Associate Director, Absence Management

Job Description

Join our HR Solutions leadership team as Associate Director, Absence Management. You will be accountable for the end-to-end design, delivery, and sustainment of Absence Management capabilities within our HCM landscape (primarily Workday). This role influences strategy, roadmaps, prioritization, and operational models to implement and scale absence solutions globally and to ensure they remain robust, compliant, and well-integrated with Time & Attendance and Payroll. You will work in a complex, matrixed environment and drive collaboration across HR Process leads, Benefits and Payroll Centers of Excellence (CoEs), HR Operations, regional HR teams, IT, and supplier partners to deliver end-to-end absence solutions and continuous improvement.

What You Will Do

• Strategy & Roadmap: Help define the global Absence Management strategy, multi-year roadmaps, and prioritization frameworks that align with HR and business objectives; advocate for absence priorities across governance forums.
• Solution Design & Configuration: Lead functional design and Workday configuration for Absence Management and related HCM data elements (e.g., absence types, eligibility rules, entitlement calculations, absence balances); ensure design artifacts and configuration documents are created and maintained accurately and version-controlled.
• Delivery & Implementation: Lead and govern implementations, country rollouts, enhancements, and releases for absence capabilities. Build and coordinate cross-functional delivery teams (IT, implementation partners, vendors, HR Ops, regional leads), manage scope/timelines/risks, and ensure successful cutover and adoption.
• Testing & Controls: Define test strategies and plans for absence-related changes (unit, integration, UAT); ensure comprehensive test coverage, remediation tracking, and evidence for audit and compliance.
• Data Governance & Privacy: Partner with Data Privacy, Legal, and data stewards to ensure absence data handling complies with GDPR and applicable local privacy laws; lead completion of privacy impact assessments and approvals as required.
• Automation & Innovation: Identify and prioritize opportunities to leverage automation and AI-enabled capabilities pilot and scale approved innovations.

Required Qualifications

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 8 years progressive experience in HR, HRIS, HR Operations, or related functions, including at least 4 years operating at a strategic or senior delivery level OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Absence & Time Domain Expertise: Deep knowledge of global absence/leave administration (statutory and contractual leave types), Time & Attendance interactions, and absence entitlement/calculation concepts.
• Workday Experience: Strong practical experience with Workday Absence Management and Workday HCM, configuration, design, and operational support.
• Integration & Payroll Knowledge: Proven experience designing and governing integrations between Absence, Time, and Payroll systems; familiarity with payroll providers and reconciliation practices.
• Testing & Controls Experience: Experience defining and executing test strategies (including UAT and integration testing) and managing controls/audit requirements for HR systems.
• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Highly analytical with experience using metrics and root-cause analysis to drive decisions and continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced Workday: Deep familiarity with advanced Workday configuration patterns for Absence, Time, and Payroll integrations, including calculated fields and custom objects.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Familiarity with regional absence regulations and statutory leave requirements across major geographies.
• Automation & AI Experience: Prior experience implementing RPA, intelligent automation, or AI-enabled HR solutions related to absence.
• Program Management: Experience with program governance, resource planning, and business case development.
• People Leadership: Experience leading teams or managing cross-functional workstreams, including mentoring and capability development.

Required Skills:

Absence Management, Automation, Data Governance, Integration Management, Leadership, Payroll, Privacy Awareness, Problem Solving, Program Management, Project Management, Roadmapping, Strategic Planning, Workday Software

Preferred Skills:

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Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

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Job Posting End Date:

06/11/2026

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