Principal, Strategy & Business Initiatives

Workday, Inc. (old); Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 198,000 - 297,000; Full time

Job summary

Workday, Inc. is seeking an exceptional strategy professional to join a small team working directly with C‑level leaders to shape and advance the company's most critical priorities. You will partner with functional leaders to drive alignment and enable business objectives with cross‑functional impact.

This highly visible role requires strong problem‑solving, communication, and the ability to operate with stakeholders across the organization in a rapidly evolving software environment.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in tech strategy, strategy consulting, or SaaS.
• Strategic thinking: identify, evaluate, and prioritize growth and monetization opportunities.
• Cross-functional collaboration with leaders; credibility at the executive level.
• Problem-solving: define challenges and develop structured solutions.
• Communication: create clear executive narratives and tailored messages.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, results-oriented environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement Workday's strategy and priorities with the Executive Committee.
• Lead or contribute to high-priority initiatives from framing through execution.
• Conduct market, competitive, and financial analyses to identify growth opportunities.
• Develop executive-ready narratives, frameworks, and presentations for senior leadership and the Board.
• Build strategic capabilities, processes, and tools to scale with growth.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional

Problem solving

Communication

Executive relations

Tech strategy

Management consulting

Analytical

Job description

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

Workday's Strategy & Business Initiatives team is responsible for aligning Workday's strategy across the company, delivering high‑priority strategic initiatives, and building durable capabilities to support Workday's growth. We partner closely with the Executive Committee and functional leaders across Workday to pursue healthy long‑term growth for Workday and our customers.

About the Role

We are looking for an exceptional professional to join the small team responsible for working directly with C‑level leaders and Executive Committee members to shape and advance the company's most critical priorities. You will partner closely with functional leaders to drive alignment and ensure our strategy and approach enable key business objectives. This is a highly visible role with extensive cross‑functional interaction, ideal for someone with strong problem‑solving and communication skills and a track record of working collaboratively with key stakeholders to operationalize innovative solutions within the rapidly evolving software industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with the Executive Committee and functional leaders to develop and implement Workday's strategy and key priorities
• Lead or contribute to high‑priority initiatives from framing through execution
• Conduct market, competitive, and financial analysis to identify new growth and monetization opportunities
• Develop executive‑ready narratives, frameworks, and presentations for senior leadership and the Board
• Build strategic capabilities, processes, and tools that scale with Workday's growth

About You

Basic Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in tech strategy, strategy consulting, or SaaS (or a combination of these)
• Strategic thinking: ability to identify, evaluate, and prioritize new vectors of growth and monetization opportunities within the software industry, and develop pragmatic strategies to capture them
• Cross‑functional collaboration: ability to work with a diverse set of functional and business leaders, establish credibility at the executive level, and drive decisions forward; builds and maintains strong relationships with key stakeholders
• Problem‑solving: ability to define complex challenges, create structured approaches to solving them, and collaborate effectively to develop solutions
• Communication skills: ability to develop clear, compelling, executive‑level narratives and deliver tailored messages grounded in rapport and credibility across the organization
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, results‑oriented environment aligned with Workday's culture and values

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven experience working in tech strategy
• Background in Management Consulting preferred
• Strong organizational, communication, presentation, and analytical skills
• Results‑oriented mindset, with a record of driving end‑to‑end projects with complete, accurate, and timely delivery of analyses and project objectives

Pay Transparency Statement

The annualized base salary ranges for the primary location and any additional locations are listed below. Workday pay ranges vary based on work location. As a part of the total compensation package, this role may be eligible for the Workday Bonus Plan or a role‑specific commission/bonus, as well as annual refresh stock grants. Recruiters can share more detail during the hiring process. Each candidate’s compensation offer will be based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, geography, experience, skills, job duties, and business need, among other things.

• Primary Location: USA.CA.Pleasanton Primary Location Base Pay Range: $198,000 USD - $297,000 USD
• Additional US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $167,200 USD - $297,000 USD
• Additional Considerations: If performed in Colorado, the pay range for this job is $176,000 - $264,000 USD based on min and max pay range for that role if performed in CO.
• The application deadline for this role is the same as the posting end date stated as below: 12/31/2026

Flexible Work Approach

With Flex Work, we’re combining the best of both worlds: in‑person time and remote. Our approach enables our teams to deepen connections, maintain a strong community, and do their best work. We know that flexibility can take shape in many ways, so rather than a number of required days in office each week, we simply spend at least half (50%) of our time each quarter in the office or in the field with our customers, prospects, and partners (depending on role). This means you’ll have the freedom to create a flexible schedule that caters to your business, team, and personal needs, while being intentional to make the most of time spent together. Those in our remote "home office" roles also have the opportunity to come together in our offices for important moments that matter.

Equal Opportunity and Disability

Workday is an Equal Opportunity Employer including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. Workday is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals during our application process, in order to perform one or more essential functions of their job, as well as regarding the use of AI tools for employment decision‑making to any degree. Please see below for more details including how to request an accommodation as a qualified veteran, due to a disability or for religious reasons, or as otherwise provided under applicable law. Workday prohibits taking adverse action against any candidate or employee for reporting a possible violation of this policy, requesting one or more work accommodations, exercising a privacy right, or cooperating in an investigation in accordance with applicable law. Any employee who retaliates against a candidate or employee for doing so may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment, to the fullest extent allowable under applicable law. If you require a reasonable accommodation, you may email [e-mail], as far in advance as possible.

Workday Inclusive Hiring Practices

Workday is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Workday are considered without regards to age, ancestry, color, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, protected family care or medical leave status, race, religion (including beliefs and practices or the absence thereof), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Further, pursuant to applicable local ordinances, Workday will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. We do not accept resumes from headhunters, placement agencies, or other suppliers that have not signed a formal agreement with us.

Referral Information

Are you being referred to one of our roles? If so, ask your connection at Workday about our Employee Referral process!