HR Operations Director, HCM Applications & Projects - Hybrid

Role Summary

As a key leader within HR Operations, this role drives the strategy, optimization, and delivery of our Workday and Benefits platforms. Direct complex initiatives—including annual compensation planning, health and welfare enrollment, system enhancements, M&A integrations, and divestitures—ensuring a seamless, scalable, and employee-centered experience. This role partners closely with HR, HRIT, Payroll, HRO application management services, vendors, and cross-functional leaders to deliver technology solutions that strengthen data integrity, enhance employee experience, and support organizational goals. This role will also provide expertise and counsel regarding new HR technologies to improve the overall employee experience and ensure a unified and efficient technological ecosystem.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy and roadmap for Workday HCM, Compensation, and Benefits projects, ensuring systems are optimized for performance, usability, and scalability.

• Direct delivery for core initiatives such as annual compensation cycles, health and welfare enrollment, M&A implementations, divestitures, vendor integrations, and new feature deployments.

• Drive continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to streamline processes, enhance system functionality, and strengthen data quality.

• Oversee benefits operations including compliance (ACA), actuarial reporting, integrations, and special projects.

• Provide guidance to HR teams, PMOs, and external partners on project risks, issue resolution, and decision-making.

• Partner with ServiceNow platform leadership to advance connected HR technologies that improve the employee experience.

• Lead HR Operations vendor management activities including SOW oversight, change orders, delivery quality, and budget stewardship.

• Oversee Workday security administration, audits, mass data loads, and organizational structure updates.

• Collaborate on the strategy, implementation, and management of Cigna’s HR technology systems to drive innovation and ensure alignment of HR processes with strategic organizational objectives.

• Develop and mentor a team of HR Operations project managers and Workday data quality specialists, fostering growth, empowerment, and cross-functional experience.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in HR operations, Workday administration, or benefits delivery.

• Experience managing and developing a high performing team.

• Expertise in Workday HCM, Compensation, and Benefits functionality.

• Demonstrated success managing complex system implementations, integrations, and cross-functional initiatives.

• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders in a highly matrixed environment.

• Proven vendor management and project leadership experience.

• Hands-on experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, and benefits transitions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.

• Experience working with outsourced operations or major HR technology partners (e.g., Alight, Strada, Deloitte, Accenture).

If you will be working at home occasionally or permanently, the internet connection must be obtained through a cable broadband or fiber optic internet service provider with speeds of at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload.

About The Cigna Group

Doing something meaningful starts with a simple decision, a commitment to changing lives. At The Cigna Group, we’re dedicated to improving the health and vitality of those we serve. Through our divisions Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services, we are committed to enhancing the lives of our clients, customers and patients. Join us in driving growth and improving lives.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, disability, sex, childbirth (including pregnancy) or related medical conditions including but not limited to lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital or familial status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing the online application process, please email: [email protected] for support. Do not email [email protected] for an update on your application or to provide your resume as you will not receive a response.

The Cigna Group has a tobacco-free policy and reserves the right not to hire tobacco/nicotine users in states where that is legally permissible. Candidates in such states who use tobacco/nicotine will not be considered for employment unless they enter a qualifying smoking cessation program prior to the start of their employment. These states include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington State.

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with all federal, state and local ordinances.