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We’re hiring a Vice President, Total Rewards to be the strategic leader across HR for compensation, benefits, accommodations, and HR compliance. In this role you’ll define and execute on a holistic total rewards strategy, set enterprise standards, and enable scalable delivery through service teams, automation and AI so Zendesk can attract, retain and reward the best talent globally. You will play a vital role in modernizing how HR delivers Total Rewards through analytics, automation and AI. You will also prepare and present high-level risk and rewards briefings to executive leadership and the Board as needed.
Role summary
- Enterprise owner of Total Rewards standards accountable for global policy, program design, compliance posture, and a roadmap to scale these domains with automation and AI. Serves as an executive advisor and occasional Board presenter on people risk, pay strategy, and program impact.
What you’ll be doing
- Design and govern competitive compensation, equity and benefits programs (base, variable, sales comp) informed by benchmarking, pay-equity analysis and cost modeling.
- Partner with Executive Leadership to design and administer executive compensation programs including base pay, short- and long-term incentives, bonuses, and commissions that drive company performance
- Drive the adoption of AI and analytics tools to automate compensation analysis, surface pay equity insights, model scenario impacts, and reduce manual, error-prone processes.
- Simplify and reduce complexity in total rewards operations — rationalizing policies, eliminating redundant processes, establishing clear governance and scaling support into our Employee Services team.
- Own executive presentations and board materials on total rewards strategy, benchmarking results, and gap remediation progress.
- Mentor and develop a high performance Total Rewards team.
What you bring to the role
- 12+ years of progressive HR experience with deep Total Rewards and Executive compensation expertise; at least 7 years in senior/global leadership or equivalent scope.
- Proven experience designing and operating enterprise compensation, equity and benefits programs at global and complex SaaS/technology or comparable companies.
- Experience implementing or leading selection/governance of HR automation and AI-enabled solutions.
- Data-driven operator comfortable with people analytics, HRIS and compensation/benefits platforms to measure and iterate program impact.
- Collaborative executive with demonstrated ability to influence and partner with cross-functional partners (Legal, Finance, TA, Technology) and communicate with senior leadership.
- Experience creating board materials and presenting succinctly to C-suite and Boards.
- Experience leading within private, PE backed firms and public companies.
- Strong track record managing multi-jurisdictional compliance issues.
Preferred qualifications
- Experience at a SaaS/AI/technology company or high-growth enterprise.
- Experience with Workday.
- Experience managing benefits negotiations and renewals.
- Ownership of global equity programs and sales compensation programs.
AI literacy requirement
- AI literacy is required. Candidates should be comfortable using AI tools to automate and scale HR workflows, able to evaluate AI vendors and model risk (privacy, bias, auditability), and capable of defining governance and safe use policies for AI in HR. Prior experience implementing AI-augmented HR processes or a clear plan to operationalize AI at scale is expected.
The intelligent heart of customer experience
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.
As part of our commitment to fairness and transparency, we inform all applicants that artificial intelligence (AI) or automated decision systems may be used to screen or evaluate applications for this position, in accordance with Company guidelines and applicable law.
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 [email protected] with your specific accommodation request.
Skills Required
- 12+ years of progressive HR experience with deep Total Rewards and Executive compensation expertise
- At least 7 years in senior/global leadership or equivalent scope
- Proven experience designing and operating enterprise compensation, equity and benefits programs at global and complex SaaS/technology or comparable companies
- Experience implementing or leading selection/governance of HR automation and AI-enabled solutions
- Data-driven operator comfortable with people analytics, HRIS and compensation/benefits platforms
- Collaborative executive ability to influence and partner with Legal, Finance, TA, Technology and senior leadership
- Experience creating board materials and presenting succinctly to C-suite and Boards
- Experience leading within private, PE backed firms and public companies
- Strong track record managing multi-jurisdictional compliance issues
- AI literacy: comfortable using AI tools, evaluating vendors, modeling risk, and defining governance for AI in HR
- Experience at a SaaS/AI/technology company or high-growth enterprise
- Experience with Workday
- Experience managing benefits negotiations and renewals
- Ownership of global equity programs and sales compensation programs
Zendesk Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Zendesk and has not been reviewed or approved by Zendesk.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — The company states a commitment to publishing base pay ranges and advancing pay equity, helping employees gauge fairness. Public messaging on pay equity and transparency signals structured, consistent compensation practices.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time away programs include flexible PTO, dedicated well‑being days, emergency time off, and pregnancy loss leave. Parental leave is described as generous, and travel support exists for reproductive care where access is restricted.
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Healthcare Strength — Benefits language highlights comprehensive medical, dental/vision, mental health access, and an employee assistance program. These offerings are positioned as part of holistic wellbeing support across regions.
Zendesk Insights
What We Do
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 are collaborating from kitchen tables, home offices, co-working spaces, and Zendesk workspaces to make one team.
Why Work With Us
We know one desk doesn’t fit all. At Zendesk, we prioritize remote work because we believe great work happens anywhere. Digital first is more than where we work though. We give our employees flexibility and choice in both where and how they work while also trusting them to be a team player.
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