UX Developer Principal - Business Architecture/Design/Workday
📍 Job Overview
Job Title: UX Developer Principal - Business Architecture/Design/Workday
Company: PNC
Location: Pittsburgh, PA or Cleveland, OH, United States
Job Type: FULL_TIME
Category: User Experience (UX) / Design Operations
Date Posted: 2026-04-13
Experience Level: 5-10 years
Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Role Summary
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Lead the design, development, and modernization of enterprise HR applications, focusing on user experience (UX) transformation and automation.
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Drive innovation in HR platforms by integrating emerging Agentic AI capabilities and leveraging tools like Copilot Studio.
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Serve as a key contributor in business architecture, translating HR and enterprise needs into scalable, user-centric digital solutions.
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Champion Agile delivery methodologies, collaborating closely with product owners, engineers, and HR stakeholders to ensure seamless integration and efficient workflows.
📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Principal UX Developer, indicating a senior-level individual contributor role with significant influence on technical direction and strategic implementation within the HR technology domain. The emphasis on Business Architecture, Workday development, and AI integration suggests a complex, cross-functional role requiring a blend of deep technical expertise and strategic business acumen.
📈 Primary Responsibilities
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Lead UX design and development initiatives for internal HR platforms, including Workday, Pathfinder, Spotlight Points, and SharePoint, ensuring intuitive, accessible, and scalable user experiences.
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Develop detailed wireframes, prototypes, and interactive designs that translate complex business and HR requirements into seamless, user-friendly digital interfaces.
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Drive the automation of existing HR applications and workflows to enhance efficiency, consistency, and overall usability across the employee experience.
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Act as a business architect, analyzing HR and enterprise needs to define experience-driven solutions and identify opportunities for process streamlining and reduction of manual efforts.
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Collaborate with HRIS Analysts and Workday teams to ensure alignment between UX design, data integrity, and system configuration, adhering to enterprise standards.
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Contribute to the design and development of UX solutions that integrate or support Agentic AI capabilities, exploring and prototyping AI-enabled experiences within HR applications.
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Utilize JIRA for tracking UX and development work, managing dependencies, and monitoring delivery milestones within an Agile framework.
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Partner with key stakeholders, including specific individuals like Linda and Jesse, to ensure alignment on platform roadmaps and strategic initiatives.
📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a deep dive into HR technology modernization, emphasizing not just design but also the technical implementation and automation aspects. The explicit mention of specific platforms (Workday, Pathfinder, Spotlight Points, SharePoint) and tools (JIRA, Copilot Studio) points towards a hands-on role requiring practical experience with these systems. The inclusion of AI and Agentic AI signals a forward-looking approach to HR technology.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education:
Experience:
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A minimum of 5-10 years of progressive experience in UX design, front-end development, and business architecture, with a strong focus on enterprise HR applications.
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Demonstrated experience in leading technical design and development of complex user interfaces for internal or enterprise-level applications.
Required Skills:
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UX Design & Development: Expertise in creating wireframes, prototypes, and interactive designs; strong understanding of user interface (UI) principles, usability best practices, and accessibility standards.
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Workday & HR Systems: Significant experience with Workday development, configuration, and integration, along with familiarity with other HRIS platforms.
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Business Architecture: Ability to analyze business processes, translate HR and enterprise needs into experience-driven solutions, and map user journeys.
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Agile Methodologies: Proficiency in working within an Agile delivery model, including experience with JIRA for task tracking and workflow management.
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Front-end Development: Strong technical skills in developing clean, efficient, and reusable code using modern tools and techniques (e.g., HTML, JavaScript frameworks).
Preferred Skills:
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Agentic AI & Copilot Studio: Experience or strong interest in designing and developing AI-enabled user experiences, with preferred proficiency in Copilot Studio.
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Cross-Functional Collaboration: Exceptional ability to collaborate with product owners, engineers, HRIS analysts, and business stakeholders to achieve project goals.
