Associate Director, Solutions Architect

Associate Director, Solutions Architect at Cognizant

Cognizant is seeking an experienced Lead, Solutions Architect to join our Workday consulting team. In this pivotal role, you will lead a team of Workday-focused pre-sales architects who partner with clients during the sales cycle to design solutions, answer functional and technical questions, and develop accurate project estimates, proposals and statements of work.

This is an opportunity to influence strategic deals, guide solution design for complex Workday deployments, and ensure seamless transitions from sales to delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of Workday Solutions Architects across North America.
• Drive the ongoing evolution of our solutioning strategy, processes, and tools.
• Engage with prospective clients to understand requirements and craft tailored solutions.
• Define solution strategies for Workday HCM, Payroll, and Financials during the sales process.
• Oversee RFP/RFI responses, client presentations, and proposal development.
• Ensure accurate project scoping and estimation for statements of work.
• Collaborate with sales leadership to qualify opportunities and define approaches.
• Promote best practices and knowledge sharing across the team.
• Represent Cognizant at industry events and conferences (optional).

Skills & Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of Workday implementation experience, including HCM, Payroll, and Financials.
• 3+ years of leadership experience managing solution architects or similar roles.
• Current Workday certification (HCM or Financials preferred).
• Strong communication and presentation skills for executive-level audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Salary And Other Compensation

The annual salary for this position is between USD $113,500 - USD $186,750 depending on the experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate. This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans.

Benefits

Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
• Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
• 401(k) plan and contributions
• Long-term/Short-term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

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.

Key skills/competency

• Workday Implementation
• Solution Architecture
• Pre-sales Consulting
• Team Leadership
• Client Engagement
• Project Estimation
• Proposal Development
• Workday HCM
• Workday Financials
• Workday Payroll