Director, Workday & People Technology

Location: United States Virtual

The Director, Workday & People Technology owns Workday as Assurant’s global People technology core and the connected systems that depend on it. This hands-on leader is accountable for the platform across its full lifecycle, including strategy, architecture, configuration, security, roles and access, integrations, releases, production stability, governance, optimization and vendor performance. The Director leads with a Workday-first mindset, bringing capabilities into the platform wherever it can credibly meet the need, while partnering with ERIN/Unify and the People AI Innovation leader to create intuitive experiences outside Workday when a different interaction layer is needed.

The Director establishes clear operating interfaces and decision rights across People Technology, People Data and Analytics, ERIN/Unify Experience, AI Innovation, the Execution COE, People functional teams and enterprise technology partners. The role builds on the team’s existing expertise to strengthen a consultative, product-oriented approach that diagnoses business needs, simplifies solutions and protects the platform from unnecessary complexity and technical debt.

What will be my duties and responsibilities in this job?

Platform Strategy, Optimization & Lifecycle Ownership

• Own the Workday and connected-platform strategy, architecture, roadmap, backlog and operating model across the full lifecycle.
• Lead the Workday optimization agenda through a sequenced roadmap and continuous platform improvement.
• Drive release adoption, production stability and measurable value rather than reactive maintenance.
• Apply a Workday-first decision framework and reduce unnecessary customization, duplicate capability and tool sprawl.

Security, Access & People Data Protection

• Own Workday security design, roles, domains, permissions, access governance, segregation of duties, recertification and sustainable controls.
• Personally review and challenge high-risk security, access and data designs and step into detailed problem-solving when needed.
• Partner closely with Information Security, Privacy, Legal, IT and risk partners to protect sensitive People data.
• Ensure security and access implications are addressed from design through production and ongoing operation.
• Solution Consulting, Architecture & Technical Debt Prevention
• Develop the team to begin with the business problem, not the requested configuration.
• Challenge unnecessary process complexity and bring options, tradeoffs and a clear recommendation to functional owners.
• Own solution integrity across configuration, business processes, integrations, data flows and connected systems such as Payscale and Paradox.
• Prevent technical debt by fully evaluating existing Workday capabilities before adding customizations, integrations or new platforms.

Delivery, Releases & Operational Excellence

• Lead Workday projects, enhancements, releases and integrations through design, testing, deployment, stabilization and ongoing support.
• Establish disciplined release, testing, change, documentation and production-support practices.
• Maintain accountability for platform health and technical ownership after launch; ownership of Workday does not transfer.
• Manage delivery risks, dependencies, defects and vendor performance.
• Operating Model, Decision Rights & Ecosystem Governance
• Establish and maintain clear operating interfaces across People Technology, Data and Analytics, ERIN/Unify Experience, AI Innovation, the Execution COE, functional teams and enterprise technology partners.
• Define and uphold decision rights, design authorities, service expectations, escalation paths, technical ownership and lifecycle accountabilities.
• Retain final design authority for Workday architecture, configuration, security, roles and access, integrations, data movement, release impact and platform sustainability.
• Partner with the AI Director to determine whether needs should be solved in Workday, a connected system, the experience layer, an AI-enabled product or through process simplification.
• Establish global standards with intentional local variation and govern connected-system decisions that read from, write to or depend on Workday.

Talent & Team Leadership

• Build a high-performing, consultative and product-led team by establishing a clear talent standard and meaningful accountability for outcomes.
• Develop talent through hands-on coaching, differentiated development, stretch assignments, direct feedback and exposure to broader responsibility.
• Build bench strength and succession capability and prepare team members for greater platform, product and leadership accountability.
• Develop the team to diagnose problems, bring forward recommendations and protect Workday from complexity and technical debt.
• Evolve roles and hire critical capabilities where gaps exist; use partners selectively while retaining strategic ownership and technical knowledge inside Assurant.
• What are the requirements needed for this position?
• Bachelor’s degree in information systems, computer science, business, human resources or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in Workday, HR platforms or enterprise applications, including significant leadership responsibility.
• 5+ years of experience with deep, hands-on Workday expertise across architecture, configuration, business processes, security, roles and access, integrations, releases and production operations.
• Demonstrated experience leading a major Workday optimization, remediation, transformation or platform-health agenda.
• Experience building interfaces across People Technology, Data and Analytics, ERIN/Unify, AI applications, and enterprise technology.
• Proven success transforming a technology team from request fulfillment into a consultative, product-led capability.
• Strong understanding of People-data sensitivity, least-privilege access, segregation of duties, auditability, privacy and sustainable security governance.
• Experience establishing decision rights and operating interfaces across product, data, experience, portfolio and enterprise technology teams.
• Ability to challenge business requirements constructively, simplify processes and explain technical tradeoffs to executive, functional and technical audiences.
• Demonstrated talent leadership, including differentiated development, bench building, succession planning, hiring and effective use of external partners.
• Willingness and ability to work hands-on and lead alongside the team when risk, complexity or delivery requires it.
• What other skills/experience would be helpful to have?
• Advanced degree in information systems, business, human resources or a related field.
• Workday certifications or demonstrated expertise across multiple Workday functional and technical areas.
• Experience with connected talent, recruiting and job-architecture platforms such as Paradox and Payscale.
• Experience integrating Workday with employee experience, orchestration, AI or conversational platforms.
• Experience using product management, Agile or portfolio-management disciplines in an enterprise technology environment.

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Pay Range

$122,400.00 - $204,400.00

Any posted pay range considers a wide range of compensation factors, including candidate background, experience and work location, while also allowing for salary growth within the position.

If there is no posting end date listed then this is a pipeline requisition, and we will continue to collect applications on an ongoing basis.

Helping People Thrive in a Connected World

Connect with us. Bring us your best work and your brightest ideas. And we’ll bring you a place where you can thrive. Learn more at jobs.assurant.com.

For U.S. benefit information, visit myassurantbenefits.com. For benefit information outside the U.S., please speak with your recruiter.

What’s the culture like at Assurant?

Our unique culture is a big reason why talented people choose Assurant. Named a Best/Great Place to Work in 14 countries and awarded the Fortune America’s Most Innovative Companies recognition, we bring together top talent around the world. Although we have a wide variety of skills and experiences, we share common characteristics that are uniquely Assurant. A passion for service. An ability to innovate in practical ways. And a willingness to take chances. We call our culture The Assurant Way.

Company Overview

Assurant is a leading global business services company that supports, protects, and connects major consumer purchases. A Fortune 500 company with a presence in 21 countries, Assurant supports the advancement of the connected world by partnering with the world’s leading brands to develop innovative solutions and deliver an enhanced customer experience through mobile device solutions, extended service contracts, vehicle protection services, renters insurance, lender-placed insurance products, and other specialty products.

AI and Biometric Usage

Assurant supports the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), but we want to know the real you. Visit our AI Usage Guidelines page to understand what we expect from applicants regarding their use of AI during the application process. Since we would like to know the real you, we require that all of our virtual interviews be conducted on video.

Employment is contingent upon completion of a required identity verification process, which may include biometric technology, where permitted by applicable law and subject to applicable notice and consent requirements. See our Privacy Notice to learn about Assurant’s privacy practices, including our use of AI-enabled technology, automated decision making, and biometric information.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Assurant is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not use or consider race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law in employment decisions.

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Additional Locations: Atlanta, GA