Description
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Company Overview
Through its Social Innovation Business that brings together IT, OT(Operational Technology) and products, Hitachi contributes to a harmonized society where the environment, wellbeing, and economic growth are in balance. Hitachi operates globally in four sectors – Digital Systems & Services, Energy, Mobility, and Connective Industries – and the Strategic SIB Business Unit for new growth businesses. With Lumada at its core, Hitachi generates value from integrating data, technology and domain knowledge to solve customer and social challenges. Revenues for FY2024 (ended March 31, 2025) totaled 9,783.3 billion yen, with 618 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 280,000 employees worldwide. Visit us at .
What you’ll be doing
Role Overview
The Director Digital HR Technology – RAIL Sector is accountable for leading the HR technology strategy, execution, and adoption for the RAIL sector, aligned with the Global Digital HR (DHR) vision and governance.
This role owns Workday as the core HR platform for the sector, oversees complementary HR technologies, and leads AI and automation initiatives that enhance workforce experience and operational effectiveness. The Director manages a small sector HR technology team and serves as the primary point of contact (POC) to Global Digital HR, ensuring seamless alignment between global standards and sector-specific needs.
Key Outcomes of the Role:
1. Effective and compliant deployment and adoption of Workday across the RAIL sector.
2. Strong alignment between sector HR priorities and global HR technology strategy.
3. Measurable business value from AI-enabled HR solutions.
4. Clear governance, accountability, and simplification of the HR technology landscape.
The role will also be responsible for:
1. Sector HR Technology Leadership
5. Own the end-to-end HR technology landscape for the RAIL sector.
6. Produce and maintain the 3-year HR technology roadmap and budget
7. Act as the senior HR technology advisor to RAIL HR leadership
8. Balance global standardization with sector-specific operational requirements.
9. Represent RAIL in global HR technology governance forums.
2. Workday Platform Ownership (Sector Scope)
10. Lead sector-level ownership of Workday in partnership with Global DHR Product Leads.
11. Sponsor Rail Sector projects and oversee configuration, enhancements, releases, and prioritization across all Functional Areas: Core HCM, Recruiting & Onboarding, Talent & Performance, Compensation & Advanced Compensation, Security, Learning, Absence, Time Tracking, Reporting and Payroll (where applicable).
12. Ensure high-quality data, reporting consistency, and compliance with global standards.
13. Drive adoption of Workday best practices and limit non-standard customizations.
14. Deploy, manage and evolve the Tier 0, 1 & 2 Workday support model. Primary customer PoC for Tier 3 from Global DHR Delivery team.
3. Complementary HR Technology & Integrations
(a) Govern sector usage of complementary HR technologies, including:
15. Payroll and Benefit platforms in conjunction with Sector Countries and HR Shared Services.
16. HR Case & Knowledge Management (Workday Help and/or ServiceNow HRSD).
17. Talent tools (assessments, interviewing, skills intelligence).
18. Learning Management Systems (LMS); Learning Experience (LXP) platforms and integrations with learning content providers.
19. Contingent workforce VMS platforms.
20. Partner with IT and vendors to ensure: Secure, scalable integrations, Stable operations and release coordination, Cost and vendor rationalization.
4. AI in HR & Automation (Sector Champion)
21. Serve as the sector lead for AI in HR initiatives, aligned with global AI governance.
22. Identify, pilot, and scale AI use cases across HR from Hire to Retire.
23. Ensure responsible AI practices, including bias mitigation, data privacy, and auditability.
5. People Leadership & Operating Model
Lead and develop a sector HR technology team, including:
24. Direct management of sector HR tech resources.
25. Governance of Regional Digital HR support teams
26. Coordination with global shared services / support model POCs.
27. Define clear roles, ownership boundaries, and escalation paths.
28. Foster a high-performing, globally distributed team culture.
6. Global Digital HR (DHR) Liaison & Governance
29. Act as the primary POC between the RAIL sector and Global Digital HR
30. Translate sector needs into structured, prioritized requirements
Ensure sector adherence to:
31. Global HR technology architecture.
32. Data, security, and compliance standards
33. Release and change governance
34. Monitor and hold Global DHR to account for:
35. Application availability
36. Service and Project delivery
37. Cost and efficiency
38. Contribute to global roadmap shaping and strategic discussion
39. Collaboration and support with other DHR Sector Leads.
7. Adoption, Change & Value Realization
40. Drive adoption and user experience across the RAIL sector
41. Define and track KPIs related to: System engagement; utilization; Employee & Manager self-service, HR operational efficiency, Business value and ROI
42. Develop and promote all technology learning channels and guides.
43. Partner with HR Operations, Change, and Communications teams to embed technology into everyday work.
What you bring to the team
We’re looking for a team player, who is motivated by delivering great work and the Hitachi vision.
The ideal candidate will possess the following skills and background required:
44. 10–15+ years of experience in HR Technology / Digital HR / HRIS
45. Strong, hands-on experience with Workday in complex, global environments
46. Proven people leadership experience (direct and matrixed teams)
47. Experience operating in global, federated HR models
48. Strong understanding of HR processes, integrations, and data governance
49. Excellent verbal and written communications – primary business language is English.
Preferred
50. Experience leading AI or automation initiatives in HR
51. Exposure to applications in Case Management; Contingent VMS; skills & competencies; learning; payroll and benefits.
52. Experience in Rail, Transportation, Infrastructure, or Engineering-led industries
53. Prior experience working across Europe and/or India delivery models
Our Values
We are proud to say we are an equal opportunity employer and welcome all applicants for employment without attention to any factor that doesn’t impact your ability to do the job, including race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. We are proud of Japanese heritage, with our values expressed through the Hitachi Spirit:
Wa – Harmony, Trust, Respect
Makoto – Sincerity, Fairness, Honesty, Integrity
Kaitakusha-Seishin – Pioneering Spirit, Challenge
This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of HR technology for a critical global sector, working at the intersection of Workday, AI, and large-scale digital transformation, while being deeply connected to a global HR technology community.