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Data Analysis & Insights: Skill in leveraging business analytics to inform design decisions and measure the effectiveness of UX solutions.
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Application Integration: Experience with integrating various applications and platforms to create seamless workflows.
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Design Thinking: Application of design thinking principles to solve complex user problems and drive innovation.
📝 Enhancement Note: The "5+ years of industry-relevant experience" combined with the "Principal" title strongly suggests a need for candidates who can not only execute but also provide technical leadership and strategic guidance. The preferred skills, particularly Copilot Studio and Agentic AI, indicate a desire for candidates who are at the forefront of technological advancements in the UX space.
📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
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Case Studies in UX Modernization: Showcase at least 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating your experience in modernizing existing applications, particularly HR or enterprise systems. Focus on the "before and after," highlighting the problems addressed, your design process, and the implemented solutions.
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Process Optimization Examples: Include specific examples of how you identified and streamlined complex workflows or reduced manual processes through UX design and automation. Quantify the impact where possible (e.g., time saved, error reduction).
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System Implementation Standards: Provide evidence of your ability to work within and adhere to enterprise standards for system implementation, especially concerning Workday and integrated platforms. This could be demonstrated through project descriptions or methodologies used.
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ROI Demonstration: Highlight projects where your UX contributions led to measurable business outcomes, such as improved user adoption, increased efficiency, or enhanced employee satisfaction. Be prepared to discuss the metrics used to track success.
Process Documentation:
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Workflow Design & Optimization: Demonstrate your ability to map out current-state HR workflows, identify bottlenecks, and design optimized future-state workflows that leverage technology for efficiency.
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Implementation & Automation Methods: Detail your approach to implementing UX solutions and automating processes, including how you collaborate with development teams and ensure successful deployment.
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Measurement & Performance Analysis: Show how you define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for UX and automation initiatives, and how you use this data to iterate and improve solutions.
📝 Enhancement Note: For a Principal-level role focused on modernization and automation, a portfolio should go beyond static mockups. It needs to demonstrate strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and a proven ability to drive tangible improvements through design and technology. The emphasis on Workday and HR systems means relevant case studies are crucial.
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $65,000.00 – $139,300.00 per year
Benefits:
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Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision insurance options.
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Financial Wellness: Health Savings Account (HSA) feature, 401(k) with PNC match, pension plan, and stock purchase plan.
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Income Protection: Employee and spouse/child life insurance, short-term and long-term disability protection.
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Family Support: Dependent care reimbursement account, back-up child/elder care, adoption, surrogacy, and doula reimbursement.
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Professional Development: Educational assistance (including fully paid select programs) and a robust wellness program with financial incentives.
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Paid Time Off: Up to 11 paid holidays annually, 9 occasional absence days, and 15-25 vacation days per year (depending on career level and years of service).
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Leave Policies: Maternity and/or parental leave.
Working Hours:
- Standard full-time position, typically 40 hours per week. PNC emphasizes an in-office culture, suggesting a structured work schedule within the office environment.
📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is quite broad, typical for a Principal-level role encompassing various experience levels and potentially different geographic cost-of-living adjustments within the designated regions (PA/OH). The benefits package is extensive, reflecting a large, established financial institution. The "in-office company" statement is a critical detail for candidates considering remote flexibility.
🎯 Team & Company Context
🏢 Company Culture
Industry: Financial Services (Banking)
Company Size: Large (implied by the extensive job description and benefits, and confirmed by typical large financial institutions). PNC is one of the largest banks in the US.
Founded: 1852 (PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.)
Team Structure:
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This role is within PNC's Technology organization, specifically focused on enterprise HR applications.
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The UX Developer Principal will likely be part of a broader UX/Design team or a dedicated HR Technology team, reporting into a manager or director overseeing HR systems and digital employee experience.
