Principal, Strategy & Business Initiatives

Workday, Inc. (old); New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 198,000 - 297,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid schedule

Career development

Job summary

Workday, a leading AI platform for managing people, money, and agents, seeks an exceptional strategy professional to partner with C-level and Executive Committee leaders to shape the company’s priorities and drive growth. You will frame initiatives, analyze markets, develop executive narratives, and collaborate across functions to operationalize innovative solutions in a fast-moving software environment.

This role emphasizes strategic impact and cross-functional influence with clear

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in tech strategy, strategy consulting, management consulting, or SaaS.
• 7+ years evaluating and prioritizing new growth vectors within the software industry, and developing pragmatic strategies to capture them.
• Experience working with diverse functional and business leaders and driving decisions at the executive level.

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 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.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Executive collaboration

Analytical skills

Communication

Presentation skills

Problem-solving

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.

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

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.

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, management consulting, or SaaS (or a combination of these)
• 7+ years of experience evaluating and prioritizing new vectors of growth and monetization opportunities within the software industry, and develop pragmatic strategies to capture them
• 7+ years of experience working 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

Preferred Qualifications

• 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
• 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
• Flexible‑hybrid reporting to our Workday offices (50% expectation)

Workday Pay Transparency Statement

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:

01/31/2027

Our Approach to Flexible Work

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.

Pursuant to applicable Fair Chance law, Workday will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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.

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