IT Applications Manager, HCM

IT Applications Manager HCM

The IT Functional Manager – HCM Applications is accountable for both functional ownership and delivery management of Human Capital Management platforms like Oracle HCM, UKG, and Workday.

This role combines HR domain expertise, platform knowledge, and delivery leadership, ensuring that HR technology initiatives are planned, governed, delivered, and adopted successfully across the organization. The role partners closely with HR, Finance, Security, and vendors to drive predictable delivery, operational stability, and continuous improvement across the Hire‑to‑Retire lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

HCM Application Ownership & Strategy

• Own the functional vision, roadmap, and lifecycle management of Oracle HCM, UKG, and Workday.
• Align platform capabilities with HR strategy, transformation initiatives, and growth plans.
• Drive simplification, standardization, and tool rationalization across the HCM landscape.

HR Business Partnership

• Act as the single point of accountability from IT for HR technology delivery.
• Partner with HR leaders (HR Ops, Talent, Payroll, Total Rewards, WFM) to: Shape demand, Prioritize initiatives, Define realistic scope and delivery timelines, Translate HR functional requirements into well‑defined, deliverable work packages.

Delivery Manager Skill Set (HR Function)

• Delivery Planning & Execution: Own end‑to‑end delivery of HR technology initiatives including: Enhancements, Integrations, Releases, Compliance changes, Medium to large HR system programs. Lead demand intake, estimation, planning, sequencing, and delivery commitments. Create and manage delivery plans, milestones, dependencies, risks, and mitigation strategies.
• Agile / Hybrid Delivery Management: Apply Agile, Hybrid, or Waterfall delivery models based on initiative complexity and HR readiness. Facilitate: Backlog grooming, Sprint planning / iteration planning, UAT cycles and release readiness. Ensure delivery predictability, transparency, and clear reporting to HR and IT leadership.
• Governance, Risk & Controls: Establish delivery governance for HR initiatives including: Scope control, Change impact assessment, Design sign‑off, Functional and UAT sign‑off. Identify and actively manage risks related to: Compliance, Payroll impact, Data integrity, Employee experience. Ensure audit‑ready documentation, approvals, and traceability.
• Vendor & Partner Delivery Management: Manage delivery by system integrators, AMS partners, and vendors across HCM platforms. Review solution designs, estimates, plans, and deliverables. Hold vendors accountable for: Timelines, Quality, SLAs, Cost governance. Drive outcome‑based delivery, not just activity completion.
• Release, Testing & Change Enablement: Own functional delivery readiness for releases. Coordinate UAT planning, test execution, defect triage, and business sign‑off. Partner with HR on change management, training readiness, and user adoption planning.
• Operational Delivery Excellence: Provide senior‑level L3 functional support for critical production issues. Drive incident triage, root cause analysis, and long‑term fixes. Balance run‑the‑business and change‑the‑business priorities effectively.
• Team Leadership & Capability Building: Lead and mentor HCM functional analysts and delivery leads. Build delivery discipline, documentation standards, and cross‑platform knowledge. Upskill the team in HR processes, tools, and delivery best practices.

Required Skill Set

HCM Functional Expertise

• Strong understanding of end‑to‑end HR processes: Core HR, recruiting, onboarding, Compensation & benefits, Time & attendance / workforce management, Payroll coordination.
• Experience supporting global or multi‑region HR teams.
• Platform knowledge of Workday, Oracle HCM, or UKG is an added advantage.

Delivery Manager Competencies

• Program & delivery planning
• Executive‑ready status reporting and risk communication
• Stakeholder expectation management
• Dependency and cross‑team coordination
• Strong decision‑making and prioritization skills
• Experience delivering HR technology programs with business-critical impact
• Handle audit requirements

Key skills/competency

• HCM Applications
• Oracle HCM
• Workday
• UKG
• HR Technology
• Delivery Management
• Agile Methodologies
• Vendor Management
• IT Strategy
• HR Business Partnership