Director of Strategic Initiatives - Workforce & Payroll

Your work days are brighter here.

At Workday, it all began with a conversation over breakfast. When our founders met at a sunny California diner, they came up with an idea to revolutionize the enterprise software market. And when we began to rise, one thing that really set us apart was our culture. A culture which was driven by our value of putting our people first. And ever since, the happiness, development, and contribution of every Workmate is central to who we are. Our Workmates believe a healthy employee-centric, collaborative culture is the essential mix of ingredients for success in business. That’s why we look after our people, communities and the planet while still being profitable. Feel encouraged to shine, however that manifests: you don’t need to hide who you are. You can feel the energy and the passion, it's what makes us unique. Inspired to make a brighter work day for all and transform with us to the next stage of our growth journey? Bring your brightest version of you and have a brighter work day here.

About the Team

At Workday, we help the world’s largest organizations adapt to what’s next by bringing finance, HR, and planning into a single enterprise cloud. We work hard, and we’re serious about what we do. But we like to have fun, too. We put people first, celebrate diversity, drive innovation, and do good in the communities where we live and work.

About the Role

The Director of Strategic Initiatives leads business processes for the pillar, handles key projects, ensures communication to key collaborators and within pillar organization, and runs cross-functional operational programs. They will drive business effectiveness and efficiencies across the product pillar and will work closely with other Directors of Strategic Initiatives and the Product Business Operations team to share standard processes. We are looking for someone who is passionate about driving continuous improvement and thrives in an employee-first, customer-centric culture.
 

This is a unique opportunity to be part of a successful, innovative and fun team that loves building the next generation of Workforce and Payroll experiences for our customers.
 

In this role, you will:

• Drive Pillar Communication: Develop key internal and external pillar communication strategies, ensure alignment with employee communications, and coordinate town halls/planning events/etc. as applicable. Build trust with collaborators through transparency and collaboration.
   

• Own the Operational Life Cycle: Manage and support all pillar business and operational reviews and ensure they drive business trajectory and performance. These include (among others): OKRs, plan-execute-analyze cycle, partnership with GTM and stakeholder teams, employee recognition programs, and operational work streams with People & Purpose and Finance.
   

• Be a Talent Data Evangelist: Curate the overall narrative for all business-related metrics: regularly review key metrics to understand data trends and provide key insights to drive operational excellence throughout the pillar.
   

• Lead Key Programs: Identify and support strategic programs and orchestrate the execution of associated projects for the Pillar. These could include (but are not limited to): change management, new process adoption, operational efficiencies, GM Analyst briefings preparation, external events preparation, strategy presentations.

About You

We are looking for someone who can:

• Build strong connections across Products, Tools, Services, Sales, etc.

• Communicate clearly and be comfortable influencing others and leading team members

• Think about problems from different perspectives and can use data from multiple sources to make informed decisions

• Balance strategic outcomes with the details and operational metrics to achieve them

• Proactively identify challenges and opportunities, take initiative to inspire change, and see through execution

• Articulate a point of view on their pillar’s performance based on business literacy and foresight

• Embrace new situations and exhibit high learning agility

• Embody the agile philosophy, with a test and learn mentality and an iterative way of working to improve the team’s operations

Basic Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in program management, product development, strategy & business, or similar work

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