Chief of Staff, IT Business Systems & Digital Employee Experience

WD is building the infrastructure behind the AI-driven data economy. As AI scales, so does data. Every interaction, every model, every system generates data that must be stored, managed, and made accessible over time. That’s where we come in. We combine deep engineering expertise with global-scale manufacturing to deliver the storage systems that make AI possible, powering hyperscale data centers, cloud platforms, and enterprise infrastructure worldwide. This isn’t theoretical work. It’s real systems, at real scale, people solving some of the hardest challenges in technology today. We’re looking for people who want to build, solve, and operate at that level. Join us and let’s shape the future of data. Position Overview  WD is seeking a Chief of Staff to serve as a strategic partner and operational advisor jointly supporting the VP of Business Applications and the VP of Digital Employee Experience. This role sits at the intersection of two complementary IT organizations, connecting strategy to execution across both portfolios and ensuring the combined leadership team operates with shared clarity, alignment, and accountability.  The Chief of Staff works alongside both VP leaders to drive organizational priorities forward, maintain operational rhythm, and represent IT interests across cross-functional forums. Given the dual scope of this role, the ability to hold context across multiple domains, balance competing priorities thoughtfully, and build trust with two distinct leadership teams is essential. This is a high-visibility, high-trust role that requires sound judgment, executive presence, strong communication instincts, and the ability to operate effectively across a complex, matrixed global technology organization.  Essential Duties & Responsibilities  Strategic Enablement & Organizational Leadership  Partner with both the VP of Business Applications and the VP of Digital Employee Experience to develop, refine, and communicate IT strategic priorities across their respective organizations and to shared stakeholders  Translate strategy across both IT portfolios into actionable roadmaps, plans, and organizational commitments  Serve as a thought partner to both VP leaders on organizational decisions, planning trade-offs, and priority setting  Help identify opportunities for alignment, synergy, and shared execution across the Business Applications and Digital Employee Experience organizations  Represent both VP leadership interests in cross-functional forums, planning sessions, and executive reviews as appropriate  Help shape and steward the IT organizational narrative across both domains, ensuring consistent messaging for internal and external audiences  Operational Execution & Cadence  Own the operating cadence across both IT organizations, including leadership team rhythms, QBRs, strategic planning cycles, and technology reviews  Drive accountability across both leadership teams for key commitments, deliverables, and milestones  Proactively identify and resolve operational blockers, escalating or connecting stakeholders where needed  Maintain visibility into initiative portfolios across both organizations, surfacing risks, dependencies, and progress for leadership review  Identify and improve operational processes that span or connect the two IT organizations to increase overall efficiency and effectiveness  Decision Support & Executive Communications  Synthesize complex information from across both IT organizations and the broader business to inform leadership decisions and recommendations  Lead development of executive presentations, strategic briefings, and business updates on behalf of both VP leaders  Translate technical and operational content into clear, compelling narratives for business and executive audiences  Prepare both VP leaders for high-stakes meetings, technology reviews, and partner forums  Manage strategic communications flowing from both IT organizations to internal teams and business partners  Financial & Resource Planning Partnership  Partner with Finance to ensure budget planning, forecasting, and expense management processes across both IT organizations are well-coordinated and accurately represented to leadership  Maintain leadership-level visibility into headcount, resource allocation, and workforce planning across both portfolios in partnership with HR  Support both VP leaders in making informed resource prioritization decisions aligned with organizational strategy and demand  Track and flag material variances in budget or resource plans across either organization with appropriate context and recommended actions  Performance Visibility & Insights  Oversee tracking and reporting of key performance indicators spanning both the Business Applications and Digital Employee Experience portfolios  Ensure both VP leaders have timely, accurate, and actionable visibility into organizational performance through consolidated dashboards and scorecards  Identify performance trends, risks, and opportunities across both organizations and bring them forward with context and perspective  Drive consistent, high-quality reporting practices across both IT organizations  Cross-Functional Coordination & Stakeholder Alignment  Serve as a primary coordination point bridging Business Applications, Digital Employee Experience, and other IT domains including Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, and Enterprise Architecture  Build and maintain strong working relationships with key business partner organizations including Finance, HR, Supply Chain, and Operations  Facilitate alignment across shared IT priorities, service commitments, and technology roadmaps that span both VP organizations  Help navigate organizational complexity and resolve cross-functional friction points on behalf of both VP leaders  Organizational Health & Culture  Contribute to a healthy, high-performing culture across both IT organizations by mod