[Remote] Senior People Tech Operations Specialist

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Ascend is a leading aggregator of regional accounting firms in the U.S., empowering entrepreneurial CPAs with innovative growth models. They are seeking a Senior People Tech Operations Specialist to serve as a Workday SME, responsible for backend configuration, system management, and the implementation of the Workday Benefits module, alongside supporting Compensation and career architecture configuration.ResponsibilitiesServe as the internal lead on the new Workday Benefits module implementation alongside Commit Consulting — drive configuration decisions, build, and testingManage the day-to-day working relationship with Commit Consulting; coordinate scope, timelines, deliverables, and issue resolutionPartner with Total Rewards to transition benefits administration off bswift (current ben admin vendor) onto a fully Workday-native model; map parity, validate, and execute cutoverDefine and execute test plans (unit, parallel, end-to-end); document results and drive defect resolution before go-liveSupport go-live cutover and post-launch hypercare; stabilize configuration and hand off to steady-state operationsOwn ongoing functional configuration of the Workday Benefits module — plan setup, rates, eligibility rules, and testingBuild, test, and drive annual open enrollment in Workday; validate plan/rate setup, event rules, and the employee-facing experience end to endConfigure and manage qualifying life events; ensure correct event triggers, eligibility, and downstream processingConfigure benefits enrollment for all-company new hires; ensure accurate eligibility, defaults, and enrollment windowsConfigure new and changing benefit plans and add-ons as the offering evolves; build, test, and deploy with minimal disruptionManage benefit enrollment integrations in Workday; monitor carrier files, troubleshoot errors, and ensure data accuracyConfigure and maintain job profiles, job families, and career architecture in Workday; support job catalog cleanup and standardization across partner firmsBuild and maintain leave plans, holiday calendars, and associated Absence module functionalityBuild and maintain compensation grades, ranges, and pay range structures; load and validate market data and range updatesConfigure compensation plans, eligibility rules, and one-time/recurring payment setups; support annual merit and comp review cyclesProcess and validate off-cycle compensation transactions — adjustments, promotions, and range changes — with audit-ready documentationExecute Workday system changes for necessary updates; build, test, and deployTranslate policy changes into Workday business process and configuration updates; ensure workflows reflect current policy and approvalsProvide core HCM transactional support — M&A integrations, hires, job and org changes, position management, and data correctionsSupport Greenhouse Recruiting platform with backend configuration needs in partnership with Talent team requirementsProvide generalist support across the broader HR tech stack in close partnership with Ascend IT and vendorsDelegate configuration and support tasks to Sentient People Tech resources; monitor delivery quality and timelines and hold the partner accountable to standardsPartner with Ascend IT and third-party vendors on system changes, tickets, and enhancements; coordinate dependencies and escalationsMaintain testing rigor across all configuration work; build reusable test cases and regression libraries to protect production stabilityDocument configuration, business processes, and SOPs; maintain change logs and knowledge base entries for People TechSupport Workday release readiness (semi-annual updates); assess impact, test new features, and adopt relevant enhancementsIdentify and build templated, automated, and self-service approaches to recurring configuration to scale through M&A surgesSkillsBachelor's degree in Human Resources, Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field4+ years of Workday HRIS configuration experience with deep functional expertise in the Benefits, Compensation and Absence modulesProven ability to manage or lead a Benefits module implementation or major open enrollment cycle in WorkdayStrong testing discipline: ability to write, execute, and document test cases and manage defect resolutionDeep Workday Benefits module expertise — plan setup, eligibility logic, event rules, open enrollment configuration, and carrier integrationsWorking knowledge of Workday Compensation and career architecture configuration — grades, ranges, job profiles, and comp cyclesExceptional attention to detail and testing rigor; able to build and maintain reusable test frameworks and protect production stabilityStrong organizational skills — able to manage multiple configuration workstreams, deadlines, and vendor relationships simultaneouslyClear communicator with both technical and non-technical stakeholders; comfortable translating policy requirements into system configurationProactive about documentation; builds SOPs and change logs as a natural part of the work, not as an afterthoughtCollaborative and adaptable in a fast-growing, multi-entity environment where the playbook continues to evolveComfortable leveraging AI tools and automation approaches to reduce manual configuration effort and scale team capacityExperience in a PE-backed, multi-entity, or professional services environment preferredExperience supporting Greenhouse Recruiting platform preferredWorkday Pro Certification in Benefits or HCM a plusBenefitsHighly competitive cash and equity bonus compensation package, including attractive benefits.Company OverviewAscend is a consulting firm that helps CPAs reach their goals. It was founded in 2023, and is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, USA, with a workforce of 1001-5000 employees. Its website is https://ascendtogether.com.Company H1B SponsorshipAscend has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships, with 1 in 2026, 11 in 2025, 16 in 2024, 12 in 2023, 9 in 2022, 11 in 2021, 6 in 2020. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role.