Director, Human Resources Information Systems

We are seeking a visionary and highly technical Director, HRIS to lead the strategic roadmap, optimization, and daily operations of our global HR technology ecosystem. Serving as the critical bridge between Human Resources and the Office of the CIO, this leader will drive the digital transformation of our HR function to deliver exceptional employee experiences and operational excellence.

The ideal candidate blends strong executive presence with hands-on technical expertise, particularly within the Workday ecosystem. In this role, you will lead and mentor a dedicated team of Application Business Analysts, champion complex system implementations, and ensure our technology stack - spanning Workday, Peakon, iCIMS, and Skillsoft/Percipio - seamlessly supports our overarching business goals. If you are a strategic thinker, a master of change management, and a collaborative IT/HR partner, we invite you to apply.

Key Responsibilities

HR Systems Strategy & Optimization

• Serve as the primary product owner and technical authority for our HR technology stack, overseeing the health, security, and optimization of Workday, Peakon, iCIMS, and Skillsoft/Percipio.
• Maintain hands-on involvement in Workday configuration, advanced reporting, security administration, and business process design to support complex business needs.
• Lead the strategic planning of the HRIS roadmap, ensuring technology investments align with broader HR and corporate strategies.
• Manage bi-annual system updates, release management, and the continuous evaluation of new features to maximize system ROI.
• Establish data governance standards to ensure the highest levels of data integrity, security, and compliance across all HR systems.

Project & Change Management

• Lead complex, cross-functional HR technology projects from business case development and vendor selection through implementation and post-go-live support.
• Develop and execute comprehensive change management strategies to drive user adoption and minimize disruption during system implementations and process changes.
• Manage vendor relationships, SLAs, and contract renewals for all HRIS platforms.
• Identify process bottlenecks and leverage technology to automate workflows, improve data integrity, and enhance the overall employee and candidate experience.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & IT Partnership

• Act as the primary liaison between HR and the CIO organization, partnering closely with Technical Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) on architecture, integrations, and data security.
• Collaborate proactively with other IS/IT Managers to ensure HR systems integrate flawlessly with the broader enterprise systems landscape (e.g., Finance, Identity Management, Active Directory).
• Represent HR tech in enterprise-wide IT governance committees and architecture review boards.

Team Leadership & Development

• Manage, mentor, and develop a specialized team of Application Business Analysts.
• Establish clear performance goals, provide ongoing coaching, and create professional development pathways to foster a high-performing, technically proficient team.
• Guide the team in requirements gathering, testing methodologies, and Tier 2/Tier 3 issue resolution.

Executive Communication & Stakeholder Management

• Demonstrate strong executive presence by regularly presenting HRIS strategies, project statuses, and data-driven insights to senior HR leadership and C-suite stakeholders.
• Translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable business language for non-technical stakeholders.

Leadership Expectations

• Strategic Foresight: Ability to look 1–3 years ahead to anticipate business needs and architect scalable system solutions.
• Executive Presence: Act as a trusted advisor to HR leadership and business unit executives, influencing decision-making and securing buy-in for technology investments.
• Talent Champion: Committed to the growth and empowerment of direct reports, cultivating an environment of psychological safety, continuous learning, and accountability.
• Resilience and Agility: Lead with confidence through organizational change and ambiguity, maintaining focus on strategic goals while managing day-to-day tactical demands.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Experience: 16+ years of progressive experience in HRIS, HR Technology, or Enterprise Systems, with at least 3 years in a people-management or team-leadership role.
• Workday Expertise: 5+ years of hands-on, deep technical experience configuring and optimizing Workday (HCM, Compensation, Advanced Reporting, Security, and Business Processes).
• Project Management: Proven track record of managing complex technology implementations, system integrations, and multi-phase projects from conception to deployment.
• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; proven ability to present to and influence senior executives.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Education/Certifications: Master’s degree or relevant advanced certifications (e.g., Workday Pro Certifications, PMP, Agile Scrum Master, Prosci Change Management).
• Ecosystem Experience: Direct experience administering or integrating iCIMS (ATS), Peakon (Employee Voice/Engagement), and Skillsoft/Percipio (LMS).
• IT Acumen: Strong understanding of IT general controls (ITGC), GDPR/data privacy regulations, and enterprise architecture principles.

We are an equal opportunity employer and federal government contractor. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment as protected by law.