HRIS Manager - Workday (Time & Absence, Payroll & Benefits)

Who We AreJoin a team that puts its People First! Since 1889, First American (NYSE: FAF) has held an unwavering belief in its people. They are passionate about what they do, and we are equally passionate about fostering an environment where all feel welcome, supported, and empowered to be innovative and reach their full potential. Our inclusive, people-first culture has earned our company numerous accolades, including being named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for ten consecutive years. We have also earned awards as a best place to work for women, diversity and LGBTQ+ employees, and have been included on more than 50 regional best places to work lists. First American will always strive to be a great place to work, for all. For more information, please visit www.careers.firstam.com.

What We Do

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced HRIS Manager with a proven track record of leading high-performing teams and driving innovation within the Workday ecosystem. This role is responsible for overseeing the strategic and operational management of Workday across multiple geographies, ensuring our investment in the platform delivers maximum business impact. The ideal candidate is not only a hands-on Workday expert but also a consultative partner to HR and business leadership—someone who combines technical depth with presence, empathy, and forward-thinking leadership.

** Remote Work Welcome** 

*Must be available to work Pacific and/or Mountain Time*

How You’ll Contribute

• Transformational Leadership: Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of functional HRIS professionals; cultivate a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and accountability.
• Hands-On Expertise: Provide direct, advanced configuration and solutioning within Workday HCM and related modules, ensuring systems remain optimized and aligned to business strategy.
• Business Partnership: Act as a consultative partner to HR and business leaders; translate business needs into scalable technology solutions that improve the employee experience.
• Global HR Technology Management: Oversee system operations and enhancements across multiple countries, ensuring compliance with local regulations while maintaining a seamless global experience.
• Innovation & AI Enablement: Champion the adoption of AI, automation, and next-gen Workday features; challenge the status quo to ensure our HR technology stays at the forefront of innovation.
• Governance & Optimization: Maximize ROI from Workday by proactively identifying opportunities for process improvement, system optimization, and user experience enhancements.
• Change & Transformation: Drive initiatives that simplify, modernize, and elevate the HR technology landscape, aligning with broader organizational transformation goals.

What You’ll Bring

** Remote Work Welcome**  ​

*Must be available to work Pacific and/or Mountain Time*

• Experience & Expertise
  • Minimum 5+ years hands-on experience with Workday modules Time & Absence, Payroll and Benefits.
  • Minimum 3+ years leading HRIS teams or equivalent management/leadership role.
  • Proven experience supporting global organizations with complex Workday environments.

• Leadership & Influence
  • Leadership presence and strong consultative skills; able to influence and partner effectively with senior leadership.
  • Empathetic, people-first leadership style that balances strategic direction with team development.
  • Track record of fostering innovation and challenging traditional approaches.
  • Will be leading a team of 3+ Sr. HRIS Analysts focused on delivering solutions for Time & Absence, Benefits, Payroll and Recruiting across the globe.

• Technical Skills
  • Deep hands-on experience with Workday configuration and administration (Time & Absence, Payroll and Benefits).
  • Strong understanding of Workday reporting, security frameworks, and release management processes.
  • Ability to evaluate, test, and implement emerging technologies—particularly AI and automation—into HR processes.

• Attributes
  • Strategic thinker with a passion for optimizing HR technology.
  • Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
  • Dedication to keeping the employee experience front and center in all solutions delivered.

Pay Range: $126,100.00 - $168,125.00 Annually

This hiring range is a reasonable estimate of the base pay range for this position at the time of posting.  Pay is based on a number of factors which may include job-related knowledge, skills, experience, business requirements and geographic location.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to shape the future of HR technology in a global organization that values innovation, empathy, and impact. You’ll lead a team that is not just maintaining systems, but actively reimagining how Workday can transform the employee experience and enable our business to thrive.

What We OfferBy choice, we don’t simply accept individuality – we embrace it, we support it, and we thrive on it! Our People First Culture celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion not simply because it’s the right thing to do, but also because it’s the key to our success. We are proud to foster an authentic and inclusive workplace For All. You are free and encouraged to bring your entire, unique self to work. First American is an equal opportunity employer in every sense of the term.

First American will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws (e.g., the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act).

First American intends to conduct a review of an applicant’s criminal history in connection with a conditional offer. First American reasonably believes that a criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following material job duties for this position potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment: handling of confidential, proprietary or trade secret information belonging to First American or its customers, administrating or facilitating financial transactions, and the ability to meet customer-imposed criminal history requirements.

Based on eligibility, First American offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401k, PTO/paid sick leave and other great benefits like an employee stock purchase plan.