Workday Talent Principal Consultant

The Workday Talent Principal Consultant is a Workday subject matter expert responsible for leading the design, configuration, and delivery of Workday Talent solutions. Acting as a trusted advisor to clients, this individual provides strategic guidance across Talent Management processes while driving successful implementation outcomes. The Principal Consultant combines deep functional expertise with delivery leadership, pre-sales support, and mentoring responsibilities. They serve as a solution lead on complex engagements, support business development activities, and help develop the next generation of Workday consultants. Responsibilities ---------------- * Serve as a Workday Talent subject matter expert across areas including Talent, Performance, Succession, Career Development, Goals, Skills Cloud, and Talent Marketplace. * Lead client workshops and design sessions to gather requirements and define Workday Talent solutions aligned to business objectives and best practices. * Own the design, configuration, testing, and deployment of Workday Talent solutions. * Provide strategic guidance and recommendations to clients on talent management processes and transformation initiatives. * Lead Talent workstreams on medium to large Workday implementations, managing solution decisions, risks, and dependencies. * Partner with Recruiting, HCM, Learning, Reporting, Security, Integrations, and Change Management teams to deliver integrated solutions. * Support testing, cutover, deployment, and knowledge transfer activities. * Mentor consultants and analysts, providing coaching, quality reviews, and functional guidance. * Support sales and business development activities, including solutioning, estimations, proposals, demonstrations, and client presentations. * Contribute to practice development through knowledge sharing, methodology improvements, and internal training initiatives. * Maintain expertise in Workday Talent functionality, emerging trends, and product innovations. Skills & Requirements --------------------- * Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. * Active Workday Talent Certification required. * 5+ years of Workday implementation experience. * Proven experience leading Talent workstreams on end-to-end Workday implementations. * Experience gathering requirements, leading workshops, solution design, configuration, testing, and deployment. * Experience supporting pre-sales activities * Strong leadership, mentoring, and stakeholder management skills. * Excellent communication and presentation skills, including engagement with senior business stakeholders. * 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. #LI-Remote **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.