Senior Director of People Business Partner… at Workday · Pleasanton

Senior Director of People Business Partner (HRBP) - Product Location: USA, CA, Pleasanton 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 You are invited to join an exceptionally talented and globally distributed team of People Business Partners (PBP), operating as the critical strategic arm for Workday's talent across all functions and regions. This team is fundamentally responsible for driving the talent strategy required to enable Workday's ambitious growth and global scaling objectives. At Workday, the PBP organization is defined by its commitment to building resilient, high-performing organizations, empowering our executive leaders to operate with efficiency and foresight at scale, and serving as the primary amplifier of our distinctive, employee-first culture. This is a marquee leadership opportunity to guide and mentor a team of PBPs dedicated to supporting the Product organization, a function central to Workday's continued success and innovation leadership. We are seeking a highly accomplished Senior Director who not only operates comfortably but thrives in a relentlessly fast-paced, outcome-focused environment, demonstrating a strong, consistent bias for action. The ideal candidate is deeply business-oriented and possesses the proven ability to lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing PBP team with both speed and uncompromising quality. This role requires the essential equilibrium between profound strategic thinking and flawless execution—recognizing that value is only created through ideas that can be successfully delivered and operationalized. About the Role The Senior Director of HRBP for Product is a pivotal, hands-on leadership role with the following core responsibilities: Executive Team Leadership and Partnership: Leads, coaches, and develops a team of high-performing People Business Partners who strategically support senior and executive leaders across the entire Product organization Consultative & Strategic Partnership: Proactively cultivates robust, high-trust relationships with executive stakeholders. Facilitates thoughtful, data-informed dialogue and leverages a strategic mindset to advise on the full spectrum of People & Talent matters, including organizational design, change management, and leadership effectiveness. Data-Driven Problem Solving and Solution Implementation: Identifies the root causes of complex organizational challenges, leveraging internal and external data, insights, and predictive analytics. Develops comprehensive, evidence-based solutions and drives their successful implementation in close collaboration with the integrated ecosystem of HR Centers of Excellence (COEs), including Compensation, Benefits, Talent Acquisition, and Learning & Development. Executive Coaching and Talent Strategy Custodian: Serves as a hands-on executive coach, providing confidential counsel and development guidance to top-tier leaders. Spearheads critical Talent Management initiatives across the Global Product and Technology function, including rigorous Workforce Planning, robust Succession Planning, and targeted Leadership Development programs designed to build the pipeline for tomorrow's executive roles. Business Acumen and Cultural Stewardship: Thinks and acts like a business leader, possessing a deep and current understanding of the Workday’s business model, key performance indicators (KPIs), and market challenges. Applies this business knowledge with a profound understanding of HR fundamentals and consistently embodies and champions Workday’s distinct culture and core values. About You You are not just a manager, but a strategic thought leader with a deep, practical understanding of modern HR best practices and an authentic passion for developing, empowering, and maximizing the potential of both your team and the leaders you support. Exceptional Leadership & Influence: You possess superior leadership and communication skills, with a demonstrable ability to influence and build strong, trusted relationships across all levels, particularly with executive leadership teams. Results Orientation: You are fiercely results-oriented and excel in fast-moving, high-stakes environments where priorities can shift, yet strategic focus remains paramount. Champion of Culture and Values: You are an unwavering champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and are personally committed to fostering a workplace where every employee feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their best work. Strategic Vision Translator: You share a conviction that HR is an indispensable strategic business function and possess the practical ability to translate this vision into a concrete, executable plan that drives measurable business outcomes. Basic Qualifications: 12+ years of progressive, demonstrable experience in a strategic HR role, with a proven ability to materially enhance business performance through the design and execution of impactful People Strategies. 4+ years of experience successfully managing people, coaching, and leading high-performing business partner teams in a global, matrixed organization. Resilience and Clarity: Proven ability to thrive in ambiguity, possessing a motivated drive to create clarity, alignment, and actionable direction for the team and the business. Communication Excellence: Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with a facility for breaking down complex organizational concepts for all audience levels and delivering informed, educated, and engaging presentations with executive confidence. Executive Trust and Influence: A track record of easily building trusted relationships and possessing the sophisticated ability to influence senior leaders—knowing precisely when to courageously challenge the status quo and when to decisively disagree and commit to the final path forward. Data-Informed Strategy: A clear track record of using quantitative data and qualitative insights from both internal HR systems and external market sources to inform, shape, and validate opinions and strategic recommendations. Team Development: Proven experience coaching, mentoring, and leading high-performing, geographically dispersed teams. Other Qualifications: Bias for Action: Possesses a fundamental bias for action; this team creates tangible results and strategically leans in where Workday needs the highest impact. Organizational Acuity: Highly organized with the critical ability to ruthlessly prioritize work based on business impact and strategic importance. Adaptability and Learning: Demonstrated ability to handle adversity, apply critical learnings quickly, and maintain strategic composure under pressure. Connector Mindset: A strong desire to continuously learn, grow, and operate as an essential connector across the business, seamlessly integrating and leveraging HR Centers of Excellence (COEs) when needed for specialized support. Investigative & Analytical Prowess: Strong investigative, analytical, and sophisticated interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively both independently and as a highly collaborative team member. 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. For more information regarding Workday’s comprehensive benefits, please click here. Primary Location: USA.CA.Pleasanton Primary Location Base Pay Range: $263,700 USD - $395,500 USD Additional US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $222,700 USD - $395,500 USD 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. At Workday, we are committed to providing an accessible and inclusive hiring experience where all candidates can fully demonstrate their skills. If you require assistance or an accommodation at any point, please email accommodations@workday.com. Are you being referred to one of our roles? If so, ask your connection at Workday about our Employee Referral process! At Workday, we value our candidates’ privacy and data security.  Workday will never ask candidates to apply to jobs through websites that are not Workday Careers. Please be aware of sites that may ask for you to input your data in connection with a job posting that appears to be from Workday but is not. In addition, Workday will never ask candidates to pay a recruiting fee, or pay for consulting or coaching services, in order to apply for a job at Workday.