Workday Payroll Administrator Principal

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

About The Position

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. We’re looking for a forward-thinking Workday Payroll Administrator who’s excited to help reinvent how payroll gets done. In this role, you’ll shape the future of our Workday Payroll and Absence ecosystem—building smarter, faster, more intuitive processes powered by automation, AI, and data-driven insights. You’ll partner with HR, Finance, and Technology teams to deliver scalable solutions that elevate accuracy, efficiency, and the overall employee experience.

Requirements

High School Diploma / GED
At least five (5) years functional system administration experience
Demonstrated ability to build relationships and work collaboratively
Excellent communication and teamwork skills
Critical thinking problem-solving skills
Proficient in Microsoft Office products

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's Degree Accounting, Finance, Information Technology or related discipline
Workday Certification
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)
At least seven (7) years within a healthcare environment
Working knowledge of workforce management solutions, preferably UKG (Kronos) Time Tracking
Fundamental knowledge of ancillary payroll systems and service providers including but not limited to ADP, CIC+, Windstar, and Melissa Data Service

Responsibilities

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lead change management efforts related to system upgrades, new features, and process changes.
Support the development of training materials and end-users training.
Act as a subject matter expert and provide ongoing support to payroll users.
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.