Director, Analyst Relations at Zendesk, Inc.

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Job Description

About this role

Zendesk is seeking a strategic leader to head our global Analyst Relations practice. In this role, you will develop and execute a comprehensive strategy that strengthens Zendesk’s relationships with influential analysts and industry influencers, helping to shape how the market perceives our leadership in AI-powered service and customer experience. You will activate both traditional and emerging analysts as advocates who influence customer buying decisions behind the scenes, while also publicly amplifying Zendesk’s thought leadership through media, social channels, and first-party content like blogs. As a key leader, you will also manage and mentor a high-performing Analyst Relations team, ensuring alignment with Zendesk’s broader communications strategy.

Zendesk is transforming the future of customer experience with AI-powered service, and the Analyst Relations practice plays a crucial role in shaping how our leadership is perceived in the market. By joining this team, you’ll help build Zendesk’s external reputation and have a direct impact on how our strategy, products, and innovations are recognized across the industry.

What you’ll do

1. Lead the Analyst Relations practice at Zendesk, driving the development and execution of global strategies to strengthen relationships with key industry analysts.
2. Manage and mentor a high-performing Analyst Relations team, ensuring alignment with the company’s broader communications and business goals.
3. Own and manage major analyst evaluations, including Gartner Magic Quadrant and Forrester Wave reports, positioning Zendesk as a market leader in AI and customer experience.
4. Collaborate with internal teams, including product, product marketing, and corporate marketing, to ensure consistent, impactful messaging that aligns with analyst insights and Zendesk’s business goals.
5. Activate traditional and emerging analysts as advocates, leveraging their influence publicly through media, social channels, blogs, and first-party content, while also advocating for Zendesk and influencing customer buying decisions behind the scenes.
6. Prepare internal spokespeople, including C-level executives, for analyst engagements, ensuring clear and consistent messaging.
7. Plan and execute global analyst summits with virtual and in-person components to showcase Zendesk’s innovations, vision, and leadership.
8. Provide regular communications and updates to the analyst community, covering Zendesk’s core markets, strategic direction, and product advancements.
9. Act as a trusted internal advisor, providing analyst feedback and insights to inform Zendesk’s product development, competitive strategy, and go-to-market approach.
10. Expand Zendesk’s visibility and influence through analyst briefings, events, evaluations, and emerging industry influencers.

What you’ll bring

1. 10+ years of experience in analyst relations, with leadership experience ideally in a global technology or SaaS company.
2. Proven experience managing and developing a team, ensuring alignment with broader company goals.
3. Strong understanding of major analyst research firms (Gartner, Forrester, IDC) and emerging industry influencers in the technology and business sectors.
4. Proven ability to craft and deliver compelling messaging that resonates with both analysts and internal stakeholders.
5. Exceptional communication and project management skills, with a talent for simplifying complex research into actionable insights for senior leadership.
6. Ability to lead large-scale analyst evaluations and events, driving impactful results and building Zendesk’s external reputation.
7. Proven track record of working effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative environment with a focus on autonomy and accountability.
8. BA/BS degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or a related field.

Zendesk software was built to bring a sense of calm to the chaotic world of customer service. Today we power billions of conversations with brands you know and love.

Zendesk believes in offering our people a fulfilling and inclusive experience. Our hybrid way of working enables us to purposefully come together in person, at one of our many Zendesk offices around the world, to connect, collaborate, and learn whilst also giving our people the flexibility to work remotely for part of the week.

The US annualized base salary range for this position is $172,000.00-$258,000.00. This position may also be eligible for bonus, benefits, or related incentives. While this range reflects the minimum and maximum value for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations, the offer for the successful candidate for this position will be based on job related capabilities, applicable experience, and other factors such as work location. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only (or OTE for commissions based roles), and do not include bonus, benefits, or related incentives.

About Zendesk - Champions of Customer Service

Zendesk software was built to bring a sense of calm to the chaotic world of customer service. Today we power billions of conversations with brands you know and love. We advocate for digital first customer experiences—and we stick with it in our workplace. Over 5,000 employees worldwide have the flexibility to choose where they work. The fact is, we know great work happens anywhere. Whether you’re collaborating from your home office, a Zendesk workspace, or the kitchen table, you’re part of one team at Zendesk.

Zendesk is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud of our ongoing efforts to foster global diversity, equity, & inclusion in the workplace. Individuals seeking employment and employees at Zendesk are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, ancestry, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabled employer. If you are based in the United States and would like more information about your EEO rights under the law, please click here.

Zendesk endeavors to make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities and disabled veterans pursuant to applicable federal and state law. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to submit this application, complete any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please send an e-mail to peopleandplaces@zendesk.com with your specific accommodation request.