Workday Student Functional Architect

The Functional Architect – Workday Student (Australian Higher Education) is the functional leader for student administration engagements across Australian and New Zealand universities. This role is suited to an experienced higher education practitioner with hands-on experience across multiple student administration domains, such as student records, admissions, curriculum and academic structure, advising, student finance and compliance. Technical or systems experience is beneficial but not essential.

What matters most is a genuine interest in understanding how Workday works and the ability to connect platform capability with the realities of university operations. The person who fits this role will be energised by the opportunity to help shape how Workday is applied across the higher education sector.

They serve as the functional leader on Workday Student implementations and are accountable for bringing together the full student lifecycle as it exists in Workday and as it operates within an Australian or New Zealand university. This includes admissions, enrolment, progression, assessment, student finance, graduation and regulatory reporting.

The incumbent is trusted to form a point of view, guide solution direction and make well-informed decisions drawing on their sector knowledge and practitioner experience. Working closely with Engagement Managers, functional leads and senior university stakeholders, they help deliver solutions that are practical, compliant, sustainable and aligned to institutional objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead the functional architecture for Workday Student programs from discovery through deployment and stabilisation.

Own the end-to-end student lifecycle design, ensuring admissions, student records, curriculum and academic structure, advising, progression, assessment, student financials and graduation operate as one connected solution.

Ensure localised solutions are fit for purpose, operationally sustainable and compliant with Australian and New Zealand regulatory obligations, including TCSI, HELP/eCAF, TEQSA, ESOS/CRICOS, PRISMS, admissions pathways, census and EFTSL requirements.

Maintain a current understanding of Workday capabilities, releases, AI and agent innovations, translating emerging functionality into practical guidance and roadmap recommendations for universities.

• Translate institutional strategy, academic policy and regulatory requirements into clear solution principles, design decisions and implementation roadmaps.
• Facilitate cross-functional design forums and guide stakeholders through complex decisions, dependencies and trade-offs across the student lifecycle.
• Provide oversight of business processes, security, integrations, reporting, data conversion, testing and deployment readiness to ensure a cohesive solution.
• Review key design artefacts, configuration outcomes, risks, assumptions and decisions for completeness, quality and alignment to client objectives.
• Act as a trusted advisor to university leaders, helping shape sustainable operating models and future capability roadmaps.
• Mentor consultants and functional leads, promoting consistent methods, reusable assets and continuous improvement across the practice.
• Support pursuits through solution shaping, estimation, demonstrations, proposal development and client presentations.

Duties & Tasks:

• Lead and facilitate client workshops, design forums and decision-making sessions across multiple student administration domains.
• Work closely with Engagement Managers, functional leads and technical teams to identify and manage cross-functional dependencies, risks and design impacts.
• Review solution designs, configuration outcomes and key project deliverables to ensure quality, consistency and alignment to client objectives.
• Provide practical guidance to clients on regulatory, operational and organisational considerations that influence solution design.
• Support delivery teams in resolving design blockers and navigating complex functional decisions.
• Mentor consultants and functional leads, sharing sector knowledge, implementation experience and leading practices.
• Participate in pursuit activities, including solution shaping, estimation, demonstrations and client presentations.
• Maintain awareness of emerging trends in higher education administration and bring relevant insights into client conversations and solution design.
• Stay current with Workday Student capabilities, releases, AI and agent innovations, and assess their relevance to Australian and New Zealand universities.

Identify gaps in our student administration IP and collaborate with practice director to close them – new design patterns, localisation assets, accelerators and methodology updates.

Support the sales team by:

• Assisting Solution Architects with estimating projects, as necessary.
• Participating in Sales Orals meetings for proposed assignments.
• Assisting with or reviewing estimates for Change Orders in functional areas.
• Participating in discussions regarding functional areas and localisation scope that may come into scope for a project or client.

Education and Experience Requirements:

Bachelor's degree or equivalent.

Current Workday Student certification, or the demonstrated capability and commitment to achieve certification.

Significant experience working within an Australian or New Zealand university in a student administration, academic services or related operational leadership role.

Demonstrated understanding of the end-to-end student lifecycle and the ability to translate higher education business requirements into practical solution outcomes.

Working knowledge of the Australian and New Zealand higher education regulatory environment, including obligations such as TCSI, HELP/eCAF, TEQSA, ESOS/CRICOS, PRISMS, admissions pathways, census and EFTSL reporting.

Experience leading design and decision-making across multiple student administration domains, such as admissions, student records, curriculum and academic structure, advising, progression, student finance and graduation.

Experience with Workday Student or a comparable student information system, including leading complex functional design discussions and resolving cross-functional dependencies.

Proven ability to facilitate workshops and communicate effectively with executives, academic leaders, professional staff and technical teams.

Experience supporting implementation activities including governance, testing, data conversion, integrations and deployment readiness.

Demonstrated ability to provide leadership in ambiguous situations, influence stakeholders and make sound decisions based on business and operational considerations.

Curiosity about emerging technology and a willingness to stay current with evolving Workday capabilities, including AI and agent innovations.

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.
• Originally posted on Himalayas