Senior Startup Growth & Solutions Manager

Zendesk • San Francisco, CA

113d • $158,000 - $236,000

About The Position

Zendesk for Startups empowers startups to scale and thrive by delivering best-in-class customer experience solutions. With over 160,000 customers globally, we've supported trailblazing companies such as Slack, Uber, Instacart, Canva, Nubank, Limebike, and Deliveroo from their earliest stages. Our mission is to drive sustainable startup growth through strategic partnerships, vibrant community engagement, and innovative go-to-market programs. To support this mission, we are seeking a visionary and results-driven Senior Startup Growth & Solutions Manager to lead the transformation and expansion of our flagship Zendesk for Startups (Z4S) program. This pivotal, global, role will own end-to-end program strategy, redesign, and execution — from fund allocation and benefits development to ecosystem engagement and market positioning. You will spearhead innovative, data-driven initiatives tailored to startups at every stage of their journey, unlocking new growth engines and reinforcing Zendesk's position as the premier partner for scaling startups globally. You will work cross-functionally with Marketing, Product, Engineering, Corporate Development, and Ventures teams — as well as external partners, investors, and community leaders — to build a differentiated, scalable, and impact-driven startup program that startups will never outgrow.

Requirements

• Minimum 6+ years of experience managing startup programs, innovation ecosystems, or growth initiatives—preferably in SaaS, enterprise software, or venture-backed startup environments.
• Demonstrated experience driving growth and scaling membership or community programs based on creating sticky benefits and solutions that drive user acquisition, engagement, retention, and activation.
• Proven experience in product marketing or product management, with strong skills in messaging, go-to-market strategy, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Deep understanding of startup funding cycles, investment landscapes, and founder needs across various stages of maturity, with prior experience managing and designing credit-based funding or milestone-driven grant programs aligned with startup growth.
• Demonstrated success designing, launching, and scaling complex, multi-stakeholder global programs from the ground up, ideally involving credit allocation, mentorship, or go-to-market initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills with experience tracking key performance metrics and using data insights to drive program optimization and business outcomes.
• Proven ability to work effectively across product, marketing, engineering, corporate development, and external partners including investors and ecosystem leaders.
• Excellent storytelling and interpersonal skills with ability to influence and build rapport across executive leadership, startups, partners, and internal teams.
• Comfortable navigating fast-changing, ambiguous environments and making decisions with incomplete information.
• Familiarity with AI-powered tools, SaaS products, and digital engagement platforms; ability to work closely with technical teams to build relevant solutions.

Nice To Haves

• Experience as a founder, at an accelerator or in venture capital.
• Experience working directly with venture capital firms, accelerators, or startup incubators.
• Hands-on experience with Zendesk products, CRM tools (Salesforce, Airtable), or startup-focused GTM motions.
• Exposure to global markets and cultural nuances within startup ecosystems across different regions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end redesign of the Zendesk for Startups program to best support startups at every stage of their journey.
• Architect a comprehensive portfolio of startup-centric benefits, combining both digital and in-person offerings, alongside go-to-market products and solutions that leverage Zendesk's AI-powered tools.
• Develop compelling product marketing messaging, targeted campaigns, and launch materials to drive program awareness, engagement, and adoption across diverse startup segments.
• Define detailed startup personas, create unified customer journey maps, and design tailored engagement touchpoints that proactively address founders' pain points and growth opportunities.
• Track, analyze, and continuously iterate on key program KPIs—including startup retention, growth, engagement, ROI, and product adoption—to optimize and scale the program's impact.
• Serve as a passionate ambassador for Zendesk within startup ecosystems by representing the company at community events, industry conferences, and partner forums to elevate brand awareness, cultivate strategic relationships, and foster mutual growth.

Benefits

• The US annualized base salary range for this position is $158,000.00-$236,000.00.
• This position may also be eligible for bonus, benefits, or related incentives.
• Hybrid work experience designed at the team level to give a rich onsite experience packed with connection, collaboration, learning, and celebration.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Industry: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services