Workday HR Solutions Manager

Sidley Austin LLP • Chicago, IL

1d • $107,000 - $152,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Sidley Austin is modernizing how we support and engage our people through technology — and you’ll be at the heart of it. As the Workday HR Solutions Manager, you’ll be part of the team that is leading the firm’s journey through Workday go-live in March and beyond, shaping the future of our HR systems and digital experience. You’ll combine strategic vision with hands-on technical expertise to optimize Workday and related HR solutions, focusing on Pilat performance management and Workday — ensuring they deliver seamless functionality, reliable data, and real business impact across our global offices. This is a high-impact role with the opportunity to drive innovation, streamline processes, and elevate the firm’s employee experience.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Information Systems, Business Administration, or related field.
• 8–10+ years of HRIS experience with at least 5 years in Workday functional leadership.
• Proven experience leading or supporting Workday deployment and post–go-live operations.
• Strong background in performance management system configuration (e.g., Pilat or equivalent).
• Demonstrated success in HR process design, data governance, and stakeholder engagement.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and analytical skills with attention to detail.
• Strong organizational skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Good judgment
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others
• Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion
• Able to work under pressure
• Able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities

Nice To Haves

• Workday Pro Certification(s) or Workday Partner Certification.
• Experience within a professional services or law firm environment.
• Master’s degree in HR, Information Systems, or related field.
• Experience with resource management or HR analytics systems.

Responsibilities

• Implementation & Go-Live Leadership: Phase 2 Serve as the functional Workday expert for Performance and other HR Products throughout deployment and stabilization phases.
• Collaborate with internal project teams, implementation partners, HR, Finance, and IT to validate configuration, integrations, and reporting.
• Lead and coordinate user acceptance testing (UAT), system readiness, and defect resolution to ensure a smooth go-live experience.
• Manage data migration activities, ensuring data integrity and accuracy.
• Oversee change management, communication, and training initiatives to support user adoption.
• Post-Go-Live Stabilization & Optimization: Phase 2 Oversee Workday HRIS operations and ensure system performance, reliability, and alignment with business needs.
• Evaluate and manage Workday releases, enhancements, and new functionality adoption.
• In conjunction with your Product owner, develop a strategic roadmap incorporating HR strategy, future phase rollouts and feature expansions of functionality.
• Partner with business owners to streamline workflows, increase automation, and optimize the employee experience.
• HR Systems Operations & Performance Management: Workday and Pilat Support and maintain Performance Management and HR Solutions systems, ensuring seamless integration with Workday post-go-live.
• Support and maintain Pilat Performance Management platform, supporting Performance Management HR Team and Lawyer Performance cycle.
• Oversee configuration, testing, and maintenance of existing performance management applications.
• Collaborate with HR stakeholders to gather requirements, design solutions, and implement enhancements that align with firm needs.
• Lead initiatives for the implementation of new HR systems, processes, or procedures to improve efficiency and quality.
• Provide leadership for “break/fix” system issues in collaboration with AMS and third-party vendors.
• Process Design & Continuous Improvement Analyze HR business processes to identify gaps, redundancies, and opportunities for automation.
• Develop documentation including business requirements, functional specifications, and process maps.
• Research HR technology trends and best practices to inform system enhancements and process modernization.
• Collaborate with HR leadership to align system functionality with evolving firm needs.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management Partner with HR, Finance, and IT to ensure systems and processes align with business requirements.
• Serve as primary liaison with Workday and Pilat implementation partners and external vendors.
• Communicate updates and provide guidance to HR team members on system changes, testing, and best practices.
• Support firmwide initiatives that intersect with HR systems and data management.
• Leadership & Team Development Work with a team of Workday analysts and HR systems professionals.
• Manage workload distribution, performance objectives, and professional growth.
• Promote a culture of operational excellence, data stewardship, and client service within the HR Solutions function.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level