Methodology:
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Agile Delivery: The team operates within an Agile framework, utilizing JIRA for project management and iterative development cycles.
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User-Centric Design: A strong emphasis is placed on understanding user needs and translating them into intuitive, effective digital experiences.
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Data-Driven Decisions: Business analytics and user journey analysis are employed to inform design choices and measure the impact of implemented solutions.
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Continuous Improvement: Focus on modernizing applications, automating workflows, and exploring innovative technologies like Agentic AI for ongoing enhancement.
Company Website: https://www.pnc.com/
📝 Enhancement Note: PNC's long history and status as a major financial institution suggest a structured, process-oriented environment with a strong focus on risk management and compliance. The emphasis on "in-office" culture indicates a preference for traditional work settings, which can influence team dynamics and collaboration styles.
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: Principal UX Developer / Business Architect. This is a senior individual contributor role, often seen as a technical expert and strategic advisor within their domain. It signifies a high level of responsibility for complex projects and a mentorship role for junior team members.
Reporting Structure: The role is within the Technology organization and will likely report to a manager or director responsible for HR Technology, Digital Employee Experience, or a specialized UX/Design function. Collaboration with HRIS Analysts and Workday teams is a key aspect of the reporting and working relationships.
Operations Impact: This role directly impacts the employee experience within PNC by modernizing and optimizing HR applications. Improved user interfaces, streamlined workflows, and automation can lead to increased employee productivity, satisfaction, and reduced operational costs. The integration of AI further positions this role at the cutting edge of enhancing internal operational efficiency.
Growth Opportunities:
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Specialization: Deepen expertise in Workday development, AI-driven UX, or advanced business architecture within the financial services sector.
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Leadership: Transition into a management role leading a UX team, or a lead architect role defining technical strategy for HR technology.
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Cross-Functional Mobility: Leverage experience gained in HR Technology to move into other technology domains or strategic business architecture roles within PNC.
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Skill Development: Opportunities to gain hands-on experience with emerging technologies like Agentic AI and Copilot Studio, positioning oneself for future tech trends.
📝 Enhancement Note: The "Principal" title suggests that candidates are expected to be largely autonomous and capable of driving initiatives forward with minimal supervision. Growth potential lies in deepening specialized expertise or moving into leadership positions, common for senior individual contributors.
🌐 Work Environment
Office Type: PNC is described as an "in-office company." This indicates a traditional work environment where employees are expected to work from a physical PNC office location. The primary locations mentioned are Pittsburgh, PA, and Cleveland, OH.
Office Location(s):
- Two PNC Plaza (PA374) - Pittsburgh, PA
Workspace Context:
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The work environment is likely collaborative, with opportunities for face-to-face interaction with colleagues, HR stakeholders, and other technology teams.
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Access to standard office technology, development tools, and potentially specialized UX/design software will be provided.
Work Schedule:
- A standard 40-hour work week is expected, aligning with typical corporate employment. While Agile methodologies allow for flexibility in task management, the "in-office" requirement implies adherence to set working hours within the office premises.
📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit "in-office" policy is a significant factor. Candidates seeking remote or hybrid arrangements should carefully consider this. The Pittsburgh and Cleveland locations offer established corporate office environments.
📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
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Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, experience alignment, and cultural fit.
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Technical & UX Assessment: Expect interviews focused on UX design principles, Workday development experience, business architecture concepts, and problem-solving scenarios. This may include a technical deep-dive.
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Portfolio Review: A dedicated session will likely be scheduled for you to present your portfolio. This is a critical stage where you'll walk through your case studies, explaining your process, design decisions, and the impact of your work.
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Behavioral & Situational Interviews: Questions will assess your approach to collaboration, stakeholder management, risk assessment, and how you handle challenging situations.
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Stakeholder Interviews: You may meet with key stakeholders like HRIS Analysts, Workday team members, or product owners to gauge your ability to collaborate effectively across teams.
