Sr. Principal Program Manager (US Federal)

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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

Workday Inc is seeking a Sr. Program Manager to join our team and support our growing Federal business. As a change agent, you will collaborate with executive leadership, program sponsors, business leads, and technology teams to drive the successful implementation of large-scale, cross-organization strategic programs aimed at enterprise growth in the Federal market.

About the Role

This role will support one or more direct or indirect contracts with the U.S. Federal Government which, due to federal government security requirements, mandates that all Workday personnel working on the contracts be United States citizens (naturalized or native).

Workday Government LLC seeks a Sr. Principal Project Manager (TPM) to drive large-scale, complex, cross-functional technical initiatives for our growing Federal business, collaborating with executive leadership and technology teams on engineering, security, and operations for enterprise growth.

The TPM will coordinate critical initiatives, manage dependencies, mitigate risks, and combine strong program management with technical fluency to engage engineering and provide clear executive insights.

Are you a passionate and driven Sr. Principal Project Manager looking for a unique opportunity to make a significant impact? We are looking for an experienced technical senior program manager with deep knowledge of the federal and public sectors, understands delivery modeling while optimizing for agility and innovation. Leveraging industry leading practices, this role will lead strategy definition, scope identification, cross functional design, timeline alignment and driving on time delivery of committed outcomes and deliverables.

You are a highly organized, technically fluent program leader who thrives in complex, fast-paced environments, managing ambiguity, aligning stakeholders, and driving execution.

You balance technical understanding with program management expertise to anticipate risks and maintain momentum. You break down complex problems into actionable plans and possess a proactive, ownership-driven, and results-focused mindset.

This role may require a security clearance at the TS/SCI W/CI Poly level. Applicants must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance. An active TS/SCI w/CI Poly is preferred.

May be required to be on site at client locations in the DC, MD, and VA (DMV) area

About You

Basic Qualifications:

10+ years of progressive, cross-organizational technical program management experience, with a focus on highly visible, large-scale strategic federal and/or public sector initiatives.

5+ years experience crafting, developing, and implementing new technology, cloud environments, migrations, business, compliance, and delivery processes for software or SaaS companies entering the Federal market.

10+ years demonstrated ability establishing and maintaining strong relationships at all levels of the organization, with a proven track record of influencing and working with executive leadership.

Previous experience in a federal government business model

Other Qualifications:

Highly proficient in analytical thinking and demonstrated ability to make informed business decisions in complex scenarios.

IL5, TS experience a plus.

FedRAMP experience a plus.

Experience with and knowledge of design thinking, strategy definition, and execution, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced and constantly evolving environment.

High attention to detail, process, and organization and ability to optimally convey ideas through various mediums. Experience in creating and implement successful internal communications strategies.

Demonstrated adaptability in ambiguous situations with flexibility to quickly adjust priorities as needed. Ability to proactively identify risks and issues and implement mitigation plans.

Experience partnering with team members to design, develop, and implement new technical, business, compliance, and delivery processes for the Federal market.

Assist in the implementation and management of executive governance and operational working practices required for the program.

Excellent interpersonal skills that drive effective collaboration with executive leadership, cross-functional teams, and third parties.

Ability to lead cross-functional program teams across multiple workstreams, creating integrated program plans and goals. This includes monitoring progress and reporting on program objectives and goals.

Successful facilitation of cross-functional meetings, identifying inter-program dependencies and ensuring alignment of functional deliverables and plans.

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.VA.Reston
• Primary Location Base Pay Range: $217,400 USD - $326,000 USD
• Additional US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $196,700 USD - $349,400 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 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 accommodations@workday.com , as far in advance as possible.

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