About this role
Dir II- Business Sys
Job Description: BAE Systems is seeking a Director II, HR & Communications Services (IT Service Owner) to architect, modernize, and lead the strategic direction of the enterprise’s Human Capital Management (HCM), Talent, Learning, and Communications technology ecosystem. Operating as a senior executive and thought leader, this role defines the enterprise vision for employee‑centric digital capabilities, oversees major system transformations, and ensures the reliable delivery, governance, and evolution of technology platforms that shape the employee experience and enterprise-wide communications. This leader serves as the strategic owner and executive sponsor for the company’s next-generation HCM transformation, including the transition from legacy PeopleSoft environments to modern cloud-based platforms such as Workday or equivalent. The role requires deep expertise in HR technology, enterprise architecture, program leadership, and organizational change—combined with the executive presence to influence decisions across the matrix and shape the future of how employees engage, collaborate, develop, and communicate.
You will partner closely with senior HR executives, Communications leadership, Talent and Learning stakeholders, CIO partners, and enterprise transformation teams to deliver an integrated, intuitive, and scalable digital ecosystem that enhances productivity, culture, and workforce experience.
Key Responsibilities • Define and lead the enterprise HR & Communications Systems Strategy, including long-range planning, modernization roadmaps, experience design, and integration with enterprise transformation initiatives. • Own the enterprise HCM system transformation, driving the transition from PeopleSoft to Workday or equivalent cloud-based platform, ensuring excellence in delivery, data integrity, and business readiness. • Oversee talent, learning, and employee lifecycle technologies, ensuring alignment across recruitment, onboarding, performance management, learning ecosystems, and career development. • Lead digital enablement for enterprise communications, including intranet, internet, and collaboration platforms that support employee engagement and corporate messaging. • Drive company-wide collaboration platform strategy, ensuring secure, scalable, and intuitive tools that enable productivity and communication across the enterprise. • Establish and manage strategic and operational governance for HR, Talent, Learning, and Communications technologies, ensuring reliability, security, performance, and regulatory compliance. • Develop and champion a multi-year technology roadmap, aligning investments with modernization priorities, employee experience goals, regulatory needs, and enterprise digital strategy. • Oversee support and sustainment of enterprise HR & Communications platforms, ensuring operational excellence, stable performance, and continuous improvement. • Lead and develop high-performing technology teams, strengthening technical, functional, and leadership capabilities while cultivating a culture of innovation and accountability. • Influence across a complex matrix environment, driving alignment and decision-making without direct authority while balancing diverse executive perspectives. • Communicate complex technical and strategic concepts to senior executives and non-technical audiences with clarity, authority, and executive presence. • Partner with software engineering, program management, and technical teams to ensure solution quality, integration rigor, and scalable architecture. Competencies • Senior-level executive presence with the ability to influence, guide, and align enterprise stakeholders. • Deep expertise in HCM, Talent, Learning, and Communications technologies. • Strong command of cloud-based HCM platforms (Workday or equivalent) and HR digital transformation best practices. • Robust understanding of employee experience, digital engagement, communications operations, and collaboration ecosystems. • Demonstrated ability to drive large-scale enterprise technology implementations and organizational change. • Strong business acumen and fluency across HR, Communications, IT, and operational domains. • Skilled in negotiation, stakeholder engagement, and conflict resolution in matrixed organizations. • Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans and measurable outcomes. • Proven leadership of high-performing, multidisciplinary teams. • Innovative problem solver with balanced long-term and short-term decision-making capabilities.
Required Skills and Education: • Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, HR Technology, Business Administration, or related field; advanced degree preferred. Or equivalent experience. • Minimum 12+ years of progressive leadership experience spanning HR technology, enterprise systems, program leadership, or related technical fields. • Significant experience with HCM platforms including Workday, PeopleSoft, or equivalent enterprise solutions. • Proven success leading enterprise-scale HR or Communications system transformations, including cloud migrations. • Background in software development, program management, or technical engineering leadership strongly preferred. • Demonstrated ability to manage technology performance across cost, schedule, quality, and risk. • Experience developing leaders, building organizational capability, and managing complex technology portfolios.
Preferred Skills and Education: • Experience in defense, aerospace, or highly regulated industries. • Familiarity with digital experience platforms, analytics-driven HR insights, automation, and AI-enabled employee engagement solutions. #LI-DM2 #LI-Remote
About BAE Systems, Inc.: BAE Systems, Inc. is a defense, aerospace, and security company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with more than 40,000 employees worldwide. We serve, supply, and protect those who protect us. As one of the most geographically diverse international defense companies, we deliver a full range of products and services spanning air, land, maritime, space, and cyber, including advanced electronics, intelligence solutions, and dedicated customer support.
Our culture is performance-driven and values-led, built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Purpose isn't a tagline here. It's what drives us. We're developing breakthrough technologies that defend national security and make a lasting impact on our communities and our planet. When you join BAE Systems, you're not just building a career. You're contributing to a mission that truly matters.
This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.
Benefits Information: Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.
Intern Benefits: Temporary employees generally are not eligible for BAE Systems benefits, but can elect to participate in the 401(k) savings plan. Temporary employees working 20+ hours per week are eligible for medical benefits, the employee assistance program, and business travel accident insurance.
Please note: Some benefits may be different for union employees that are governed by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) or for positions covered by a wage law called the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).