Head of Global People Relations

Workday•Pleasanton, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

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 Our People & Purpose organization fosters high-performing teams and exceptional workplace experiences. We are pioneering the next era of People Operations by integrating agentic AI, intelligence at scale, and Human-Centered design. Grounded in trust, fairness, and our core commitment to employees, we deliver global support that continuously elevates both organizational health and business performance. About the Role As the Head of Global People Relations, you will lead the strategic evolution of our People Consultant, Employee Relations, and Risk & Compliance organizations - a global team of 40 domain experts - into an AI-first, data-driven engine. You will re-engineer core processes—from performance management and coaching to employee relations and risk mitigation—by harnessing our agentic technology. Balancing continuous automation with empathy and legal rigor, you will build a global framework where employee trust remains our paramount metric.

Requirements

12+ years of progressive executive experience leading global Employee Relations, HR Risk & Compliance, and People Consulting organizations across Americas, EMEA, and APJ
Proven track record of leveraging AI platforms, agentic workflows, or digital transformation models to modernize enterprise workflows at scale.
Demonstrated ability to build People Analytics capabilities that translate operational performance management and ER data into business-critical organizational insights.
Subject matter expertise in global labor standards, employment law, and ethical HR governance.

Responsibilities

Re-wire end-to-end People Relations workflows using agentic automation to scale advisory services, performance coaching support, and intake systems seamlessly across all operating regions.
Oversee global Employee Relations and People Consulting teams, embedding AI-driven triage and standardized quality frameworks while maintaining absolute fairness, objectivity, and empathy.
Direct global compliance strategy, Labor Relations, and automated risk models to navigate evolving international employment laws and data privacy standards.
Transform case data and workplace sentiment into scalable, and actionable intelligence, creating a virtuous cycle of organizational improvement for leaders and employees globally.
Establish and reinforce responsible AI frameworks for Global People Operations, ensuring every AI or automated system upholds employee trust, non-bias, and company core values.
Lead, mentor, and inspire a high-performing global team of People Consultants, ER specialists, and Risk & Compliance experts; foster continuous capability building, a culture of trust, and clear career growth pathways.
Actively build trust and strategic influence across key global stakeholders: Legal & Employment Law, HR Business Partners (HRBPs) & Talent Experience, People Analytics & HR Technology / Systems, Business Unit & Regional Executive Leaders, Works Councils, Labor Unions & Employee Representative Bodies.