Principal People Business Partner - M&A

Join Our Team at Workday

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 Role

• M&A Diligence & Integration Strategy: Develop and execute frameworks and responsibility matrices for all phases of M&A people talent activities - from initial diligence and close (talent mapping, compensation) to post-close integration and large scale structural organizational design (including functional integration & hiring plans and growth strategies) along with related change management activities
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Partner closely with Corporate Development, the Integration Management Office, People Business Partners (PBPs), and Centers of Excellence (COEs) to plan and execute seamless, scalable, and programmatic M&A talent initiatives (job leveling / mapping, org design, etc.)
• Talent Agenda & Culture Alignment: Leverage a deep understanding of business strategy to build short- and long-term talent agendas for acquired organizations, partnering with founders and leaders to drive cultural alignment, employee experience goals, and key talent retention
• End-to-End Transition & Handover: Act as the central connective tissue for acquired companies during the incubation period, ensuring a seamless transition into standard people practices (performance, compensation, leadership planning) and executing formal handovers - complete with critical documentation and deal context - to end-state PBPs
• Data-Driven Decisions & Problem Solving: Gather and analyze people-related deal metrics (e.g., retention, employee sentiment) to proactively identify downstream risks, tell a compelling data story, and implement customized, proactive solutions
• Flexible Deal Support & Change Management: Ability to provide flexible, hands-on support to the broader P&P M&A team as needed across standard diligence workstreams (benefits, global mobility, etc.) post-Close workmate integration and integration, and change management

About You

Business Qualifications:

• Business-First HR Leadership: 12+ years of HR experience supporting executive clients in high-growth technology environments, with proven expertise in M&A integration (Product & Tech experience preferred).
• Strategic & Tactical Agility: A hands-on professional who seamlessly balances high-impact strategic planning with the detailed execution of daily HR programs and tactics.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: Highly collaborative and humble team player who builds strong relationships, manages diverse stakeholders, and thrives on feedback and open learning.
• Influence & Change Leadership: Exceptional influencing and coaching skills, with the agility and flexibility to guide leaders through organizational design, change management, and evolving environments.
• Data-Driven Problem Solving: Strong analytical skills with a proven track record of using data to solve complex organizational and operational challenges.
• Travel Requirements: Ability to travel up to 20% as needed for M&A engagements.

Other qualifications:

• Global HR and Total Rewards experienced preferred
• Experience with AI-First and/or SaaS companies preferred; Go-to-Market experience preferred