Principal Product Owner, Workday

Job :

Location:

Adelphi, MD Category: IT and Project Management Type:
Full time

Principal Product Owner, Workday

Digital Platforms

US Exempt Regular Full time Stateside Exempt 4.3

Principal Product Owner, Workday

Digital Platforms

Full-time, Exempt Regular, Pay Grade 4.3

Location:

Hybrid (Onsite presence in Adelphi, MD required at least once a week)

The Principal Product Owner, Workday, assists the Associate Vice President, ERP & Faculty Systems in providing strategic leadership and delivery oversight for UMGC's enterprise Workday platform, ensuring alignment between institutional strategy, business needs, and technology capabilities. This role translates organizational priorities-such as the Skills-Driven Organization, Faculty/Staff Experience Modernization, and Financial Transparency-into a clear roadmap for Workday enhancements, integrations, and data-driven outcomes.

The Principal Product Owner serves as the bridge between HR, Finance, IT, and executive stakeholders, driving value realization and continuous improvement across Workday HCM, Finance, Prism, Extend, and related modules.

Duties and Responsibilities:

* Lead the strategic vision, roadmap, and prioritization for Workday capabilities, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and governance frameworks.

* Serve as the primary liaison between business process owners, Workday configuration teams, and technical integration partners to ensure cohesive solution delivery.

* Manage the product backlog, defining epics, features, and user stories that support process optimization, automation, and data transparency.

* Collaborate with HR, Finance, and Institutional leadership to define KPIs, success metrics, and business outcomes for Workday initiatives.

* Champion change management and user adoption, ensuring effective communication, training, and stakeholder engagement for each release.

* Engage with Workday Success Managers, user groups, and industry peers to identify best practices and future platform opportunities.

Competencies:

* Strategic Thinking and Alignment

* Stakeholder Collaboration and Influence

* Product Management and Agile Delivery

* Analytical and Data-Driven Decision Making

* Communication and Change Leadership

* Continuous Improvement and Innovation

Skills:

* Workday configuration knowledge (HCM, Finance, Prism, Extend, or Journeys)

* Agile product management, backlog grooming, and sprint planning

* Requirements analysis and process mapping

* Strong communication, facilitation, and executive presentation skills

* Data visualization and KPI development using Workday reporting tools

* Vendor and stakeholder relationship management

Education & Experience Requirements :

Education:

* Bachelor's Degree in Information Systems, Business Administration, Computer Science, or a related field.

Experience:

* 8+ years of Workday experience, including 4+ years as a Product Owner, Product Manager, or Platform Strategist.

* Proven success leading enterprise-level Workday initiatives across HCM, Finance, or Extend.

* Experience in higher education or complex, matrixed organizations preferred.

Preferred Experience Requirements:

Education:

* Master's Degree in Business Administration, Information Systems, or a related field.

Experience:

* Leadership experience in enterprise digital transformation or ERP modernization programs.

* Proven success developing and executing product roadmaps aligned to organizational strategy.

Certifications:

* Workday Pro Certification(s) in one or more modules (HCM, Skills Cloud, Journeys, Extend, or Reporting/Prism) preferred.

* Agile Product Owner or Scrum certification (e.g., CSPO, SAFe PO/PM) a plus.

* Multiple Workday Pro Certifications or equivalent platform specialization.

* Agile or ITIL certification preferred.

All submissions should include a cover letter and resume.

The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination. UMGC is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression,…