Senior Benefits Program Manager - Absence

Workday•Boulder, CO

1d•$111,200 - $197,500•Hybrid

About The Position

Your work days are brighter here. We’re obsessed with making hard work pay off, for our people, our customers, and the world around us. As a Fortune 500 company and a leading AI platform for managing people, money, and agents, we’re shaping the future of work so teams can reach their potential and focus on what matters most. The minute you join, you’ll feel it. Not just in the products we build, but in how we show up for each other. Our culture is rooted in integrity, empathy, and shared enthusiasm. We’re in this together, tackling big challenges with bold ideas and genuine care. We look for curious minds and courageous collaborators who bring sun-drenched optimism and drive. Whether you're building smarter solutions, supporting customers, or creating a space where everyone belongs, you’ll do meaningful work with Workmates who’ve got your back. In return, we’ll give you the trust to take risks, the tools to grow, the skills to develop and the support of a company invested in you for the long haul. So, if you want to inspire a brighter work day for everyone, including yourself, you’ve found a match in Workday, and we hope to be a match for you too. About the Team The Benefits Team at Workday plays a pivotal role in fostering the well-being and financial security of our employees. This dedicated team is responsible for the full lifecycle management of our comprehensive employee benefits programs. This encompasses the strategic development, seamless implementation, and diligent ongoing administration of a wide array of offerings, including robust health and wellness initiatives, competitive retirement savings plans, generous paid time off policies, and various other crucial employee support programs designed to meet the diverse needs of our workforce. A key focus of the Benefits Team is to ensure our programs remain competitive within the market, are fully compliant with all legal regulations, and are effectively communicated to our employees. This involves proactively staying informed about evolving industry trends, skillfully negotiating coverage and costs with external carriers and brokers and fostering strong collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders. Ultimately, the team's efforts directly contribute to attracting and retaining top talent by providing a valuable and supportive benefits package that underscores Workday's commitment to its employees. About the Role This is an individual contributor role on the Americas Benefits team, partnering closely with cross functional stakeholders to ensure robust and holistic program management, execution, and support for employees in the Americas region (US, Canada, Mexico, and Costa Rica). As a Program Manager assigned to Absence, you'll be responsible for: Manage and develop best-in-class programs that amplify Workday’s culture and enhance the experience for all Workday employees. Contribute individually and as part of a successful team that drives constant improvement and innovation to ensure a positive experience for employees. Analyze data and trends and provide insights, actionable recommendations, and present findings to stakeholder and leadership. Create strategic vision for People Leader enablement to enable them to successfully support their Workmates and manage their functions as it relates to absence programs. Partner with vendors to ensure that in-scope services are delivered in a quality and responsive manner. Develop strong working relationships and collaborate with a cross-functional group of partners, both internal and external to identify and prioritize opportunities for improvement and collaboration to meet internal business needs. Actively monitor the effectiveness of new and existing programs and recommend changes as needed. Ensure compliance with all state, provincial, and federal regulations. Create an internal plan advisory committee, manage quarterly briefings, and document recommendations and updates for stakeholders.

Requirements

5-7 years experience managing absence programs in a large high volume, fast paced environment, (tech industry strongly preferred)
Extensive experience with statutory leave of absence requirements and employer programs in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Costa Rica.
Must be able to describe legal requirements and protections for each country
Must be able to describe the most common regulatory filings for U.S. plans
At least 2 years experience supporting non-absence benefits (health, welfare, and retirement) across the Americas
Has used Workday Benefits and Absence administration in prior roles, including use of Journeys and other Workmate and People Leader experience functionality.
Strong personal leadership skills, demonstrating a high level of accountability and ability to build strong working relationships with internal and external partners.
Robust program management skills including financial analysis, competitive benchmarking, employee feedback assessments, and vendor management.
Experience navigating complex regulations, compliance requirements, and technical documentation.
Experience presenting data and insights
Able to effectively communicate ideas, insights, and recommendations to both technical and non-technical leaders, employees, and business partners verbally and in writing.

Nice To Haves

Being bilingual is a plus!
Highly organized, outstanding time management and task prioritization abilities
Able to effectively troubleshoot complex workflows and resolve issues quickly
Comfortable navigating ambiguity, uncertainty and change
Intermediate proficiency in project management and productivity tools (Outlook, G Suite, Zoom, etc.)

Responsibilities

Manage and develop best-in-class programs that amplify Workday’s culture and enhance the experience for all Workday employees.
Contribute individually and as part of a successful team that drives constant improvement and innovation to ensure a positive experience for employees.
Analyze data and trends and provide insights, actionable recommendations, and present findings to stakeholder and leadership.
Create strategic vision for People Leader enablement to enable them to successfully support their Workmates and manage their functions as it relates to absence programs.
Partner with vendors to ensure that in-scope services are delivered in a quality and responsive manner.
Develop strong working relationships and collaborate with a cross-functional group of partners, both internal and external to identify and prioritize opportunities for improvement and collaboration to meet internal business needs.
Actively monitor the effectiveness of new and existing programs and recommend changes as needed.
Ensure compliance with all state, provincial, and federal regulations.
Create an internal plan advisory committee, manage quarterly briefings, and document recommendations and updates for stakeholders.