Workday Benefits Principal Consultant

• Serve as a Workday Benefits subject matter expert, providing guidance on benefits strategy, administration, and Workday best practices.
• Lead client workshops and design sessions to define Workday Benefits solutions aligned to business requirements.
• Design and configure Workday Benefits functionality, including eligibility rules, benefit plans, enrolment events, life events, rates, credits, and carrier integrations.
• Advise clients on benefits programme design, compliance considerations, and process optimisation.
• Lead Benefits workstreams on medium to large Workday implementations, managing solution decisions, risks, and dependencies.
• Partner with HCM, Compensation, Payroll, Talent, Reporting, Security, Integrations, and Change Management teams to deliver integrated solutions.
• Support testing, deployment, cutover, and post-go-live transition activities.
• Provide guidance on open enrolment, benefits administration, employee self-service, and ongoing operational processes.
• Mentor consultants and analysts, providing coaching, quality reviews, and functional leadership.
• Support business development activities including solutioning, estimations, proposals, demonstrations, and customer presentations.
• Contribute to practice development through internal training, asset creation, methodology enhancements, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
• Maintain expertise in Workday Benefits functionality, regulatory requirements, and industry trends.

Skills & Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Active Workday Benefits Certification required.
• Additional Workday certifications in HCM, Compensation, Payroll, or Absence are desirable.
• 5+ years of Workday implementation experience.
• Proven experience leading Workday Benefits workstreams on end-to-end implementations.
• Deep functional expertise in benefits administration, eligibility management, enrolment processes, life events, benefit plan design, and employee self-service.
• Experience gathering requirements, facilitating workshops, solution design, configuration, testing, and deployment.
• Experience supporting pre-sales activities including estimations, proposals, and solution presentations.
• Strong consulting, stakeholder management, facilitation, and communication skills.
• Ability to mentor team members and provide functional leadership across projects.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced consulting environment.
• Eligible for SC Clearance - you must have been a UK resident for the last five years and be legally entitled to work in the UK.
• Minimal travel required, but must be willing to travel on-site as needed.

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.