HR System and Data Manager - Maternity cover

Overview

As our HR System and Data Manager, you will be responsible for leading the integrity, performance and continuous development of our HR system, ensuring it consistently delivers accurate, timely and meaningful people information across the Group. This role is a champion of data quality and innovation, playing a pivotal part in enabling informed decision‑making and supporting our growth strategy. Working in partnership with senior leaders and key stakeholders, you will ensure our core HRIS (Workday) remains robust, compliant and fit for purpose, providing the strong foundations needed to support our people and ultimately the outcomes we achieve as an organisation.

In this role you will oversee the day‑to‑day management, configuration and enhancement of Workday, ensuring the accuracy of data across HCM, Time Tracking, Absence, Scheduling and Benefits modules. Your expertise will enable you to deliver insightful dashboards, reports and analysis for senior leaders. You will lead on system testing, releases and new implementations, working closely with third‑party providers to drive continuous improvement.

Alongside this, you will take responsibility for the administration and reporting of staff engagement surveys, ensuring feedback is meaningfully analysed and shared. Through training, guidance and proactive support, you will empower colleagues to use our systems effectively, ensuring our people data not only meets compliance requirements but actively drives performance and engagement across the Group.

• Proven experience working with HR systems (ideally Workday) as a super user, with strong attention to detail and a focus on data accuracy and integrity.
• Advanced analytical and reporting skills, including confident use of Excel and the ability to interpret and present meaningful people data.
• Experience developing dashboards and reports that identify trends, inform decision‑making and support organisational priorities.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience liaising effectively with senior leaders and external system providers.
• Highly organised and proactive approach, with the ability to manage system updates, deliver training and maintain strict confidentiality.

• Salary:
  Salary up to £55,000 depending on experience.
• Holiday:
  You'll work hard at WG, so you'll be rewarded with 7 weeks' holiday (including bank holidays).
• Flexible benefits package: meaning you can increase/decrease your holiday allowance, pension and life insurance - check out our benefits here.
• Wellbeing: a host of wellbeing tools and advice including employee assistance.
• Healthcare cash plan cover so you can claim back the cost of things like an opticians or dentist appointment and a host of high‑street discounts.
• A recommend a friend scheme that offers a £1,000 bonus every time.

Join the UK's best special education and care provider. Our young people deserve the best possible future and we feel the same about our teams. You deserve to have the career you want, with a purpose‑led employer, in an environment that allows you to be yourself. The Witherslack Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its young people.

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check (we will cover the cost).