Workday Payroll Administrator Principal

SHIFT:
Day (United States of America)
Seeking Breakthrough Makers
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) offers countless ways to change lives. Our diverse community of more than 20,000 Breakthrough Makers will inspire you to pursue passions, develop expertise, and drive innovation.
At CHOP, your experience is valued; your voice is heard; and your contributions make a difference for patients and families. Join us as we build on our promise to advance pediatric care—and your career.
CHOP does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, or any other legally protected categories in any employment, training, or vendor decisions or programs. CHOP recognizes the critical importance of a workforce rich in varied backgrounds and experiences and engages in ongoing efforts to achieve that through equally varied and non-discriminatory means.
A Brief Overview
The Workday Payroll Administrator Principal is a strategic technology and transformation leader for Payroll operations, configuration, and optimization. This role is responsible for architecting and governing the payroll ecosystem within Workday, ensuring accuracy, compliance, scalability, and seamless integration with upstream and downstream systems. Operating with broad autonomy, the Workday Payroll Administrator leads enterprise‑level initiatives, defines payroll configuration standards, and drives continuous improvement across processes, reporting, and system functionality. This position partners closely with HR, Finance, IT, and executive leadership to align payroll strategy with organizational goals, resolve the most complex payroll and system issues, and guide the long‑term roadmap for Workday Payroll. As the top technical authority, the Workday Payroll Administrator Principal mentors senior staff, influences cross‑functional decision‑making, and ensures the organization maximizes the value of its Workday investment.
What you will do
Strategy Alignment
Partner with Human Resources, Workforce Management, Finance, and Technology stakeholders to develop technology strategies and roadmaps that align with business strategies and organizational goals.
Lead strategic planning for payroll system enhancements and integrations.
Translate business needs into system requirements and recommend scalable solutions.
Serve as a thought leader by staying current on evolving technologies and automation strategies, advising senior leadership on innovation opportunities and guiding the organization's long-term digital roadmap.
Continuous Process Improvement
Develop and monitor key performance indicators that align with best practices.
Identify opportunities to streamline payroll processes and improve operational efficiency.
Champion a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, mentoring senior administrators and influencing stakeholders to adopt modern tools, methods, and Workday capabilities.
Application Configuration
Configure and maintain Workday Payroll and Absence modules.
Manage system updates, testing, and deployment of new features.
Collaborate with Workday support and internal teams to resolve technical issues.
Dashboards and Reporting
Design and maintain custom reports, dashboards, and analytics to support payroll operations and compliance.
Provide actionable insights to stakeholders through data visualization and reporting tools.
Ensure data accuracy and integrity across all payroll reports.
Application Security
Maintain role-based security configurations and ensure compliance with internal controls and audit requirements.
Support regular security reviews and user access provisioning and deprovisioning.
Collaborate with IT and compliance teams to address security risks and vulnerabilities.
Training and Change Management
Lead change management efforts related to system upgrades, new features, and process changes.
Support the development of training materials and end-user training.
Act as a subject matter expert and provide ongoing support to payroll users.
Mentoring
Provide technical leadership and guidance to senior and mid-level team members, helping them deepen their Workday Payroll expertise and expand their problem-solving capabilities.
Lead knowledge-sharing sessions, workshops, and walkthroughs to ensure the team stays current on new Workday features, payroll regulations, and emerging technologies.
Model high standards of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement, encouraging others to adopt similar approaches in their work.
Education Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree - Required
Master's Degree Business or Healthcare related field - Preferred
Experience Qualifications
At least seven (5) years functional system administration experience - Required
At least ten (7) years within a healthcare environment - Preferred
icenses and Certifications
Workday Certification - Workday - upon hire - Preferred
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) - PayrollOrg - upon hire - Preferred
Skills and Abilities
Excellent communication and teamwork skills
Critical thinking problem-solving skills
Proficient in Microsoft Office products
Documentation skills
Demonstrated ability to build relationships and work collaboratively
Knowledge of ERP systems and specialized systems as appropriate (Payroll = Kronos, Windstar, BSI), Accounts Payable (OnBase, Concur), Accounting (Banking), and Research systems.
To carry out its mission, CHOP is committed to supporting the health of our patients, families, workforce, and global community. As a condition of employment, CHOP employees who work in patient care buildings or who have patient facing responsibilities must receive an annual influenza vaccine. Learn more.
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SALARY RANGE:
$107,200.00 - $142,100.00 Annually
Salary ranges are shown for full-time jobs. If you're working part-time, your pay will be adjusted accordingly.
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At CHOP, we are committed to fair and transparent pay practices. Factors such as skills and experience could result in an offer above the salary range noted in this job posting. Click here for more information regarding CHOP's Compensation and Benefits.