Associate Director, Absence Management

About this role

Responsibilities

• Strategy & Roadmap:
• Help define the global Absence Management strategy, multi-year roadmaps, and prioritization frameworks that align with HR and business objectives; advocate for absence priorities across governance forums.
• Solution Design & Configuration:
• Lead functional design and Workday configuration for Absence Management and related HCM data elements (e.g., absence types, eligibility rules, entitlement calculations, absence balances); ensure design artifacts and configuration documents are created and maintained accurately and version-controlled.
• Delivery & Implementation:
• Lead and govern implementations, country rollouts, enhancements, and releases for absence capabilities. Build and coordinate cross-functional delivery teams (IT, implementation partners, vendors, HR Ops, regional leads), manage scope/timelines/risks, and ensure successful cutover and adoption.
• Testing & Controls:
• Define test strategies and plans for absence-related changes (unit, integration, UAT); ensure comprehensive test coverage, remediation tracking, and evidence for audit and compliance.
• Data Governance & Privacy:
• Partner with Data Privacy, Legal, and data stewards to ensure absence data handling complies with GDPR and applicable local privacy laws; lead completion of privacy impact assessments and approvals as required.
• Automation & Innovation:
• Identify and prioritize opportunities to leverage automation and AI-enabled capabilities pilot and scale approved innovations.
• Required Qualifications
• Education & Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 8 years progressive experience in HR, HRIS, HR Operations, or related functions, including at least 4 years operating at a strategic or senior delivery level OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Absence & Time Domain Expertise:
• Deep knowledge of global absence/leave administration (statutory and contractual leave types), Time & Attendance interactions, and absence entitlement/calculation concepts.
• Workday Experience:
• Strong practical experience with Workday Absence Management and Workday HCM, configuration, design, and operational support.
• Integration & Payroll Knowledge:
• Proven experience designing and governing integrations between Absence, Time, and Payroll systems; familiarity with payroll providers and reconciliation practices.
• Testing & Controls Experience:
• Experience defining and executing test strategies (including UAT and integration testing) and managing controls/audit requirements for HR systems.
• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills:
• Highly analytical with experience using metrics and root-cause analysis to drive decisions and continuous improvement.
• Preferred Qualifications
• Advanced Workday:
• Deep familiarity with advanced Workday configuration patterns for Absence, Time, and Payroll integrations, including calculated fields and custom objects.
• Regulatory Knowledge:
• Familiarity with regional absence regulations and statutory leave requirements across major geographies.
• Automation & AI Experience:
• Prior experience implementing RPA, intelligent automation, or AI-enabled HR solutions related to absence.
• Program Management:
• Experience with program governance, resource planning, and business case development.
• People Leadership:
• Experience leading teams or managing cross-functional workstreams, including mentoring and capability development.
• Required Skills:
• Absence Management, Automation, Data Governance, Integration Management, Leadership, Payroll, Privacy Awareness, Problem Solving, Program Management, Project Management, Roadmapping, Strategic Planning, Workday Software
• Preferred Skills:
• Current Employees apply
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• Current Contingent Workers apply
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• Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
• Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.
• Employee Status:
• Regular