Senior People Specialist - Services

Mastercard; Purchase (NY); Hybrid; USD 98,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

Mastercard is seeking a Senior People Specialist to support execution of critical people priorities across our Services business, working with People Business Partners, Centers of Expertise, and senior leaders. This role offers exposure to high-visibility programs and cross-functional collaboration in a fast-paced technology environment.

The role emphasizes ownership, speed, and discretion, with opportunities to build executive-ready materials and contribute to meaningful organizational change.

Qualifications

• Experience in People Operations or equivalent HR functions.
• Strong data-driven problem solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with ability to present to senior audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and drive initiatives with speed and discretion.

Responsibilities

• Execute day-to-day People Strategy deliverables for the Services business with strong partnership with PBPs and stakeholders.
• Cycle through Talent, Compensation and Performance processes with attention to detail.
• Provide operational support to the PBP team and drive process improvements through automation and AI tools.
• Analyze headcount, cost, attrition, hiring and engagement data to provide actionable insights.

Skills

Excel

Data analysis

Co-Pilot / AI tools

Workday

Tools

Workday

Job description

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title And Summary

Senior People Specialist - Services

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title And Summary

Senior People Specialist - Services

Overview

Mastercard is seeking a Senior People Specialist to support execution of critical people priorities across our Services business. This role provides a unique opportunity to gain deep exposure to the People Business Partner (PBP) craft, support a rapidly evolving technology business, and operate in a highly visible space with senior executives. The individual will work closely with People Business Partners, Centers of Expertise, business leaders, and cross‑functional partners to ensure programs, processes, and organizational initiatives land with excellence. This role reports directly to Executive Vice President, People Business Partner for Services. Success requires strong judgment, high ownership, proactive communication, and the ability to operate with speed, discretion, precision and collaboration.

Role Responsibilities

People Operations & Delivery

• Own timely execution of day‑to‑day People Strategy deliverables for the Services business, ensuring exceptional follow‑through and partnership with PBPs and business stakeholders.


• Manage cyclical people processes (Talent, Compensation, Performance Calibration, Organizational Health Inputs) with strong attention to detail, anticipating needs and ensuring readiness across leaders and teams.


• Serve as the operational anchor for the PBP team—driving clarity, timelines, coordination, and quality in deliverables.


• Act as a proactive contributor to the People Specialists community by identifying opportunities for continuous process improvement and enhancing operational efficiency through innovative tools, automation, and AI enabled interventions.

Strategic Project & Program Management and Support

• Support organizational effectiveness and change initiatives, including structure design, transitions, and leadership team enablement.


• Help build executive‑ready materials, narratives, and analyses for executive People Business Partners and leaders.


• Manage discreet, sensitive workstreams with high confidentiality and sound judgment.

Data, Insights & Reporting

• Conduct analysis across headcount, cost, attrition, hiring, talent, and engagement data to translate findings into actionable insights for PBPs and business leaders.


• Partner with People Analytics and Finance teams to prepare data packs, track key metrics, and proactively surface trends.


• Support position management, organizational modeling, and headcount planning.

Communication & Stakeholder Experience

• Draft clear, compelling communications for leaders, employees, and partners.


• Coordinate communication workflows and support experience design for major people initiatives.


• Ensure HR systems (Workday, dashboards, portals) are leveraged effectively and consistently.

Team & EVP Support

• Provide operating leverage to EVP, People Business Partner including preparing Services rollup materials, synthesizing updates across stakeholders and functional areas, and driving actions to closure.


• Act as an extension of the EVP to help ensure coordination, alignment, and transparency across the Services PBP team.


• Partner closely with peers to ensure seamless delivery across workstreams.

All About You

Core Capabilities

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities at speed while maintaining high‑quality output.


• Strong critical thinking skills and a data‑driven approach to problem solving.


• Comfortable operating in fast‑paced, matrixed, and evolving environments.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparing materials for senior audiences.


• Ability to anticipate needs, raise risks early, and drive clarity and alignment across stakeholders.


• Ability to manage projects to deadlines across regional teams

Technical Skills

• Strong proficiency with Excel and comfort working with data (pivot tables, trend analysis, modeling).


• Comfort or experience with AI Tools like Co-Pilot


• Experience with Workday strongly preferred; ability to learn and master new HR tools quickly.

Mindset & Work Style

• Proactive, resourceful, highly organized, and able to exercise sound judgment.


• Thrives in a role that blends strategic thinking with hands‑on execution.


• Operates with discretion, maturity, and credibility in interactions with senior leaders.


• Curious, eager to learn, and motivated by supporting a growing and dynamic technology organization.

Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact [e-mail] and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.

Corporate Security Responsibility

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;


• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;


• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and


• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.

In line with Mastercard’s total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience. Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance); flexible spending account and health savings account; paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave); 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro‑rated based on date of hire; 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays; 401k with a best‑in‑class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on‑site fitness facilities; eligibility for tuition reimbursement; and many more. Mastercard benefits for interns generally include: 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time; jury duty leave; and on‑site fitness facilities in some locations.

Pay Ranges

Purchase, New York: $98,000 - $152,000 USD