Senior or Principal Program Manager

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

The Product and Technology (P&T) Operations organization is the central function that powers execution excellence for all of P&T. We are the glue that connects vision to delivery

While our P&T partners build, innovate, and maintain Workday's suite of cloud-based enterprise applications, we ensure their success by establishing the core planning frameworks and execution rhythms across the organization. We enable decisions, delivering data-driven insights that inform prioritization and facilitate critical decision-making.

As leaders, we are managing high-impact programs from initiation through delivery, defining the foundational tools, processes, and governance that allow P&T to scale its operations efficiently and consistently.

About the Role

As a Principal or Senior Program Manager in the P&T operations team, you act as a force multiplier. You are not just managing projects; you are implementing the processes and rhythms that enable executive success and systematic execution across P&T's software development lifecycle You will function as a trusted advisor to P&T leadership on matters of execution health and strategic alignment and develop relationships to ensure unified execution of transformational programs.

You will establish and enforce the program disciplines required for successful delivery. This includes defining detailed schedules, managing critical dependencies, and leading all aspects of stakeholder management.

Responsibilities include:

• Design, implement, and run the core operating rhythms, encompassing all planning cycles, execution cadences, and business review forums.

• Proactively identify and eliminate systemic operational bottlenecks and friction points.

• Design and implement frameworks, processes, and tooling vital to scaling operations efficiently. Establish strong, systematic approaches to guide programs end-to-end, ensuring consistency and repeatability.

• Anticipate, identify, and manage strategic and operational risks across the portfolio, developing mitigation plans with organizational impact.

About You

Basic Qualifications - Principal Program Manager:

• 10 + years of experience as a program management leader, conceiving, defining, and delivering transformative operational and technical programs.

Basic Qualifications - Senior Program Manager:

• 7 + years of experience in program management, conceiving, defining, and delivering transformative operational and technical programs.

Other Qualifications:

• Outstanding ability to build influential relationships with senior leadership (VP/SVP levels), effectively driving alignment and unified execution for critical cross-functional programs.

• Highly skilled at guiding high-stakes program and operational decisions, contributing to long-term strategic planning, and developing proactive solutions to complex problems

• Deep expertise in crafting and implementing systematic risk management strategies within major programs, ensuring thorough mitigation planning and minimizing organizational exposure.

• Proven ability to provide strategic direction for the organization's most impactful programs, mastering the development of sophisticated schedules, critical dependency management, and documentation standards.

• Expert ability to lead and facilitate strategic discussions and critical decision-making forums with stakeholders, driving consensus and definitive outcomes for program success.

Workday 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. For more information regarding Workday's comprehensive benefits, please click here.

Primary Location: USA.CA.PleasantonPrimary Location Base Pay Range: $185,000 USD - $277,400 USDAdditional US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $156,200 USD - $277,400 USD

Additional Considerations:

If performed in Colorado, the pay range for this job is $164,400 - $246,600 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:
 

12/18/2025

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.

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