Workday Training Lead

Job Title: Workday Training Lead
Location: Candidates must be in Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, or Virginia
Hybrid/Remote: Columbus, OH or Merrillville, IN, but open to non-local candidates who are willing to travel bi-weekly
Period: Now - 12/31/2026 (strong likelihood of extension)
Hours/Week: 40 hours
Rate: $70 - $80/hour
Contract Type: W-2 only, no visa sponsorships or subcontracting

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Workday Training Lead to develop, implement, and manage the end-to-end training strategy for a Workday implementation, with additional focus on Time Tracking, Absence and Payroll modules.

This role will partner closely with the project team, HR, Payroll, IT, and business stakeholders to ensure users are fully prepared for system adoption. The Training Lead will conduct training needs assessments, develop training materials, coordinate and deliver training sessions, implement a train-the-trainer model, and measure program effectiveness.

The ideal candidate brings strong HRIS training experience, deep understanding of adult learning principles, strong Excel skills (VLOOKUP and tables), and and hands-on experience supporting enterprise system implementations.

Key Responsibilities Training Strategy & Planning

• Develop and execute a comprehensive training strategy for Workday Time Tracking, Absence, and Payroll modules.
• Tailor training approaches to different user groups (HR, Leaders, Employees, Administrators).
• Define training objectives, success metrics, and adoption benchmarks aligned to business goals.
• Develop and manage an overall training workplan, coordinating support from internal and/or external instructional designers.

Needs Assessment & Content Development

• Conduct formal training needs assessments to identify skill gaps and readiness levels.
• Develop high-quality training materials including user guides, job aids, quick reference sheets, training manuals, presentations, FAQs, and self-service resources.
• Partner with SMEs and project teams to ensure technical accuracy and business relevance.
• Support light instructional design work as needed to refine curriculum and content.

Training Delivery & Coordination

• Lead engaging virtual and in-person training sessions prior to go-live.
• Coordinate training logistics, scheduling, and participant registration.
• Deliver interactive sessions incorporating live demos, hands-on exercises, and blended learning techniques.
• Develop and execute a structured train-the-trainer program to enable internal trainers to facilitate sessions independently.

User Support & Documentation

• Provide post-training support including troubleshooting assistance and reinforcement training.
• Maintain training records, completion tracking, and participant feedback documentation.
• Develop and maintain ongoing documentation and self-service resources.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Continuous Improvement

• Measure training effectiveness through feedback surveys, assessments, and system adoption metrics.
• Continuously refine training strategy based on feedback and business needs.
• Provide regular progress updates to project leadership and ensure alignment with implementation timelines.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Partner with HR, Payroll, IT, Change Management, and business leaders to align training with system design and operational processes.
• Support smooth system adoption and organizational transition efforts.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience delivering enterprise software or HRIS training programs.
• Hands-on experience supporting Workday implementations, particularly Time Tracking, Absence, and/or Payroll modules.
• Experience developing and executing structured train-the-trainer programs.
• Strong knowledge of adult learning principles and training methodologies.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional collaboration across HR, IT, and business teams.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex system functionality into clear, user-friendly training.
• Strong Excel skills (VLOOKUP and tables)

Preferred Qualifications

• Workday Certification.
• Experience supporting large-scale system go-lives or upgrades.
• Instructional design experience.
• Familiarity with Learning Management Systems (LMS) and training tracking tools.
• Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) or similar credential.
• PMP or Agile certification.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Training Strategy Development
• HRIS / Workday Training Expertise
• Adult Learning & Instructional Design
• Facilitation (Virtual & In-Person)
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Change Enablement & Adoption Support
• Program Evaluation & Continuous Improvement
• Cross-Functional Collaboration