📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Senior Manager, Startup Marketing
🔹 Company: Zendesk
🔹 Location: Remote, California, United States of America
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-07-30
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading global marketing strategy for Zendesk for Startups
- Building and managing a high-performing marketing team
- Driving startup ecosystem engagement worldwide
- Executing integrated campaigns and virtual events
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams, including PR
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, experience in global marketing, and a deep understanding of the startup ecosystem.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Own the vision and execution of Zendesk for Startups’ global marketing strategy
✅ Build and lead a high-performing marketing team, including Regional Marketing Managers
✅ Plan and execute startup events integrated within Zendesk flagship events
✅ Develop thought leadership and digital marketing campaigns
✅ Support sales teams by aligning marketing programs with regional pipeline goals
✅ Own the social media, PR, and AR strategy for Zendesk for Startups
✅ Manage the global marketing calendar and campaign strategy
✅ Grow and cultivate the global startup community through event engagement strategies
✅ Oversee event budgeting, logistics, and onsite management
✅ Innovate event formats and experiences by incorporating digital and hybrid event technologies
ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong project management, organizational, and communication skills to juggle multiple high-impact initiatives simultaneously.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field
Experience: 8+ years of professional work experience, with proficient marketing functional knowledge, preferably in high-growth SaaS or technology companies with significant startup ecosystem engagement. 3+ years of management experience.
Required Skills:
- Proven experience managing and scaling marketing teams, especially with global-led, regional-executed models and managing with remote team dynamics
- Strong expertise in campaign management, event marketing, PR, paid media, ABM, social media, and community marketing strategies
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills—comfortable interfacing with executive leadership, sales teams, and external partners alike
- Analytical mindset with a track record of using data and metrics to optimize marketing performance
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working in startup programs, accelerators, or venture-backed environments
- Familiarity with Zendesk products or customer experience software landscape
- Hands-on experience with marketing automation platforms, CRM, event management platforms, and digital analytics tools
- Prior experience coordinating PR / AR activities
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong entrepreneurial mindset, thrive in dynamic environments, and enjoy building marketing programs that scale globally yet resonate locally.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $158,000.00 - $236,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Competitive benefits package
- Flexible hybrid work arrangement
- Global diversity, equity, & inclusion initiatives
Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an annualized base salary range for the position across all US locations. The offer for the successful candidate will be based on job-related capabilities, applicable experience, and other factors such as work location.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Software Development, specifically Customer Support and Experience
Company Size: 5,001-10,000 employees
Founded: 2007
Company Description:
- Zendesk powers exceptional service for every person on the planet
- Offers the Zendesk Resolution Platform, designed to redefine customer experience
- Provides advanced tools that integrate AI Agents, a comprehensive knowledge graph, actions and integrations, governance and control, measurement and insights, and human expertise
Company Specialties:
- Help Desks
- Customer Support
- SaaS
- Customer Community
- Customer Service
Company Website: http://zdsk.co/46mVi8h
ASSUMPTION: Zendesk is a well-established company in the customer experience software landscape, with a strong focus on AI-powered service and a global presence.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior Manager
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the VP of Marketing, Zendesk for Startups
Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with a flexible work-from-home policy
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to grow into a leadership role within the Zendesk for Startups team
- Opportunities to collaborate with cross-functional teams and gain exposure to various aspects of the business
- Chance to work with a diverse range of startups and partners worldwide
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to make a substantial impact on the company's startup marketing efforts.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Remote-first with physical offices in various locations
Office Location(s): San Francisco, California; Madison, Wisconsin; Copenhagen, Denmark; London, England; Taguig City, Philippines; Singapore; São Paulo, Brazil; Melbourne, Australia; Montreal, Canada; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Kraków, Poland
Geographic Context:
- The role requires working with startups and partners across multiple time zones
- Zendesk's global presence allows for collaboration with diverse teams and cultures
- The company offers a hybrid work arrangement, enabling employees to work remotely for part of the week
Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexible hours and a focus on results and impact
ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with remote teams and global partners.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
- Behavioral and situational interview with the marketing team
- Final interview with the VP of Marketing, Zendesk for Startups
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and global marketing expertise
- Team management and leadership skills
- Event planning and execution experience
- Understanding of the startup ecosystem and community engagement
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant marketing experience, especially in global-led, regional-executed models
- Demonstrate strong communication and interpersonal skills in your resume and cover letter
- Showcase your understanding of the startup ecosystem and community engagement strategies
ATS Keywords: Global marketing strategy, team management, event marketing, PR, paid media, ABM, social media, community marketing, project management, analytical skills, communication skills, startup ecosystem, customer experience
ASSUMPTION: Zendesk's application process focuses on assessing strategic thinking, leadership, and relevant marketing experience.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Marketing automation platforms (e.g., Marketo, HubSpot)
- CRM (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot CRM)
- Event management platforms (e.g., Hopin, Bizzabo)
- Digital analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics)
ASSUMPTION: This role requires proficiency in various marketing tools and technologies to execute campaigns, manage events, and analyze performance.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Customers First
- Act with Integrity
- Don't Just Work—Be
- Grit
- Glance Locally, Act Globally
Work Style:
- Collaborative and cross-functional
- Data-driven and results-focused
- Adaptable and resilient
- Inclusive and diverse
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you thrive in dynamic environments and enjoy building marketing programs that scale globally yet resonate locally?
- Are you comfortable navigating ambiguity and building processes and campaigns from scratch by anticipating needs and iterating quickly?
- Do you have a strong entrepreneurial mindset and understand the nuances of engaging early-stage companies and the partners that support them?
ASSUMPTION: Zendesk values candidates who align with their company values, work collaboratively, and demonstrate a strong entrepreneurial mindset.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a remote team with global dynamics
- Balancing multiple high-impact initiatives simultaneously
- Navigating the competitive startup ecosystem landscape
- Adapting to a fast-paced, ever-changing work environment
ASSUMPTION: This role presents unique challenges that require strong leadership, adaptability, and strategic thinking.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role differs from other marketing manager positions in its focus on the startup ecosystem and global marketing strategy
- Industry-specific context: Zendesk's focus on customer experience software and AI-powered service sets it apart from other SaaS companies
- Career path comparison: This role offers growth potential within the Zendesk for Startups team and opportunities to collaborate with cross-functional teams
ASSUMPTION: This role is unique in its focus on the startup ecosystem and global marketing strategy, with growth opportunities within the Zendesk for Startups team.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a global marketing plan for a virtual startup event series
- Managing a team to create localized marketing materials for regional events
- Collaborating with PR to secure media coverage for Zendesk for Startups' initiatives
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the strategic, collaborative, and hands-on aspects of the role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the broader marketing strategy for Zendesk for Startups?
- What are the key priorities for the first 90 days in this role?
- How does Zendesk support the growth and success of startups in the ecosystem?
- What opportunities are there for growth and development within the Zendesk for Startups team?
- How does Zendesk foster a culture of inclusion and diversity?
ASSUMPTION: These questions help assess the role's strategic fit, growth potential, and company culture.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant marketing experience, especially in global-led, regional-executed models
- Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that assess strategic thinking, leadership, and event planning skills
- Research Zendesk's company values and be ready to discuss how your work style aligns with their culture
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after your final interview to express your continued interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
