Senior Director, Data Science – People Analytics

Your work days are brighter here.

At Workday, it all began with a conversation over breakfast. When our founders met at a sunny California diner, they came up with an idea to revolutionize the enterprise software market. And when we began to rise, one thing that really set us apart was our culture. A culture which was driven by our value of putting our people first. And ever since, the happiness, development, and contribution of every Workmate is central to who we are. Our Workmates believe a healthy employee-centric, collaborative culture is the essential mix of ingredients for success in business. That’s why we look after our people, communities and the planet while still being profitable. Feel encouraged to shine, however that manifests: you don’t need to hide who you are. You can feel the energy and the passion, it's what makes us unique. Inspired to make a brighter work day for all and transform with us to the next stage of our growth journey? Bring your brightest version of you and have a brighter work day here.

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About the Team

At Workday, we believe that data-driven insights empower our people and business to thrive. We are looking for a Senior Director in People Analytics to lead our Data Science team reporting to the VP of People Analytics, HR Strategic Consulting, & Employee Experience. This leader will shape and execute the people analytics strategy, applying advanced data science techniques to workforce challenges and enabling our leaders to make informed, strategic talent decisions.

About the Role

As a trusted partner of our People & Purpose (HR) leadership team, you will blend technical expertise with business acumen, driving scalable analytics solutions that influence workforce strategy across Workday. You will lead a team of data scientists and analysts to develop & deliver advanced analytics and AI-driven insights across the employee lifecycle and deliver high-value use cases blending operational and people data to drive our company’s strategy forward. 

This role requires a leader who thrives at the intersection of data science, HR technology, and business strategy, driving enterprise impact through innovative analytics.

About You

Strategic Leadership & Business Impact

• Co-design and execute a multi-year people analytics strategy, aligning data science initiatives with Workday’s business goals and talent priorities.

• Act as a strategic advisor to HR executives, and senior business leaders, driving evidence-based decision-making.

• Scale a best-in-class data science function, delivering insights that shape workforce strategy, talent retention, performance, and engagement.

• Partner with key stakeholders across Finance, HR, and Business Strategy to integrate people data into company-wide decision-making, ensuring people insights drive business outcomes.

Innovation & Technical Leadership

• Lead the development of advanced analytics, AI-driven workforce insights, and machine learning applications to improve talent outcomes.

• Champion the productization of analytics by partnering with our people analytics technology function to data science insights into scalable, self-service tools and dashboards.

• Ensure data governance, privacy, and responsible AI practices are embedded in all people analytics initiatives.

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Influence

• Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of data scientists, engineers, and analysts.

• Foster a culture of continuous learning, experimentation, and innovation in analytics, AI, and data science.

• Translate complex data insights into clear, compelling storytelling, influencing stakeholders across HR, Finance, and the Executive team.

• Drive a data-driven culture by improving HR data literacy, coaching leaders on analytics adoption, and embedding insights into business processes.

Preferred Experience & Skills

• 10+ years of experience in People Analytics, Data Science, and/or HR Technology leadership roles.

• Strong expertise in data science methodologies, modeling, machine learning, and AI applications in HR analytics.

• Deep understanding of HR metrics, workforce planning, talent analytics, employee listening, and talent strategies.

• Experience with HR technology platforms (Workday, ATS, LMS), cloud-based analytics tools (AWS, Snowflake, Databricks), and visualization platforms.

• Proven ability to partner with senior leaders, influence strategic decisions, and align analytics with business priorities.

• Exceptional leadership, communication, and storytelling skills, translating data insights into business impact.

• Experience leading, coaching, and scaling high-performing analytics teams in a fast-paced, enterprise technology environment.

• Strong data governance, compliance, and responsible AI awareness in HR analytics.

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.Pleasanton

 

Primary Location Base Pay Range: $255,800 USD - $383,900 USD

 

Additional US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $216,000 USD - $383,900 USD

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.

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