Workday Lead Engagement Manager

At Kainos, we’re problem solvers, innovators, and collaborators - driven by a shared mission to create real impact. Whether we’re transforming digital services for millions, delivering cutting-edge Workday solutions, or pushing the boundaries of technology, we do it together.

We believe in a people-first culture, where your ideas are valued, your growth is supported, and your contributions truly make a difference. Here, you’ll be part of a diverse, ambitious team that celebrates creativity and collaboration.

Ready to make your mark? Join us and be part of something bigger.

As a Workday Lead Engagement Manager in Kainos, will be responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of Workday solutions for clients by working closely with client business teams and internal sales and delivery teams to define the scope, objectives and approach of solutions that are fit for purpose and commercially viable.  

This is a senior position accountable for the entire delivery lifecycle  

Your key responsibilities include: 

• Commercially managing the implementation of global Workday programs from pre-sales through implementation to hand over to AMS (Application Management Services). 

• Acting as the key client interface between functional and technical teams and the client.  

• Pragmatically offering domain experience (HCM, Fins, Payroll or where relevant to a Workday Capability) to provide functional insight and thought-leadership. 

• Managing all aspects of delivery including project planning, resourcing, milestone tracking, commercial management and customer satisfaction. 

• Leading and supporting blended teams of colleagues, client and partner resources to share knowledge and develop an integrated delivery ethic. 

• Agreeing objectives, outputs, milestones, timescale with client, together with associated contract and commercial terms. 

• Identifying requirements, business processes, application configurations, testing plans and other artefacts to be documented to ensure shared understanding and facilitate knowledge transfer. 

• Creating well structured & accurate deliverables and presenting to client steering level groups to secure proposed recommendations and agreement. 

• Identifying and actioning appropriately opportunities to win business, including negotiating and closing at a senior client level. 

MINIMUM (ESSENTIAL) REQUIREMENTS:

• You will be an established manager of systems implementations with direct experience in the successful delivery of IT solutions within a consulting environment, coupled with exceptional personal drive and ambition to progress your career. 

• Full lifecycle project management experience, from initial opportunity through to requirement development / definition, functional solution design, implementation, data-migration, system testing, user acceptance testing, go-live and service management. 

• Two years of experience with a consulting / IT services environment. 

• Strong commercial management, influencing and negotiation skills. 

• Excellent customer focus, able to assess customer needs, build relationships and manage customer expectations. You will know when to push back, when to escalate, and when to go above and beyond to satisfy a customer  

• Strong communicator, able to communicate with customers and colleagues with impact, credibility and empathy, including in a remote working situation. Sound ability to formally present to senior Client audiences  

• Strong business writing skills with experience in the production of business cases, requirement documentation, tender documents, contracts, statements of work and change requests. 

• Demonstrable success in identifying and taking appropriate action on opportunities for additional business. 

• Ability to provide effective pre-sales support as required, including devising and costing viable, winning solutions working closely with a sales team. 

• Sound commercial judgement, with a proven track record in the execution of contract and commercial terms applying to the project. 

• Commercial experience of running a team with experience in managing distributed teams. 

• Good team player, with a willingness and ability to act as a role model within the capability and mentor and/or lead and manage people 

• Ability to make sound decisions under pressure, taking a balanced view of client demands and Kainos commercials 

• A positive “can do” attitude towards the commercial, technical and staffing challenges facing Kainos 

• Able to implement improvements in tools and/or processes to help the practice 

• Able, if required, to travel to customer sites in the same region (minimal out of region travel may also be required)  

DESIRABLE:

• Working with Workday or other SaaS delivery methodologies 

• Experience of managing, mentoring and developing teams

• Strong functional domain expertise including areas such as core HR and Finance including Payroll. 

At Kainos, we believe in the power of diversity, equity and inclusion. We are committed to building a team that is as diverse as the world we live in, where everyone is valued, respected, and given an equal chance to thrive.   We actively seek out talented people from all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other characteristic that makes them who they are.   We also believe every candidate deserves a level playing field. 

Our friendly talent acquisition team is here to support you every step of the way, so if you require any accommodations or adjustments, we encourage you to reach out. 

We understand that everyone's journey is different, and by having a private conversation we can ensure that our recruitment process is tailored to your needs.