Workday HCM Test Manager, North America, Contract

About WPP IT

WPP IT offers information technology services for WPP, the world's largest provider of communication services. WPP is a creative transformation company that helps its clients to transform the future through exceptional work. WPP IT plays a crucial role in this journey, and we take pride in providing technology solutions to some of the most innovative and creative brands worldwide.

Role Purpose

WPP is a company that places technology at the forefront of its operations. At WPP IT, we are dedicated to enabling collaboration, creativity, and success for everyone. We are transforming significantly to create a platform that will power WPP's next evolution. Our current focus is to simplify and clarify the operating model between WPP and our brands, modernize and create technology-enabled colleague experiences, and establish an open, integrated technology innovation platform throughout WPP.

As part of our HCM Programme, we have identified the need for a local Workday HCM Test Manager. This role will work within our existing Workday QA & Release team and will lead the Test/QA Workstream on the Programme in North America. You will define and execute the test approach, scope, plan, and estimates, as well as working with the offshore Test team, whilst leading the dedicated resources allocated to the Programme, who will support our test design, test case creation, test automation, and test execution. You will also be responsible for test management governance, communication, test phase gate closers, etc.

In this role you will be a member of the Global QA Hub, working within the WorkDay Team, and reporting to the Workday Test & Release Manager.

Key Responsibilities

• As the Test Manager, you will lead the entire test cycle, which will involve multiple phases, including Smoke, Unit, End to End, Regression, Payroll, Integrations, Service Rehearsal, UAT and Regression.
• You will support to continuously improve WPP’s QA strategy with your experience of Workday's methodology, best practices, to manage the test management delivery.
• Your role will be crucial in the end-to-end test management cycle, starting from defining the scope and planning to execution, support, and closure of the project in Testing.
• Your contributions will be instrumental in the success of the project. You will be responsible for project reporting/communication of plans and progress in Testing.
• You will support to continuously improve our global template of Defect management process, including strategy, triage, reporting, and resolution.
• You will also define each test phase's entry and exit criteria, including formal approval from all relevant stakeholders.
• You will collaborate closely with Project Managers and deployment/Workflow leads, planning the test phases, scope, effort estimation, and risk management.
• Your periodic reports on progress, blockers, and possible solutions will be invaluable. You will perform risk assessments and produce Test documentation, such as Test Approaches, Test Plans, Test Cases, Test Scripts, and other related items aligned with Workday Methodologies. You will also ensure that reporting and communication of plans, progress, and issues are delivered promptly and effectively.
• As the Test Manager, you will be responsible for the entire end-to-end test life cycle of the country rollout/BAU, including the entry and exit checklist of Unit Test, SIT/E2E, Regression, and UAT until the Sign-off of each phase.
• You will be responsible for keeping the testing documentation up-to-date and ensuring that global standards and principles are not compromised by competing requests and priorities.
• You will also collaborate with third-party teams to ensure that the testing plan, scope, and effort estimation are agreed upon before the test phase is executed correctly and on time.
• Additionally, you will set up Jira/Zephyr for both project and Business-as-usual (BAU) Testing Activities.
• You should be capable of communicating complex issues in a format that is easy for business and technical stakeholders, including senior stakeholders, to understand in the steering committee meetings.
• As the single point of contact, you will keep track of the plan, deployment progress, issues, and associated risks to ensure on-time delivery.

You will work with Risk and Controls, DPO approvals, and Programme assurance to ensure project governance deliverables meet WPP IT audit standards and best practices.

Skills and Experience

• Experience of Workday HCM functional areas including integration to external systems, (ideally Payroll integration, Reporting & Security testing) is mandatory.
• Experience in data validation across Workday modules HCM, FINS & PSA.
• Previous experience of managing test team in a large organization or a complex project for Workday HCM involving multiple stakeholders.
• Previous experience leading end-to-end Workday HCM test management. Experience in Testing throughout the full SDLC (Management & Execution)
• Attention to detail and a creative way to report progress on test management, either via statistics or high-level updates, to cater to various stakeholders.
• Strong risk awareness skills and management of risk. Forecasts the risk, evaluates the severity and makes efforts to mitigate without impacting the overall testing timelines.
• Previous experience as a test lead for an overall project focusing on integration testing.
• Working knowledge of test management tools (Jira or Zephyr is preferred), including the development and maintenance of test automation tools.
• Working alongside outsourced resources and teams across different regions and operating as a lead with professionalism.
• Development and maintenance of test automation tools.
• Manage multiple streams of work simultaneously and prioritize effectively.
• Delivery focused, with high energy and drive.
• Creative solutions and strong problem-solving skills with agility for fast and simple solutions
• Credibility, professionalism, and strong personal integrity
• Ability to mentor new team members from wide and varied backgrounds.

Day rate range specified below

To be Successful

• Ideally previously Certified in Workday HCM/ Project Manager or have led the test management from the customer side or projects managed by SI.
• Workday Functional knowledge will be beneficial.
• Previously deployed Workday HCM in the North America Region; Ideally experienced with 3-4 Workday HCM test management life cycle experience as a Test Manager / Test Lead / Project Manager
• Team lead, Team player skills to manage a project as part of the Global Programme.

You’re open: We are inclusive and collaborative; we encourage the free exchange of ideas; we respect and celebrate diverse views. We are open-minded: to new ideas, new partnerships, new ways of working.

You’re optimistic: We believe in the power of creativity, technology, and talent to create brighter futures or our people, our clients, and our communities. We approach all that we do with confidence: to try the new and to seek the unexpected.

You’re extraordinary: we are stronger together: through collaboration we achieve the amazing. We are creative leaders and pioneers of our industry; we deliver extraordinary every day.

Available in the East Coast time zone to collaborate with a wider Programme team based in London. 

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