Director, Corporate Strategy & Business Transformation

At Western Digital, our vision is to power global innovation and push the boundaries of technology to make what you thought was once impossible, possible.

At our core, Western Digital is a company of problem solvers. People achieve extraordinary things given the right technology. For decades, we’ve been doing just that. Our technology helped people put a man on the moon.

We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest growth organizations in the world. From energizing the most competitive gaming platforms, to enabling systems to make cities safer and cars smarter and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and public cloud, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

Binge-watch any shows, use social media or shop online lately? You’ll find Western Digital supporting the storage infrastructure behind many of these platforms. And, that flash memory card that captures and preserves your most precious moments? That’s us, too.

We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, storage devices and platforms for business and consumers alike. Our data-centric solutions are comprised of the Western Digital®, G-Technology™, SanDisk® and WD® brands.

Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. It’s You & Western Digital. Together, we’re the next BIG thing in data.

As a Director in Western Digital’s Corporate Strategy and Business Transformation organization, you will be responsible for identifying critical business/process issues impacting company performance and leading cross-functional efforts to drive operational excellence and deliver measurable business efficiency/effectiveness improvements.   This will require sound knowledge of the business, how the company currently operates both from a process and systems perspective, and keen insight into the changes necessary to realize significant improvement.  You will work across a broad range of business processes and functional disciplines as necessary to support transformation priorities set forth by executive leadership.  Examples include but are not limited to company strategy creation, technology & product development, procurement, manufacturing, supply chain, go-to-market, sales, finance, accounting, and IT.   

In this role you will manage partnerships with senior-level business and functional leaders as well as Global Process Owners (GPOs) as you collaborate across the company to achieve company transformation objectives.  Key internal customers include the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), the Corporate Strategy & Business Transformation team, and senior business and functional leaders across the company.  This is a highly visible role requiring strong communication and influencing skills at all levels of the organization, in addition to the ability to effectively lead very complex programs in the face of significant ambiguity and at times pushback from key stakeholders. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Partner with the Corporate Strategy & Business Transformation team and senior leaders across the company to identify business inhibitors impacting company efficiency and financial performance.
• Conduct thorough analysis of target business processes by developing comprehensive “as is” process flows, current outcome drivers versus targets, and determine high-priority improvement opportunities.
• Collaborate with key business process owners and cross-functional stakeholders to identify the most compelling opportunities for process transformation, develop targeted process improvement actions and implementation plans with necessary executive support, and manage the successful execution of these plans to deliver promised business benefits. 
• Effectively lead cross-company business transformation programs by positively influencing the work efforts of co-workers at all levels, inspiring confidence and motivating action through a shared vision and passion for success.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing to influence key decisionmakers and direct necessary actions of cross-functional team members. 
• Build knowledge of key business processes, functional disciplines and IT systems involved in process execution in order to effectively lead process transformation.
• Develop and maintain good working knowledge of relevant end-to-end business processes in order to support Global Process Owners (GPOs) with process improvement strategy development, initiative ROI analysis, prioritization, planning and execution. 
• Coach GPOs on process improvement methodology and best practices, engaging external consulting/advisory vendors as needed. 
• Support GPOs with process improvement initiative leadership and process performance metric data collection/reporting as needed.
• Represent Corporate Strategy & Business Transformation team and owned process transformation programs in key communication forums including Executive Leadership Team (ELT) meetings as needed. 
• Collaborate effectively with peers, including mentorship and coaching of junior team members and direct reports as position dictates.

REQUIRED:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience
• 10 years related experience in consulting, business process/operational excellence improvement, or related project-program management roles
• Solid knowledge and working experience managing large, complex, cross-company programs in collaboration with a variety of functional owners in a highly structured and productive manner
• Demonstrated ability to operate proactively, assertively and in a highly self-directing manner with strong planning and problem-solving skills
• Proven dynamic, self-motivated, and results-oriented creative thinker.
• Demonstrated ability to operate in an environment with a high level of ambiguity, both individually and as part of large extended cross-functional teams
• Ability to liaise, negotiate with, and advise stakeholders in a rational and measured manner
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise in key business processes, systems, and technologies
• Strong ability to lead and manage meetings to ensure focus and delivery on stated objectives
• Ability to clearly document and communicate project status, issues, and risks, taking corrective action as necessary in order to remain on track
• Outstanding verbal and written communication and presentation skills
• Strong skills with the Microsoft Office Suite and related collaboration tools

PREFERRED:

• Education and experience in business performance data analytics and reporting
• Experience in master data management and governance
• Direct experience working in or interfacing with one or more of the following business functions:
  • Operations- Manufacturing & Supply Chain
  • Engineering
  • Finance, Accounting
  • Product Management
  • Sales, Channel Management
  • IT
• Experience in management consulting or professional services delivery in the high-tech space.

Western Digital is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate based on their race, color, ancestry, religion (including religious dress and grooming standards), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), gender (including a person’s gender identity, gender expression, and gender-related appearance and behavior, whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth), age, national origin, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital status (including domestic partnership status), physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, protected medical and family care leave, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We also prohibit harassment of any individual on any of the characteristics listed above. Our non-discrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment. We comply with the laws and regulations set forth in the Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law poster.

Western Digital thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution.

Western Digital is committed to offering opportunities to applicants with disabilities and ensuring all candidates can successfully navigate our careers website and our hiring process. Please contact us at [email protected] to advise us of your accommodation request. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.

#LI-JS1

Compensation & Benefits Details

• An employee’s pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to (1) relevant education; qualifications; certifications; and experience; (2) skills, ability, knowledge of the job; (3) performance, contribution and results; (4) geographic location; (5) shift; (6) internal and external equity; and (7) business and organizational needs.
• The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting.  We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California, Colorado, New York or remote jobs that can be performed in California, Colorado and New York.  This range may be modified in the future.
• You will be eligible to participate in Western Digital’s Short-Term Incentive (STI) Plan, which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance.  Depending on your role and your performance, you may be eligible to participate in our annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents, pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan. Please note that not all roles are eligible to participate in the LTI program, and not all roles are eligible for equity under the LTI plan. RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires, subject to Western Digital’s Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid vacation time; paid sick leave; medical/dental/vision insurance; life, accident and disability insurance; tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts; employee assistance program; other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity; tuition reimbursement; transit; the Applause Program, employee stock purchase plan, and the Western Digital Savings 401(k) Plan.
• Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.