Senior Manager, HCM Presales - ASEAN

The Senior Manager, HCM Presales at Workday is responsible for leading a presales team that directly supports the sales efforts in the ASEAN region. This includes managing customer engagements, ensuring effective communication between the sales organization and other functional teams, and driving demand management. You'll also play a vital role in enhancing presales skills and collaborating with a diverse group of professionals to achieve sales excellence.

To qualify for the Senior Manager, HCM Presales position at Workday, candidates should have 15+ years of experience in presales or consulting, with significant familiarity in the ASEAN market, particularly Singapore. Additionally, having 5+ years of presales management experience, exposure to SaaS or IaaS/PaaS solutions, and experience in the HCM domain are critical. Strong communication and leadership skills targeting C-level audiences are also essential.

Yes! Workday offers a flexible work approach that combines in-person time and remote work. You’ll have the freedom to design your schedule while ensuring that you meet with your team and clients effectively. The goal is to work collaboratively, maintain strong relationships, and foster a strong community while accomplishing your business objectives.

Workday values dynamic leaders with extensive experience in presales and consulting, especially those who have led teams in the ASEAN market. Candidates should have a strong background in managing presales processes, providing innovative solutions, and working with SaaS products in the HCM space. Building successful teams and driving engagement in a fast-paced environment are also critical traits that we look for.

At Workday, we prioritize the professional development of all our employees, including the Senior Manager, HCM Presales. We offer various training programs, mentorship opportunities, and resources to help you grow your leadership and technical skills. Our focus on collaboration across teams also ensures that you can learn from diverse experiences and apply new strategies effectively in your role.

To motivate a presales team, I focus on clear communication of goals, recognizing individual and team achievements, and providing support in their development. I also encourage an open environment where team members can share ideas and challenges, fostering collaboration and collective success.

Handling challenging situations with C-level clients requires active listening, empathy, and problem-solving skills. I ensure to understand their concerns fully, articulate a clear resolution path, and keep them informed throughout the process, thereby reinforcing trust and confidence.

I have worked extensively with SaaS solutions in the HCM domain, focusing on customer functionalities, implementation strategies, and overall user experience. Understanding how these solutions solve business challenges and drive operational excellence has allowed me to effectively align our offerings with customer needs.

To enhance presales skills, I implement structured training sessions, share best practices, and promote real-life simulations of customer engagement scenarios. Encouraging continuous learning through workshops and external courses also helps keep the team updated with industry trends.

I prioritize establishing communication channels that facilitate collaboration among functional teams. Regular cross-functional meetings, joint projects, and collaborative goal setting are strategies I employ to ensure everyone is aligned and working towards common objectives.

An effective presales leader should possess excellent communication skills, a deep understanding of the industry, and the ability to inspire and motivate their team. Being proactive in addressing challenges, adaptable in fast-paced settings, and focused on achieving results are also critical attributes.

Building a new presales team starts with defining clear objectives and role expectations. I prefer to recruit diverse talent that complements each other's skills, followed by creating a strong onboarding process that facilitates their integration into our culture and goals.

To track the success of presales efforts, I utilize performance metrics such as win rates, conversion data, and customer feedback scores. Regular review of these metrics with the team helps us identify areas for improvement and celebrate successes.

A successful presales engagement I led involved collaborating closely with the sales team and a major client to showcase how our HCM solution could transform their HR processes. Through tailored demonstrations and addressing their specific pain points, we turned their hesitancy into excitement, ultimately leading to a successful deal.

I believe the future of HCM solutions in the SaaS market will lean towards increased automation, enhanced data analytics capabilities, and emphasis on user experience. Solutions will continue evolving to meet the changing needs of organizations, particularly through integration with AI and machine learning technologies.