Sr. Customer Marketing Manager

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Senior Customer Marketing Manager

🔹 Company: Zip

🔹 Location: San Francisco, California, United States (Hybrid: 3 days/week in office)

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time

🔹 Category: Marketing

🔹 Date Posted: April 9, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years

🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Leading customer storytelling and advocacy efforts across various channels
• Collaborating cross-functionally to embed customer proof across the funnel
• Managing customer speaker programs and reference/referral engines
• Securing top customers for product launches and integrated marketing campaigns
• Thriving in a fast-paced, high-growth environment

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic, creative, and execution-oriented individual who can turn customer success into strategic advantage.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Create compelling customer stories, videos, and ROI case studies demonstrating Zip’s impact

✅ Own the customer speaker program across various events and channels

✅ Build and maintain a central database of customer advocates, stories, and speaker assets

✅ Build and manage a robust customer reference program in partnership with sales and customer success

✅ Launch and lead Zip’s first-ever customer referral program

✅ Identify and secure top customers to feature in major product launches and integrated marketing campaigns

✅ Partner with content, performance, and lifecycle marketing to showcase customer proof across the buyer journey

✅ Collaborate with brand and creative teams to feature customers prominently in design, advertising, and OOH

✅ Work with the Community team to support the Customer Advisory Board and broader community programs

ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high level of cross-functional collaboration and requires strong storytelling skills with a focus on business outcomes and ROI.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field

Experience: 5-8+ years of experience in customer marketing, advocacy, or related B2B SaaS marketing roles

Required Skills:

• Proven success developing and scaling customer programs that drive both brand impact and revenue
• Experience managing customer speaker programs across events and channels
• Strong storytelling skills with a focus on business outcomes and ROI
• Cross-functional collaboration skills across sales, customer success, creative, and marketing teams
• Builder mindset with the ability to drive strategy and execute with precision
• Deep understanding of the customer journey and how advocacy fuels growth
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI-powered procurement platforms
• Familiarity with the software development industry

ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in B2B SaaS marketing and customer advocacy programs will be well-suited for this role.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $135,000 - $165,000 per year (USD)

Benefits:

• Start-up equity
• Full health, vision & dental coverage
• Catered lunches & dinners for SF employees
• Commuter benefit
• Team building events & happy hours
• Flexible PTO
• Apple equipment plus home office budget
• 401k plan

Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week) with a hybrid work arrangement (3 days/week in office)

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on the job description and industry standards for similar roles in the San Francisco Bay Area.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Software Development

Company Size: 201-500 employees (Mid-size)

Founded: 2020

Company Description:

• Zip is the world’s leading AI-powered procurement orchestration platform
• Empowers businesses to accelerate the procurement process, mitigate risk, and drive growth
• Trusted by hundreds of leading enterprises worldwide, including AMD, Anthropic, Arm, Canva, Coinbase, and more

Company Specialties:

• procurement
• sourcing
• finance
• cloud-based financial applications
• purchasing
• spend management
• intake-to-procure
• procure-to-pay
• AI
• and procurement orchestration

Company Website: ziphq.com

ASSUMPTION: Zip is a well-established company in the software development industry, focusing on AI-powered procurement solutions.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Mid-level to senior

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Head of Corporate Marketing

Work Arrangement: Hybrid (3 days/week in office)

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to grow into a leadership role as the company expands
• Opportunities to work on high-impact projects and initiatives
• Chance to gain experience in a fast-growing, innovative company

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential as Zip continues to expand and gain market share.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Modern, collaborative office space

Office Location(s): 1 Sansome St., Ste 3000, San Francisco, CA 94104, US

Geographic Context:

• San Francisco is a major tech hub with a vibrant startup scene
• Close proximity to public transportation and amenities
• Dynamic and diverse city with a wide range of cultural attractions

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (with flexibility for remote work)

ASSUMPTION: The San Francisco office provides a collaborative and innovative work environment, with easy access to public transportation and nearby amenities.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
• On-site interview with the marketing team
• Final interview with the Head of Corporate Marketing
• Background check and offer extension

Key Assessment Areas:

• Customer marketing and advocacy experience
• Storytelling and communication skills
• Cross-functional collaboration and teamwork
• Problem-solving and strategic thinking

Application Tips:

• Highlight relevant customer marketing and advocacy experience in your resume
• Prepare examples of successful customer stories and campaigns you've led
• Demonstrate your understanding of Zip's platform and value proposition in your cover letter
• Showcase your ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment

ATS Keywords: Customer Marketing, Customer Advocacy, B2B SaaS Marketing, Storytelling, Cross-functional Collaboration, Strategy Development, Customer Journey Understanding, Fast-paced Environment

ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role will focus on assessing the candidate's customer marketing experience, storytelling skills, and ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Marketo
• Salesforce
• Asana
• Google Workspace

ASSUMPTION: Zip uses a variety of marketing and project management tools to streamline workflows and improve collaboration.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Ownership
• Communication
• Underdog mindset
• Innovation
• Inclusion

Work Style:

• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Fast-paced and dynamic
• Focused on driving results and growth

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment?
• Are you comfortable working collaboratively with cross-functional teams?
• Do you have a strong underdog mindset and a passion for driving innovation?

ASSUMPTION: Zip values candidates who are strong communicators, team players, and driven by an underdog mindset.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing customer expectations and ensuring their success with Zip's platform
• Balancing multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Adapting to changes in the market and customer needs
• Collaborating effectively with remote team members

ASSUMPTION: This role may present challenges related to managing customer expectations, balancing multiple priorities, and adapting to market changes.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Customer Success Manager: Focuses on customer retention and support, while this role focuses on customer storytelling and advocacy
• Product Marketing Manager: Responsible for product positioning and messaging, while this role focuses on customer storytelling and proof points
• Career progression: This role can lead to leadership positions in marketing or customer success

ASSUMPTION: This role differs from similar positions in its focus on customer storytelling and advocacy, but shares some commonalities with customer success and product marketing roles.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing a customer success story highlighting Zip's impact on a major enterprise's procurement process
• Managing a customer speaker program for an industry conference, featuring top customers and thought leaders
• Launching Zip's first-ever customer referral program, complete with incentives and tracking mechanisms

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the key responsibilities and required skills for this role.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• How does Zip support customers in achieving their procurement goals?
• What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
• How does Zip foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement?
• What opportunities are there for growth and professional development in this role?
• How does Zip collaborate with remote team members and ensure effective communication?

ASSUMPTION: These interview questions are designed to assess the company's approach to customer success, growth opportunities, and collaboration.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Highlight your relevant customer marketing and advocacy experience in your resume
• Prepare examples of successful customer stories and campaigns you've led for your cover letter
• Demonstrate your understanding of Zip's platform and value proposition in your cover letter
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.