HRIS Specialist

Location: Cambridge

Application Closing Date

15 November 2026 11:59pm

Salary Package: £50,000 up to £55,000 per annum in addition to our comprehensive benefits package

We're looking for an experienced Workday Specialist to join our small, collaborative and friendly HRIS team within People & Culture department.

Having recently completed the implementation of the full Workday suite, we're now focused on maximising its potential. This is an exciting opportunity for a technically skilled Workday expert to become our in-house subject matter specialist, helping to drive system optimisation, enhance functionality, and ensure the platform continues to deliver value across the organisation.

In this role, you'll take ownership of Workday configuration, troubleshooting and continuous improvement, translating business needs into effective technical solutions. You'll play a key part in strengthening our people data foundations, improving data quality, enabling insightful reporting, and ensuring the system remains reliable, efficient and user-friendly.

We're looking for someone who thrives on solving complex problems and enjoys being the go-to person for all things Workday. You'll work closely with colleagues across the business, supporting users with varying levels of technical knowledge, while also partnering with external suppliers and stakeholders to deliver enhancements and best practice solutions.

This role would suit a proactive and curious Workday specialist who enjoys making a real impact through technology, data and collaboration, and who is passionate about helping others build their confidence and capability within Workday.

This role is contractually based at our Cambridge office, therefore you will need to come to the office on a regular basis (minimum twice a month, but may be more as needs arise) to support collaboration and team working. However, as we are supporting hybrid working and work life balance, you will have the opportunity to carry out the rest of your working week from home. As a result, this role is likely to be best suited to candidates who live within a reasonable commuting distance of Cambridge or who are considering relocating to the area.

Some of your day-to-day responsibilities

• Showcasing Workday expertise to support colleagues across multiple modules.
• Working with People & Culture team and colleagues across the RSC to understand needs and then shape and deliver relevant services that provide simple and practical Workday solutions.
• Take forward agreed system enhancements through configuration, testing, documentation and launch, with the relevant process owners to ensure needs are met.
• Supporting people-data and analytics projects by utilising data sources and definitions, ensuring data is fit for purpose and aligned, and working with stakeholders to reach alignment and one consistent source of information.
• Coach P&C colleagues and Super Users sharing technical knowledge to enable more self-service, and relevant escalation as required.
• Monitoring and purging data in line with agreed schedules and data protection requirements, partnering with Data Protection and Technology as required to ensure high standards are maintained at all times.
• Following agreed security and access rules when changing Workday or its reports, keeping records of checks and approvals, and referring access decisions to the responsible owners.
• Working with our application management services (AMS) partner to deliver fixes and improvements and contributing to service reviews to ensure quality and value for money.

Requirements

• Proven demonstrable expertise in developing, supporting and improving Workday.
• Expertise in HCM Core, Talent, Recruitment, Absence, and Peakon, Advanced Reporting, Security and Integrations.
• Advanced knowledge and experience of analysing data, producing reports and presenting data
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Skilled at agreeing realistic expectations with colleagues and explaining complex technical solutions clearly to different audiences.
• Ability to improve colleagues’ experience of using the system and inspire them to explore what it can do
• A strong understanding of how HR information systems (HRIS) support the work of People & Culture.

Benefits

At the Royal Society of Chemistry, we promote a healthy work/life balance and flexible working options across the organisation. We offer a comprehensive benefits package to all employees including:

• 26 days paid holiday per annum
• 35-hour working week with flexible options, to be agreed with your line manager
• Access to a private medical (optional)
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• Paid volunteering days
• Pension plan with up to 12% employer contributions (depending upon your contribution)

Visit our Work For Us website to learn more about us, our benefits, equal opportunities statement and inclusive culture pledge.

At the RSC, we recognise the benefits of a diverse workforce and welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds to apply. We particularly encourage applications from disabled and ethnic minority candidates.

As a part of the Disability Confident Scheme, we endeavour, where possible, to offer an interview to candidates meeting the essential criteria of the role, who has a substantial physical/mental impairment which impacts their ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.

We are committed to making our recruitment processes accessible to all and as part of this, we are flexible in the ways we give and receive information. If you would like to apply using a different format, please contact the Recruitment Team at [email protected] or on +44 (0) 1223 432229 and we will do our best to put any reasonable adjustments in place.

If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Additional Locations: Home based, UK