Application Guide
How to Apply for Industry Principal- GRC
at Workiva
🏢 About Workiva
Workiva is a leader in integrated ESG reporting, helping organizations streamline climate impact and compliance disclosures. Their focus on GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) and ESG convergence makes them unique, offering a chance to work at the intersection of regulatory technology and sustainability.
About This Role
As an Industry Principal for GRC, you will bridge practitioner expertise with marketing and sales strategies, shaping thought leadership that positions Workiva as a trusted authority. Your insights will directly influence product roadmaps and customer engagement, making this role pivotal for driving market credibility.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve reviewing a new regulatory update and drafting a blog post or social media campaign with the marketing team, then meeting with product managers to share customer feedback on GRC pain points. You might also host a webinar with an industry influencer or advise a sales team on how to position Workiva's ESG features to a prospect.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Workiva Is Looking For
- A seasoned GRC leader with 10+ years in senior roles, deep understanding of regulatory mandates (e.g., SEC, EU CSRD) and ESG frameworks.
- A strategic thinker who can translate complex compliance trends into compelling content and sales enablement materials.
- A collaborator who excels at working cross-functionally with product marketers, sales, and product teams to operationalize insights.
- A strong communicator with a track record of building influencer relationships and delivering high-impact thought leadership.
📝 Tips for Applying to Workiva
Highlight specific GRC practitioner experience, especially in senior leadership roles, and connect it to ESG reporting trends.
Showcase examples of thought leadership content you've created (e.g., whitepapers, speaking engagements) that built credibility.
Demonstrate how you've influenced cross-functional teams and drove marketing/sales strategies based on practitioner insights.
Tailor your resume to emphasize regulatory knowledge (e.g., SOX, GDPR, CSRD) and your ability to operationalize that knowledge.
Use the cover letter to directly address how your experience aligns with Workiva's mission of transparent ESG reporting.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your deep GRC practitioner background and senior leadership roles in compliance or risk management.', 'Proven ability to create thought leadership that influences prospects and builds brand authority.', 'Experience collaborating with marketing and sales teams to translate practitioner insights into actionable strategies.', "Passion for ESG and regulatory technology, and how your expertise can drive Workiva's mission."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Study Workiva's ESG reporting platform and how it integrates with GRC functions.
- → Review recent Workiva thought leadership content (blogs, events) to understand their current messaging.
- → Familiarize yourself with key ESG regulations (e.g., CSRD, SEC climate rule) and how Workiva addresses them.
- → Look at Workiva's customer success stories and case studies to see how GRC practitioners use their tools.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing too much on technical GRC details without connecting them to business impact or marketing strategy.
- Not demonstrating understanding of ESG reporting convergence with traditional GRC.
- Overlooking the need to collaborate with non-technical teams like marketing and sales.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!