Program Manager Lead

Austin, TX - USA

Monthly Salary: $ 122000 - 184000

Posted on: 01-11-2025

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Job Description

About the role

Were looking for a strategic people-first Program Manager Lead to shape the employee experience and drive cultural initiatives across Zendesks global workforce. Youll work at the intersection of culture performance feedback development employee listening change management and engagement - designing employee experience programs that create a cohesive empowering employee journey.

What youll do

Design and deliver employeecentric programs: Turn bigpicture goals into clear plans milestones and communications that drive adoption and impact.
Center employee voice: Lead surveys focus groups and interviews; translate insights into program design rollout and continuous improvement.
Lead change management: Co-create change strategies with People leaders and crossfunctional partners; anticipate impacts and recommend practical mitigations.
Enable adoption: Build toolkits resources and enablement that help people leaders and employees navigate change with clarity and confidence.
Embed inclusion and belonging into every program mindful of global differences and cultural nuances.
Champion culture: Align initiatives to Zendesks mission and values; enable and activate changemakers across the company to strengthen connection and engagement.
Communicate with clarity: Craft concise engaging communication plans and messages that build understanding alignment and buyin at all levels.
Partner and influence: Collaborate with HR Centers of Excellence and business stakeholders; share insights recommendations and progress with senior leadership.
Measure what matters: Define success metrics; use feedback and data to assess effectiveness and iterate for better outcomes.

What youll bring

7 years of experience in HR employee experience change management or related fields - or equivalent experience with transferable skills.
Proven ability to design implement and measure culture and engagement initiatives at scale.
Strong grasp of change management practices (e.g. stakeholder analysis readiness adoption reinforcement; familiarity with frameworks like ADKAR is a plus).
Understanding of modern workplace dynamics including remote/hybrid models inclusion and wellbeing.
Excellent stakeholder management: You build trust influence without formal authority and collaborate across diverse teams and time zones.
Exceptional communication and presentation skills - clear compelling and inclusive.
Ability to manage multiple projects in a fastpaced collaborative environment.

Why Zendesk why now

This is a highimpact role at a pivotal moment. Youll turn insight into programs that strengthen connection enable growth and elevate performance across our global community.

The US annualized base salary range for this position is $122000.00-$184000.00. 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.

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 were 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 with your specific accommodation request.

Required Experience:

Manager

Job DescriptionAbout the roleWere looking for a strategic people-first Program Manager Lead to shape the employee experience and drive cultural initiatives across Zendesks global workforce. Youll work at the intersection of culture performance feedback development employee listening change managemen...