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Final Interview: A final interview with senior leadership or the hiring manager to confirm fit and discuss overall alignment with PNC's objectives.
Portfolio Review Tips:
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Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (emphasizing UX methodologies and Workday specifics), the challenges you overcame, your design solutions, and the measurable outcomes.
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Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your projects. Focus on improvements in efficiency, user adoption, satisfaction, or cost savings.
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Showcase Workday & HR Context: Ensure your portfolio highlights experience relevant to HR applications and Workday integration. If direct Workday UX is limited, draw parallels from other complex enterprise system designs.
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Highlight AI/Innovation: If you have experience with AI in UX or tools like Copilot Studio, make sure to showcase these projects prominently, given their preference.
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Prepare for Questions: Be ready to discuss your design rationale, trade-offs you made, how you collaborated with developers and stakeholders, and how you would approach similar challenges at PNC.
Challenge Preparation:
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Process Mapping Exercise: You might be asked to analyze a given HR process and propose UX improvements or automation opportunities.
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Design Challenge: A take-home assignment or a live design exercise focusing on a specific HR-related user interface or workflow problem.
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Technical Scenario: Questions testing your understanding of Workday integration, front-end development best practices, or how to implement complex UI features.
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Agile/JIRA Scenario: Discuss how you would manage tasks, dependencies, and communication within an Agile team using JIRA.
📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio review and potential challenges underscores the practical, hands-on nature of this role. Candidates should prepare to articulate their design process and showcase tangible results, particularly those related to enterprise systems and automation.
🛠 Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
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Workday: Core HR platform for development, integration, and enhancement.
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UX/UI Design Tools: Tools for wireframing, prototyping, and interactive design (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure RP).
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JIRA: Project management and issue tracking tool for Agile development.
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SharePoint: Collaboration platform, potentially involved in employee-facing HR portals or information dissemination.
Analytics & Reporting:
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Business Analytics Tools: For analyzing user behavior, identifying trends, and measuring UX effectiveness. Specific tools are not listed but may include standard enterprise analytics platforms.
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Reporting Tools: To create dashboards and reports on application performance and user engagement.
CRM & Automation:
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HRIS (Human Resources Information System): Workday serves as the primary HRIS.
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Automation Tools: While not explicitly stated, the role involves automating existing HR applications. This could involve scripting, workflow automation within Workday, or integration platforms.
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Copilot Studio (Preferred): For designing and enhancing intelligent, conversational, or assisted user experiences, particularly with AI capabilities.
📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Workday is paramount. Experience with modern UX design tools and Agile project management software (JIRA) is essential. The mention of Copilot Studio indicates a growing interest in AI-driven tools for enhancing user interactions.
👥 Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
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Customer Focused: Prioritizing customer needs (in this context, employees as internal customers) in all design and development decisions. Creating customized solutions that align with user needs and satisfaction.
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Managing Risk: Adhering to PNC's Enterprise Risk Management Framework, ensuring all activities and solutions are compliant and secure, especially critical in a financial institution.
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Collaboration: Working effectively across teams (Technology, HR, business units) to achieve shared goals and deliver integrated solutions.
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Innovation & Efficiency: Driving modernization, automation, and exploring new technologies (like AI) to improve processes and user experiences.
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Inclusivity: Fostering a workplace culture where all employees feel respected, valued, and have opportunities to contribute.
Collaboration Style:
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Cross-functional Integration: Active partnership with HRIS Analysts, Workday teams, engineers, and HR stakeholders to ensure designs are technically feasible and meet business objectives.
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Agile Teamwork: Participating actively in Agile ceremonies, providing feedback, and collaborating closely with product owners and development teams.
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Process Review & Feedback: Engaging in regular reviews of designs, workflows, and implemented solutions, providing and receiving constructive feedback to drive continuous improvement.
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Knowledge Sharing: Mentoring junior staff and sharing best practices in UX design, Workday development, and business architecture.
