of functional requirements, creation of project plans, management of testing plans, organizational change and socialization initiatives.

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WILL HAVE:

• Experience in or partnering with Talent Acquisition to provide expertise and context on functional standard methodologies
• Experience in Workday system configuration, at least at a Functional Admin level, in order to advise partners on Workday capabilities, limitations, and delivered functionality
• Ability to translate functional requirements to technical language and vice versa. Experience facilitating discussions to bring technical and functional groups to consensus and common understanding.
• Experience solving configuration and integration issues through root-cause analysis, deep understanding of cross-stream and down-stream impacts, and independent testing
• A need to get things done, a proven drive, ownership, and accountability; organization and project management skills
• Strong "storytelling" skills with ability to demonstrate, influence and negotiate.
• Resourcefulness and a knack for navigating challenges independently; the ability to handle conflict and difficult partners, strong prioritization skills, and excellent customer-service orientation

On the HR Technology & People Analytics team, we love all things data, tools, and processes. We prioritize the user and customer experience. We use data to guide and inform our business decisions while remaining open to experimentation and iteration. Unsatisfied with what is, we are continuously questioning if something could be better, embracing diverse and entrepreneurial thought processes. We believe in encouraging a positive working environment of empowerment, inclusion, and engagement while coaching and mentoring new leaders within the organization.
#IN-POST
Compensation Range:
Pay Range - Start:
$89,040.00
Pay Range - End:
$127,200.00
Please note that this is the standard pay structure. Positions in certain locations (such as California) may provide an increase on the standard pay structure based on the location. Please click here for additional information relating to location-based pay structures.
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We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.
If you work or would be working in California, Colorado, New York City, Washington or outside of a Corporate location, please click here for information pertaining to compensation and benefits.