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 Cybersecurity Risk team is responsible for cybersecurity risk assessments, security exception management, TPRM, and partner eco-system security. About the Role This broader team is responsible for technology governance, compliance, and risk programs. As a Principal Program Manager on the Cybersecurity Risk team, you will own and evolve our Cybersecurity third-party risk management (TPRM) program while also leading principal-level risk assessment activities across the broader risk portfolio. You will partner with business units and stakeholders including Security, Cloud Operations, IT, Development, Infrastructure, Procurement, Legal, and Compliance to identify and assess security issues and gaps, communicate risk and business impact to leadership, and drive remediation actions and timelines to closure. This is a strategic yet hands-on role that combines program ownership, cross-functional influence, and deep risk expertise. Responsibilities:- Third-Party Risk Program Ownership: Own and evolve the Cybersecurity third-party security risk strategy, including risk assessment methodology, vendor tiering, control expectations, procedures, continuous monitoring, and reporting; mature the program to keep pace with emerging risk domains such as AI/ML vendors and evolving regulatory expectations. Third-Party Risk Assessments: Lead risk assessments for critical and operationally significant third parties (partners, vendors), identifying, tracking, and due diligence, ongoing monitoring, issue management, and exit. Broader Risk Assessment and Analysis: Perform principal-level risk assessment activities beyond third parties — including security exception management, internal control reviews, and cyber risk assessments — applying qualitative and quantitative techniques to translate risk into business impact and inform risk-based decisions. Stakeholder Engagement and Escalation: Partner with Legal, Procurement, Privacy, ERM and business owners to ensure risks are appropriately documented, accepted, mitigated, or escalated; communicate complex vendor and risk landscapes and prioritization decisions clearly to senior leadership. Metrics and Reporting: Establish and maintain key risk and performance metrics, dashboards, and Outcome-Driven Metrics (ODMs) that demonstrate program progress, maturity, and effectiveness, and continuously refine initiatives based on data-driven insights and stakeholder feedback. Automation and Innovation: Drive automation of high-volume, repetitive processes and evaluate AI-enabled tooling to increase efficiency, quality, and speed while scaling the program responsibly. Leadership and Continuous Improvement: Lead large-scale, cross-functional initiatives to mature TPRM and risk capabilities, coach and develop team members, contribute to the evolution of risk and program best practices, and support other risk, governance, and program activities as needed. About You Basic Qualifications 12+ years experience in GRC, leading GRC initiatives, developing and maintaining GRC frameworks, and ensuring organizational compliance with applicable laws and regulations. 7+ years of experience implementing and managing modern GRC tools (e.g., ServiceNow GRC, OneTrust, Archer, LogicGate) to automate evidence collection and continuous control monitoring. B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science, Information Security, Management Information Systems (MIS), or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience. Other Qualifications Expert-level understanding of Third-Party Risk Management across the full third-party lifecycle — intake, due diligence, vendor tiering, ongoing monitoring, issue remediation, exception and risk acceptance, and exit planning — and the proven ability to define, lead, and mature enterprise-wide TPRM programs. Expert-level understanding of Risk Analysis methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative techniques (e.g., FAIR), and the ability to translate technical and vendor risk into business impact and drive risk-based prioritization decisions. Deep and strategic knowledge of security, risk, and AI governance frameworks — such as NIST CSF, NIST AI RMF, ISO 27001, ISO 42001, SOC 2, PCI DSS, and SIG — and the ability to apply them to assess and govern third parties. Comprehensive understanding of AI/ML vendor risk, including how AI-enabled and agentic services are assessed, monitored, and governed responsibly. Substantial hands-on experience with GRC, TPRM, security-ratings, questionnaire-automation, and workflow-orchestration platforms. Mastery in Stakeholder Management and Relationship Building, with the ability to build trust and influence executive leadership and cross-functional partners across Legal, Procurement, Security, Privacy, and Compliance. Expert-level written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex risk considerations for both technical and non-technical audiences and to present prioritization decisions to senior leadership. Advanced certifications preferred, such as CTPRP, CRISC, CISM, CISA, CISSP. Preferred: some hands-on automation experience — such as scripting or low-code / no-code workflow tools (e.g., n8n) — used to streamline risk assessments, evidence collection, or reporting. 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: $170,600 USD - $255,800 USD Additional US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $154,300 USD - $274,100 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. 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 View email address on click.appcast.io. 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. 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