Application Guide
How to Apply for Senior Business Programs & Operations Manager
at Workiva
🏢 About Workiva
Workiva is a unique SaaS company focused specifically on integrated ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting, helping organizations achieve transparent climate impact measurement and compliance. Unlike general business software companies, Workiva operates at the intersection of regulatory compliance, sustainability, and financial reporting, making it a leader in a rapidly growing niche. Someone might want to work here to contribute to meaningful environmental transparency while applying their skills in a specialized, mission-driven tech environment.
About This Role
This Senior Business Programs & Operations Manager role involves driving complex, cross-functional initiatives that directly translate Workiva's strategic goals into predictable execution, particularly focusing on Go-To-Market (GTM) alignment and revenue engine optimization. You'll be responsible for owning high-priority programs across Solutions and GTM teams, ensuring clear scope and ownership while accelerating execution pace across Sales, Marketing, and Customer Success. This role is impactful because it directly bridges strategy and operations to fuel Workiva's growth and innovation in the competitive ESG reporting space.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve morning meetings with GTM leaders to define problem statements and align on initiative priorities, followed by cross-functional working sessions with Solutions and GTM teams to drive execution on high-priority programs. You'd spend afternoons analyzing SaaS revenue metrics, applying business acumen to optimize operations, and implementing change management strategies for AI tool adoption, all while ensuring initiatives stay on aggressive timelines and deliver measurable commercial outcomes.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Workiva Is Looking For
- Has 6+ years of hands-on experience across multiple GTM functions (Sales, Marketing, Customer Success) in a SaaS environment, with demonstrated ability to navigate complex business models and financial data
- Possesses proven consultative business acumen, with experience delivering results in a highly consultative capacity—not just executing tasks but understanding and solving business problems
- Has extensive experience managing organizational change and transformational initiatives, including specific experience with AI and Generative AI tool adoption in business operations
- Can demonstrate experience driving aggressive, high-priority cross-functional initiatives with clear ownership structures and measurable commercial outcomes
📝 Tips for Applying to Workiva
Quantify your GTM experience—specifically mention how many years you've spent in each GTM function (Sales, Marketing, Customer Success) and highlight cross-functional projects you've driven
Explicitly mention your experience with AI/Generative AI tools in business operations—describe specific tools you've implemented or optimized and the business outcomes achieved
Tailor your resume to show how you've 'translated strategy into clear, predictable execution'—use specific examples with metrics around timeline predictability, scope clarity, and commercial impact
Research Workiva's specific ESG reporting solutions and mention how your SaaS revenue engine expertise could apply to their unique compliance-focused business model
Highlight any experience with integrated reporting, compliance workflows, or regulatory environments since Workiva operates in the specialized ESG compliance space
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your specific experience driving cross-functional initiatives across GTM teams in a SaaS environment, with concrete examples of how you aligned stakeholders and delivered commercial outcomes', "Demonstrated consultative approach to problem-solving, emphasizing how you've partnered with GTM leaders to define problems rather than just execute predefined solutions", "Experience with organizational change management and AI adoption, specifically how you've driven adoption of new tools or processes in previous roles", "Understanding of Workiva's unique position in ESG reporting and how your skills would contribute to streamlining integrated reporting for climate impact and compliance"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Workiva's specific ESG reporting solutions and platforms—understand their product suite and how it differs from general business intelligence tools
- → Recent Workiva news about AI/Generative AI adoption in their products or operations, as this is explicitly mentioned in the requirements
- → The regulatory landscape for ESG reporting (particularly SEC climate disclosure rules and EU CSRD) to understand the compliance challenges Workiva addresses
- → Workiva's GTM structure and recent growth initiatives—look for patterns in how they go to market with their specialized solutions
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Presenting generic SaaS operations experience without specific examples of working across multiple GTM functions (Sales, Marketing, Customer Success)
- Failing to demonstrate consultative business acumen—avoid focusing only on task execution without showing how you've partnered with leaders to define problems
- Not addressing the AI/Generative AI experience requirement—this is explicitly mentioned, so candidates should be prepared to discuss specific tools and adoption strategies
📅 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!