📝 Enhancement Note: The company values, particularly "Customer Focused" and "Managing Risk," are critical for any role at a financial institution. The emphasis on an inclusive workplace culture and collaboration highlights the importance of interpersonal skills alongside technical expertise.
⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
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Modernizing Legacy Systems: Overcoming the complexities of updating and automating established HR applications while ensuring seamless integration with Workday and other enterprise systems.
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Balancing User Needs with Enterprise Constraints: Designing user-friendly experiences that also meet stringent security, compliance, and technical standards inherent in the financial services industry.
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Integrating Emerging AI: Effectively incorporating Agentic AI and tools like Copilot Studio into HR applications in a way that adds tangible value and is readily adopted by employees, while managing potential risks.
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Driving Adoption of New Technologies: Ensuring employees embrace new interfaces and automated processes, requiring effective change management and user training strategies.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
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Advanced Workday Capabilities: Deepen expertise in Workday's platform features, integrations, and customization options.
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AI in UX Specialization: Gain hands-on experience and potentially certifications in AI-driven UX design and development, particularly with tools like Copilot Studio.
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Business Architecture Expertise: Develop advanced skills in strategic business process analysis and solution design within a large enterprise context.
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Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior team members, lead project initiatives, and potentially move into management or lead architect roles.
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Industry Exposure: Staying abreast of trends in HR technology, UX design, and financial services innovation through internal training, conferences, and professional networks.
📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents opportunities to work with cutting-edge technologies within a stable, established industry. The challenges are significant but offer substantial learning and growth potential for ambitious operations and UX professionals.
💡 Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
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"Describe a complex HR process you've redesigned using UX principles and automation. What were the key challenges, your approach, and the measurable outcomes?" (Focus on process improvement, Workday context, and ROI.)
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"How would you approach integrating Agentic AI into an employee self-service portal? What are the potential benefits and risks you'd consider?" (Focus on AI innovation, user experience, and risk management.)
Company & Culture Questions:
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"What do you know about PNC's approach to technology and employee experience?" (Research PNC's digital transformation efforts, HR initiatives, and stated values.)
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"How do you ensure your designs align with enterprise risk management and compliance standards in a financial services environment?" (Demonstrate understanding of risk assessment and regulatory requirements.)
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
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Select Strongest Case Studies: Choose 2-3 projects that best showcase your UX design, Workday experience, process automation, and any AI-related work.
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Tell a Compelling Story: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, the steps you took, the solutions you designed, and the impact achieved. Use visuals effectively.
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Highlight Your Process: Explain your methodology, from user research and requirements gathering to wireframing, prototyping, testing, and implementation collaboration.
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Quantify Results: Back up your claims with data and metrics whenever possible.
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Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, technical implementation challenges, and how you collaborated with different teams.
📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to articulate their expertise not just in UX design but also in the specific context of Workday and enterprise HR applications within a regulated industry. Demonstrating an understanding of AI's role in future HR technology will be a significant advantage.
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this operations position:
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Submit your application through the provided Workday job portal link.
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Tailor Your Resume: Highlight specific experience with UX design, Workday development, business architecture, process automation, and any exposure to AI/Copilot Studio. Use keywords from the job description.
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Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that demonstrate your ability to modernize enterprise HR applications, streamline workflows, and improve user experiences. Ensure your portfolio clearly outlines your process, challenges, solutions, and measurable results.
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Prepare for the Portfolio Review: Practice presenting your chosen case studies, focusing on clear communication, quantifiable outcomes, and your ability to discuss technical and design decisions.
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Research PNC: Understand PNC's business, its values (especially Customer Focus and Risk Management), and its position in the financial services industry. Be prepared to discuss why you are a good cultural fit for an in-office environment.
⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.
Application Requirements
Requires a bachelor's degree and at least 5 years of industry-relevant experience in UX design and technical development. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in Workday, business architecture, and Agile methodologies.