HR Digital Roadmap Programme Lead

Job title: HR Digital & Workday Programme Lead Job Type: Contract IR35 Status: Inside IR35 Start date: Subject to onboarding Duration: 12 Months Pay rate: DOE Location: Reading - up to 3 days/week on site. Hours of work: 37.5 Hours Per Week Role information: We are seeking an experienced HR Digital & Workday Programme Lead to take ownership of a strategic HR technology roadmap and lead a portfolio of Workday optimisation, capability enhancement and wider HR digital transformation initiatives. This is an opportunity for a Workday expert who combines deep functional knowledge with strong programme leadership. You will shape the future direction of the HR technology landscape, drive continuous improvement and ensure Workday capabilities deliver meaningful business value. The role requires more than traditional programme management. You will bring the functional credibility to challenge solution designs, influence technical and functional decisions, and lead delivery from roadmap definition through to implementation, adoption and measurable outcomes. Responsibilities: Own and develop the HR Digital and Workday roadmap, aligning priorities with business objectives, HR strategy and the wider technology landscape. Lead a portfolio of Workday optimisation initiatives, enhancements and new capability implementations. Provide functional leadership across Workday HCM, with particular strength in Core HCM and broad exposure to modules including Recruiting, Onboarding, Talent, Performance, Learning, Skills, Compensation, Absence, Time Tracking, Help and Reporting. Challenge solution designs, recommendations and delivery approaches to ensure they are fit for purpose, scalable and aligned with business requirements. Establish effective programme governance, including prioritisation, planning, dependencies, RAID management, resource planning and senior stakeholder reporting. Work closely with HR, IT, business leaders and external delivery partners to translate business needs into effective technology solutions. Manage and challenge systems integrators, application management service providers and specialist suppliers to ensure quality, value and delivery performance. Drive improvements in end-to-end HR processes, operating models, shared services and employee and manager self-service. Lead change management, stakeholder engagement and business adoption to ensure new capabilities deliver sustainable benefits. Define and track outcomes, demonstrating measurable improvements in automation, process simplification, user experience, data quality and HR operational efficiency. Qualifications/Experience Extensive experience working with Workday HCM, including strong Core HCM knowledge and broad functional understanding across multiple modules. Proven experience developing and delivering multi-year Workday or HR technology roadmaps. A track record of leading Workday optimisation programmes, continuous improvement initiatives or post-implementation transformation. The functional expertise and confidence to challenge Workday solution design and independently assess recommendations from external partners. Strong programme leadership experience, including governance, prioritisation, delivery planning, risk management, dependencies and senior-level reporting. Excellent understanding of end-to-end HR processes and the role of technology in enabling effective HR operating models. Experience managing systems integrators, AMS providers and other third-party delivery partners. Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders and bridge the gap between HR, technology and business teams. Evidence of delivering measurable business outcomes through HR technology improvements. Interested in this position? please click "apply now" We try to respond to all applicants, but sometimes this is not possible due to high volumes of applications; if you have not heard from us within 14 days, regre