Workday Data Conversion Lead

Job Title: Workday Data Conversion Lead

Location: Chicago, IL

Onsite Requirements: 100% Remote

Compensation Range: $160,000-180,000 plus Bonus: ~10% of base

JOB DETAILS: Workday Data Conversion Lead

• Reports to Workday Practice Leader

• May carry direct reports depending on experience level

• Team size varies by project: 1-2 people on smaller engagements, up to 6 on larger ones

• Leads both internal data conversion teams and client-side teams

• Serves as subject matter expert and lead on end-to-end data migration activities across Workday implementations (HCM, Payroll, Finance)

• Develops and maintains comprehensive data conversion and tenant-build project plans, workbooks, and mapping requirements

• Defines data extraction, transformation, and load sequencing strategies in collaboration with client SMEs, functional consultants, and technical architects

• Leads iterative conversion testing cycles (Foundation, Configuration, End to End, Parallel, Gold/Production loads); manages defect logs

• Supports cutover planning: data freeze windows, load dependencies, go-live readiness criteria

• Produces conversion governance documentation including sign-off packages, issues logs, and lessons learned artifacts

• Builds and executes Workday loads via EIB, Advanced Load, and other methods

• Develops reconciliation scripts and validation reports to confirm accuracy against source systems

• Mentors junior conversion analysts across concurrent workstreams

• Partners with practice leadership to build tools, templates, and repeatable processes

• Travels for key project milestones: kickoffs, design/data-gathering sessions, testing milestones (est. 8-10 trips over a 24-month engagement; ~25% travel is the top-end expectation)

Three-Tier Role Scope:

• Tier 1 (Minimum / Required): Hands-on Workday tenant builds; standard data conversion execution

• Tier 2 (Preferred): Team management + customer-facing extraction and transformation work

• Tier 3 (Unicorn): All of the above + strategic contribution to internal tooling and practice growth

MUST-HAVE REQUIREMENTS:

• Active Workday Data Conversion and/or Data Loading Certification (non-expired; Workday Pro a potential alternative)

• 3+ years of Workday-specific data conversion experience across HCM, Payroll, and/or Finance (formal Lead title not required; next-step candidates considered)

• Proficiency in EIB, XSLT, Workday Customer Central, and Workday-delivered data migration and load tools

• Advanced Excel (data manipulation, reconciliation, validation)

• SQL proficiency for data extraction and transformation from relational source systems

• Ability to manage multiple concurrent conversion workstreams under tight implementation timelines

• U.S. work authorization without sponsorship

PREFERENCES:

• Financial data conversion experience strongly preferred: GL balances, open AP/AR, suppliers and customers, fixed assets, banking data, chart of accounts

• Located in Chicago, IL; Denver, CO or Detroit, MI also attractive

• Prior consulting experience with a certified Workday implementation partner or SI

• Additional Workday functional certifications (Financial Management, HCM, Payroll)

• Experience migrating data from legacy ERP/HRIS platforms (Oracle EBS, SAP, PeopleSoft, ADP)

• Experience managing or mentoring data conversion team members

• Ambition to contribute to practice growth, internal tooling, and methodology development

• Committed to staying in data/conversion work -- not transitioning to functional roles

#LI-BM1

#TECH