HR Workday Security Specialist

Who We Are

At Kyndryl, we run and reimagine the mission-critical technology systems that drive advantage for the world’s leading businesses. We are at the heart of progress; with proven expertise and a continuous flow of AI-powered insight, enabling smarter decisions, faster innovation, and a lasting competitive edge. For our people-Kyndryls-that means doing purposeful work that powers human progress. Join us and experience a flexible, supportive environment where your well-being is prioritized and your potential can thrive.

The Role

HR Workday Security Specialist

At Kyndryl, this role provides strategic leadership and governance oversight for Workday and the broader HR ecosystem, ensuring robust HR data protection and that security policies, access models, and controls are consistently defined, implemented by partners, and audited across the global enterprise.

While the role does not perform direct Workday security configuration, it requires deep knowledge of Workday security architecture and configuration to guide design, assess risk, and validate control effectiveness. Instead, it serves as the functional security authority, partnering closely with CIO, HR Technology, IAM, and Compliance teams to define requirements, review designs, validate implementation, and ensure audit-ready controls are in place.

Key Responsibilities

Workday Security Strategy & Governance

• Define and maintain Workday security strategy, principles, and access models, aligned with Kyndryl security standards and regulatory requirements.
• Establish role-based access and data protection policies governing how Workday security should be configured and managed.
• Act as the Workday security subject-matter expert, providing guidance on domains, business process security, security groups, and sensitive data access from a governance perspective.
• Review and approve Workday security designs and changes proposed by CIO / HR COE teams to ensure alignment with policy and risk expectations.

Security Policy, Standards & Control Design

• Develop and operationalize HR security policies and standards covering Workday and HR-related systems, including downstream data consumers.
• Define control requirements for Workday security, access provisioning, approvals, and monitoring.
• Ensure Workday security controls are consistently applied across regions and business units.

Audit, Risk & Compliance Ownership

• Serve as the audit and compliance lead for HR applications, supporting SOX, internal audit, and regulatory reviews.
• Review audit findings related to Workday or HR system access, define remediation plans, and partner with implementation teams to ensure timely closure.
• Own documentation of control narratives, evidence requirements, and audit artifacts related to security.

Access Governance & Oversight

• Define and oversee access lifecycle governance (Joiner, Mover, Leaver) for HR systems, ensuring strong approval, validation, and recertification processes.
• Establish requirements for periodic access reviews and recertifications, including privileged and sensitive access roles.
• Review exception requests and risk acceptances related to Workday access.

CIO, IAM & HR COE Partnership

• Partner with CIO and HR COE teams to translate security strategy and policy into actionable security configurations.
• Collaborate with IAM teams to ensure Workday is correctly positioned as a source of authority for identity and access decisions.

Role Profile

This role is intended for an individual who:

• Brings deep knowledge of Workday security concepts without needing hands-on configuration access.
• Operates effectively in governance, risk, and audit-driven environments.
• Influences outcomes through policy, design authority, and partnership, rather than direct system administration.
• Is comfortable serving as the security and audit face of Workday to executives, auditors, and regulators

Who You Are

Qualifications & Experience:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in information security, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Human Resources, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience in data security and privacy management, preferably in Workday or other HR systems/tools.

Preferred Skills:

• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to interact with various departments and present reports to senior management.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficiency in security technologies, strategy & policies, and automated security access tools.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to conduct thorough risk assessments and develop strategies to mitigate identified risks.
• Collaboration: Ability to work collaboratively with HR, IT, and other departments to ensure integrated security measures.
• Attention to Detail: Keen attention to detail to ensure compliance with security policies and regulatory requirements.

Being You

The “Kyn” in Kyndryl means kinship, which represents the strong bonds we have with each other, our customers and our communities. We focus on ensuring all Kyndryls feel included and we welcome people of all cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. Even if you don’t meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. We believe in growth, and we’re excited to see what you can bring. At Kyndryl, employee feedback has told us that our number one driver of employee engagement is belonging. That sense of belonging - being a valued, respected, trusted member of the team - is fundamental to our culture and fueling great experiences for our customers. This dedication to welcoming everyone into our company means that Kyndryl gives you the ability to thrive and contribute to our culture of empathy and shared success. That’s The Kyndryl Way.

What You Can Expect

Your career with us isn’t just a job-it’s an adventure with purpose. We offer a dynamic, hybrid-friendly culture that supports your well-being and empowers you to grow. Our Be Well programs are thoughtfully designed to support your financial, mental, physical, and social health-because we know that when you feel your best, you do your best.

From your very first day, you’ll dive into impactful work that powers the systems our customers rely on every day. You won’t just contribute-you’ll make a difference, tackling meaningful projects that sharpen your skills and fuel your growth.

We’re here to champion your journey. With powerful tools to chart your career path, personalized development goals aligned with your ambitions, and continuous feedback to keep you inspired and on track, you’ll have everything you need to thrive and evolve. You’ll develop in-demand skills to grow your career and achieve your ambitions with access to cutting-edge learning opportunities-from certifications with Microsoft, Google, and Amazon to coaching and hands-on experiences. And through it all, you’ll be part of a culture that values empathy, restless learning, and a devotion to shared success.

We want you to thrive here-and we’re committed to helping you do just that. Ready to make an impact? Join us and help shape what’s next.

Get Referred!

If you know someone that works at Kyndryl, when asked ‘How Did You Hear About Us’ during the application process, select ‘Employee Referral’ and enter your contact's Kyndryl email address.