Project Manager (Finance Focus)
About The Position
The Project Manager works within the Workday Enterprise Solutions Team (WEST) Project Management and Administrative Operations team, leading the planning and execution of initiatives for the Workday Finance and Research Administration teams. The role is aligned with the Workday Finance functional area and partners closely with the Finance and Research Administration Director to coordinate finance-related initiatives across the WEST portfolio. Projects may affect Workday Financial Management, Adaptive Planning, Huron Research Suite (RAMP), and ChemManager/ShopUW+. The position manages multiple concurrent initiatives with cross-functional impacts, including financial business processes, reporting and analytics, integrations, data warehousing, security, enterprise document management, and HCM partnership. It serves as a liaison between WEST functional finance teams and WEST technical teams, translating business needs into coordinated delivery. The Project Manager fosters collaboration, manages governance and stakeholder engagement, and aligns outcomes with institutional financial goals to deliver measurable value and support Workday Finance capabilities. Responsibilities include creating and managing project plans, coordinating resources, identifying and mitigating risks, and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality outcomes. The position also supports consistent project management practices and an inclusive, respectful, and safe team environment. The schedule is determined with the selected finalist and is primarily during business hours Monday through Friday, beginning no later than 9:00 a.m. CST and ending no earlier than 3:00 p.m. CST; an on-call or weekend rotation may be required by the department.
Requirements
- Experience working with or supporting initiatives related to Workday or other ERP systems.
- Proven track record leading successful multi-unit, moderately complex projects; higher education or public sector experience is preferred.
- Advanced proficiency in Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid project management methodologies.
- Experience with project management tools such as Smartsheet, Jira, or Microsoft Project.
- Ability to lead diverse, cross-functional teams and build strong relationships with stakeholders at all organizational levels.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including presenting to executive leadership and stakeholders.
- Experience supporting executive- or director-level leadership in project delivery and operational initiatives.
- Experience working with stakeholders to understand their needs, keep them engaged, and confirm alignment.
- Strong skills in managing risks, allocating resources, and communicating effectively.
- Ability to align projects with organizational strategy and objectives, assess performance using KPIs and metrics, and translate technical and operational details into clear updates and visualizations for non-technical audiences.
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Project Management, Information Systems, or a related field.
Nice To Haves
- Advanced degree in business administration, Project Management, Information Systems, or a related field.
- Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), or similar certification.
- Seven or more years of experience managing complex, cross-functional projects in areas such as Human Resources, Finance, Supply Chain, or IT systems.
- Experience with project management tools such as Smartsheet, Jira, or Microsoft Project.
- Experience working within structured governance frameworks.
Responsibilities
- Schedule and facilitate communication for vendor workflow integration, and track and review vendor deliverables for moderately complex, multi-unit projects.
- Draft and deliver project status communications and reports.
- Serve as a main point of contact for clients during development and implementation of multi-unit, moderately complex projects.
- Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to align project goals with organizational priorities and requirements.
- Foster a respectful, inclusive, and safe team environment.
- Provide advanced technical and analytical guidance to project teams.
- Identify and estimate tasks, apply project management, process improvement, and budget and cost analysis methodologies, identify obstacles, and drive project completion.
- Create and manage project plans, coordinate resources, identify and mitigate risks, and ensure timely delivery of high-quality outcomes.
- Coordinate finance-related initiatives across the WEST portfolio, including initiatives affecting Workday Financial Management, Adaptive Planning, Huron Research Suite (RAMP), and ChemManager/ShopUW+.
- Serve as a liaison between WEST functional finance teams and technical teams, translating business needs into coordinated project delivery.
- Manage governance and stakeholder engagement and align project outcomes with institutional financial goals.
- Promote project management best practices and consistency across WEST project management activities.
Benefits
- Generous paid time off.
- Competitively priced health, dental, vision, and life insurance.
- Tax-advantaged savings accounts.
- Participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
