Director of Cybersecurity Defense – U.S. Federal Programs (US Federal)

Your work days are brighter here.

We’re obsessed with making hard work pay off, for our people, our customers, and the world around us. As a Fortune 500 company and a leading AI platform for managing people, money, and agents, we’re shaping the future of work so teams can reach their potential and focus on what matters most. The minute you join, you’ll feel it. Not just in the products we build, but in how we show up for each other. Our culture is rooted in integrity, empathy, and shared enthusiasm. We’re in this together, tackling big challenges with bold ideas and genuine care. We look for curious minds and courageous collaborators who bring sun-drenched optimism and drive. Whether you're building smarter solutions, supporting customers, or creating a space where everyone belongs, you’ll do meaningful work with Workmates who’ve got your back. In return, we’ll give you the trust to take risks, the tools to grow, the skills to develop and the support of a company invested in you for the long haul. So, if you want to inspire a brighter work day for everyone, including yourself, you’ve found a match in Workday, and we hope to be a match for you too.

About the Team

The Cybersecurity Defense Director for Workday Government is responsible for developing and leading the Cyber Defense implementation strategy, and continuous improvement of cybersecurity for our U.S. Federal Government customers and programs. This role will oversee a team of security professionals, drive compliance with applicable federal regulations and frameworks, and partner closely with internal and external stakeholders to protect systems, data, and mission-critical services.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience in mature Security Operation Centers, U.S. Federal cybersecurity requirements (e.g., FISMA, FedRAMP, NIST, DoD, DHS/CISA directives), a strong technical foundation, and a proven track record of building and leading high-performing security teams in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

About the Role

This role will support one or more direct or indirect contracts with the U.S. Federal Government which, due to federal government security requirements, mandates that all Workday personnel working on the contracts be United States citizens (naturalized or native).

Strategic Leadership & Governance

•    Define and execute the cybersecurity defense strategy for U.S. Federal programs aligned with organizational objectives, risk appetite, and regulatory requirements.
•    Establish and lead cybersecurity defense for Federal work, including policies, standards, and procedures that meet or exceed federal expectations.
•    Provide regular reporting on risk posture, incidents, and compliance status to executive leadership and Federal stakeholders.
Risk Management & Compliance
•    Support the implementation and ongoing operation of federal cybersecurity frameworks including NIST RMF, NIST SP 800-53, NIST CSF, and ISO/industry best practices as applicable.
•    Oversee and maintain compliance with FISMA, FedRAMP (if relevant), DoD IL4+, and other applicable federal regulations, directives, and agency-specific requirements.
•    Support the security authorization/accreditation activities relevant to Cyber Defense operations (e.g., ATO processes), including control selection, implementation, continuous monitoring, and Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) management.
•    Manage third-party risk for vendors and partners supporting Federal programs, ensuring they meet required security standards.
Security Operations & Incident Management
•    Oversee day-to-day cybersecurity operations for Federal environments, including monitoring, detection, incident response, and threat hunting.
•    Develop and maintain incident response plans and playbooks in alignment with federal requirements, ensuring timely reporting and coordination with applicable agencies.
•    Coordinate cross-functional response to security incidents impacting Federal systems, from triage and containment through eradication, recovery, and lessons learned.
•    Partner with enterprise SOC, IR, and threat intelligence teams to ensure Federal-specific threats and requirements are fully addressed.
Architecture, Engineering & Zero Trust
•    Provide architectural input and direction for secure design, implementation, and operation of systems that support Federal customers (on-premises, cloud, and hybrid).
•    Champion Zero Trust principles and modern security architectures tailored to Federal requirements and guidance (e.g., OMB, CISA).
•    Guide security technologies such as IAM, PAM, EDR/XDR, SIEM, encryption, data loss prevention, vulnerability management, and configuration management.
•    Ensure security is integrated into system development li