Australia onlyAt Cognizant, we partner with Australianand New Zealandhigher education institutions todeliver large‑scale, outcomes‑driven Workday transformations. As a Delivery Lead / Workday Engagement Manager, you will be accountable for the end‑to‑end delivery of Workday implementations with a focus onWorkday Student.
Leveraging deep Australian higher education student administration experience the Engagement Managerwill lead complex, multi‑workstream programs across Recruiting & Admissions, Student Records, Academic Advising, and related Student Administrationfunctions. Acting as the primary delivery owner and senior client contact, you will balance strategic oversight with hands‑on leadership to ensure high‑quality outcomes, regulatory alignment, and long‑term client success.
This role blends deep functional understanding ofhigher education andstudent administration with program governance, financial accountability, and stakeholder leadership across university executives, functional leaders, and delivery teams.
Responsibilities:
Lead and govern complex,multi‑phaseimplementations across Australianand New Zealandhigher education institutions, ensuring alignment to agreed outcomes and delivery standards,includingend-to-end accountabilityforscope, schedule, budget, quality, risk management, decisionsupportand executive-level reporting.
While leading initial HCM and Finance deploymentsforhigher educationclients, ensure the student deploymentmethodologyis aligned and implementation-ready forsubsequentWorkday Student delivery.
Act as a senior functionalprocessleader across Workday Student areas including Recruiting & Admissions, Student Records, and Academic Advising
Guide solution designata high-levelto align institutional policies, student lifecycle processes, andfuture‑stateoperating models
Oversee thatsolutions reflect Australian higher education regulatory, reporting, and compliance requirements
Actively contribute to the growth of the Workday Student practice through knowledge sharing, capability development, and thought leadership
Become an expert in Workday's Implementation Methodology and use it on all engagements.
Work with the client project manager to identify/resolve all issues that couldimpactproject scope and/ortimeframes.
Assistin the transition of the client from professional services to product support.
Serve as thefirstescalation point and trusted advisor for university stakeholders
Facilitate executive steering committees, design authority forums, and delivery assurance checkpoints, including support for Workday Delivery Assurance Reviews
Lead, mentor, and developcross‑functionaldelivery teams, including functionaland technicalconsultants andchangeworkstream leads
Support business development activities, including solution shaping, proposals, and client pursuits
Skills & Requirements:
Significant senior operational leadership experience withintheAustralian higher educationsector, with accountability for one or more student administration functions(e.g. Admissions, Enrolment, Student Records, Academic Progression, or Student Finance). Responsibility for policy, process, service delivery, and staff leadership.
Demonstrated understanding of theend‑to‑endstudent lifecycle and its intersection with academic policy, governance, and institutional strategy.
Deep, practical knowledge of Australian higher education regulatory, compliance, and reporting obligations including TCSI,CSP andHELP Loan administration(including workingeCAFprocessknowledge), TEQSA, ESOS(including PRISMSprocess knowledge)andASQA.
Proven experience translating institutional policies, academic regulations, and operational practices into scalable system and process designscoupled with a strongappreciation of the operational impacts of system change on students, staff, and facultieskeepingservice quality and student experienceat the centre.
Hands‑onexperience leading or sponsoring major student system implementations or transformationsis preferred(e.g. SIS replacement, digital admissions, enrolment modernisation), ideally including Workday Student or comparable SaaS/ERP platforms.
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience7-10years of experienceleadingstudent administration workstreams in an operational capacity (Admissions, Enrolment, Records, Student Financials).
PreviousWorkday experiencestronglypreferred but notrequired.
Strong communicationand presentation skills, with the ability to effectively manage customer expectations
Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office suite, particularly Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
Minimal travelrequired, but must be willing to travel on-site if needed
Workday certifications desired but notrequiredif significant client-side experience exists including subject matterexpertisein one of the required functional areas
Why choose Cognizant:
- Entrepreneurial environment that welcomes your ideas
- Opportunity to do great work
- Outreach programs that support communities and tap into your volunteer spirit
- Learning opportunities to help current needs and advancement
- Global operations, with opportunities in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific
- An abundance of Affinity groups to meet your needs
Cognizant Core Values:
- Work as One: We think beyond roles, relying on each other’s strengths to win as a team.
- Raise the Bar: We always aim for excellence in how we work and what we deliver.
- Dare to Innovate: We push boundaries and take chances to reimagine what’s possible.
- Do the Right Thing: We all lead with integrity and always make the ethical choice.
- Own It: We own the outcomes for our company, colleagues, and community.
United States
Philippines only