Senior People Specialist

Overview

Mastercard is seeking a Senior People Specialist to support execution of critical people priorities across multiple Technology, AI, and Innovation organizations. This role provides a unique opportunity to gain deep exposure to the People Business Partner (PBP) craft, support a rapidly evolving technology business, and operate in a highly visible space with senior executives.

The individual will work closely with People Business Partners, Centers of Expertise, business leaders, and cross‑functional partners to ensure programs, processes, and organizational initiatives land with excellence. This role reports directly to a Senior Vice President, People Business Partner for Services – Technology, AI & Data.

Success requires strong judgment, high ownership, proactive communication, and the ability to operate with speed, discretion, and precision.

Role Responsibilities

People Operations & Delivery

• Own timely execution of day‑to‑day People Strategy deliverables for the Services business, ensuring exceptional follow‑through and partnership with PBPs and business stakeholders.
• Manage cyclical people processes (Talent, Compensation, Performance Calibration, Organizational Health Inputs) with strong attention to detail, anticipating needs and ensuring readiness across leaders and teams.
• Serve as the operational anchor for the PBP team—driving clarity, timelines, coordination, and quality in deliverables.

Strategic Project & Program Support

• Support organizational effectiveness and change initiatives, including structure design, transitions, and leadership team enablement.
• Help build executive‑ready materials, narratives, and analyses for senior PBPs and business leaders.
• Manage discreet, sensitive workstreams with high confidentiality and sound judgment.

Data, Insights & Reporting

• Conduct analysis across headcount, cost, attrition, hiring, talent, and engagement data to translate findings into actionable insights for PBPs and business leaders.
• Partner with People Analytics and Finance teams to prepare data packs, track key metrics, and proactively surface trends.
• Support position management, organizational modeling, and headcount planning.

Communication & Stakeholder Experience

• Draft clear, compelling communications for leaders, employees, and partners.
• Coordinate communication workflows and support experience design for major people initiatives.
• Ensure HR systems (Workday, dashboards, portals) are leveraged effectively and consistently.

Team & SVP Support

• Provide operating leverage to 2-3 PBPs, including preparing materials, synthesizing updates across stakeholders, and driving actions to closure.
• Act as an extension of the SVP to help ensure coordination, alignment, and transparency across the Services Technology PBP team.
• Partner closely with peers to ensure seamless delivery across workstreams.

All About You - What Success Looks Like

Core Capabilities

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities at speed while maintaining high‑quality output.
• Strong critical thinking skills and a data‑driven approach to problem solving.
• Comfortable operating in fast‑paced, matrixed, and evolving environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparing materials for senior audiences.
• Ability to anticipate needs, raise risks early, and drive clarity and alignment across stakeholders.

Technical Skills

• Strong proficiency with Excel and comfort working with data (pivot tables, trend analysis, modeling).
• Experience with Workday strongly preferred; ability to learn and master new HR tools quickly.
• Curious with AI Tools, experience with AI tools is a plus.

Mindset & Work Style

• Proactive, resourceful, highly organized, and able to exercise sound judgment.
• Thrives in a role that blends strategic thinking with hands‑on execution.
• Operates with discretion, maturity, and credibility in interactions with senior leaders.
• Curious, eager to learn, and motivated by supporting a growing and dynamic technology organization.

Key Skills/Competency

• People Operations
• HR Strategy
• Project Management
• Change Management
• Data Analysis
• Workday
• Stakeholder Management
• Communication
• Critical Thinking
• Confidentiality