Workday Systems Lead

About the Role

Our client is one of Australia’s most prestigious universities, recognised globally for academic excellence, innovation, and a commitment to shaping the future. To support its people and growth agenda, the university is seeking an experienced Workday Systems Lead to oversee the management, optimisation, and enhancement of its enterprise HR applications, with a strong focus on Workday Human Capital Management (HCM).

This is a senior leadership role responsible for guiding a diverse team of specialists, ensuring the successful delivery of business-as-usual services, system enhancements, and strategic projects. You’ll play a pivotal part in ensuring the university’s HR systems continue to deliver value and innovation for thousands of staff across the institution.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a team of 8, delivering high-quality support and solutions across Workday modules and other HR applications.

• Oversee system administration, integration, enhancements, and upgrade cycles, ensuring compliance with formal ICT processes.

• Provide strong leadership, coaching, and direction; manage challenging team dynamics while fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture.

• Act as the escalation point for BAU incidents, service requests, and major projects, balancing operational and strategic priorities.

• Engage with senior HR leaders, ICT, and executive stakeholders, setting and managing expectations while influencing outcomes.

• Participate in design workshops and provide constructive feedback to ensure systems align with HR and business needs.

• Partner with ICT on integration, data quality, and governance to ensure reliable and compliant operations.

• Support major upcoming projects, including a payroll uplift program, delegation of authority initiatives, rewards frameworks, and large-scale data enhancement work.

About You

You are a proven systems leader with deep knowledge of Workday and related HR applications. You balance technical and functional expertise with excellent communication and leadership skills, able to influence at every level of a large, complex organisation.

• Strong Workday expertise (technical and functional) across Various modules such as HR, Recruitment, Onboarding, Absence, Learning, Advanced Compensation, and Core Compensation.

• Demonstrated success in leading enterprise systems within complex environments (higher education background highly regarded, but not essential).

• Proven ability to provide strategic direction, oversee design and configuration, and deliver robust, scalable systems.

• Track record of managing and motivating diverse teams, including contractors, with the ability to navigate challenging dynamics.

• Skilled in stakeholder management, with confidence to push back and set clear expectations where required.

• Excellent communication skills, from executive leadership through to frontline staff.

• Experience balancing BAU, strategic projects, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Workday certification (highly desirable).

Benefits

• Join one of Australia’s most prestigious universities, highly regarded worldwide for research and innovation.

• Play a pivotal role in shaping the future of HR systems in a world-class institution.

• Flexible work arrangements are available, however candidates must be based in NSW.

• A rare opportunity to combine leadership, technology, and impact at scale.