VC & Startup Partnerships Manager - UKI, Nordics & MENA

Zendesk, Inc.; London; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading customer experience software provider is seeking a VC & Startup Partnerships Manager in London to enhance startup engagement through strategic partnerships with VCs, accelerators, and other ecosystems. The role requires 6+ years of experience in partnership management, strong networking abilities, and a deep understanding of the startup landscape. This position follows a hybrid work model, encouraging both remote and in-office collaboration.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years in partnerships with startups or technology firms.
• Strong understanding of the regional startup ecosystem.
• Proven track record in a customer-facing role.

Responsibilities

• Drive adoption of Zendesk in the startup ecosystem.
• Manage relationships with VCs and ecosystem partners.
• Create and execute regional events and initiatives.

Skills

Relationship building

Analytical skills

Networking

Communication skills

Tools

Salesforce

Airtable

Job description

Overview

VC & Startup Partnerships Manager - UKI, Nordics & MENA

Location: London, United Kingdom. Department: Product, Field and Partner Marketing: Global Startups Business. Reports to: Sr. Manager, Regional Lead - EMEA. This role is posted for remote/in-office hybrid work in London.

About Zendesk for Startups

Zendesk for Startups is a business initiative at Zendesk focused on helping startups drive growth and prepare for scale by creating great customer experiences with Zendesk products. Zendesk has more than 100,000 customer accounts globally and has worked with many high-growth startups.

About the Role

As a VC & Startup Partnerships Manager, you will drive the adoption of Zendesk among startups in the UKI, Nordics, and MENA region by building and nurturing strategic partnerships with venture capitalists (VCs), accelerators, government bodies, service providers and ecosystem partners. You will lead partner onboarding, sponsorships, co-marketing efforts, and enablement initiatives, while closely collaborating with sales and marketing teams to deliver effective sell-to and sell-with motions alongside VC and investor partners.

In this role, you will evangelize Zendesk within the startup ecosystem, actively drive program applications, connect startups with our sales organization, and execute regional events and initiatives to strengthen our presence. By developing insight-driven narratives and managing ongoing partner communications and reporting, you'll help accelerate startup success and ensure strong alignment with both regional and global programs.

The ideal candidate is a skilled relationship builder, capable of engaging with both founders and VC partners, navigating Zendesk's internal teams, and serving as a strong advocate for our customers and partners.

Responsibilities

• Build and nurture partner ecosystems: Recruit, activate, and grow relationships with regional partners including venture capital firms, accelerators, government entities, and service providers—serving as Zendesk's key representative across the UKI, Nordics & MENA region.
• Drive sponsorship & co-marketing initiatives: Secure, manage, and maximize partner sponsorships, joint marketing efforts, and engagement programs to amplify Zendesk's impact and presence in the startup ecosystem.
• Partner enablement & joint go-to-market: Equip VCs and partners with tools, training, and resources to advocate for Zendesk within their portfolios. Collaborate with VCs and Zendesk sales teams on joint outreach, co-selling, and introductions to accelerate startup adoption and revenue growth in the region.
• Own startup adoption and engagement: Generate startup signups and awareness through impactful partnership activities, educational resources, events, and tailored value-add initiatives for founders and their communities.
• Lifecycle management: Oversee and support founders throughout the program lifecycle—from initial application and onboarding to program graduation—answering queries, facilitating enablement, and connecting founders into the broader startup community.
• Operational excellence: Continuously track and report regional partner metrics, application flows (partner-sourced vs. organic), and program performance to both regional and global teams for initiative alignment. Produce quarterly reports and partner-facing narratives that showcase the value and impact of the Zendesk for Startups program to VC/investor partners.
• Ecosystem evangelism: Represent Zendesk at third-party events, conferences, and ecosystem gatherings through speaking engagements, demos, and sponsorships, establishing Zendesk as a leading ally for startups.
• Regional strategy & internal collaboration: Help shape the growth strategy for the Startups team in the region, and coordinate with cross-functional Zendesk teams to leverage internal resources for regional execution and alignment with global objectives.

Requirements

• Based in London, United Kingdom.
• 6+ years of relevant experience in partnerships within the startup, venture, or technology ecosystems, with a customer- or partner-facing role and a track record of top performance.
• Immersed in the regional startup ecosystem with an understanding of key players and emerging trends.
• Demonstrated analytical skills, particularly the ability to measure program impact/success.
• Strong networking and relationship management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and drive joint programs.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Availability to travel.

Nice to have

• Fluency in Hebrew, Arabic or French is a plus.
• Experience as a founder, at an accelerator or in venture capital.
• Subject matter expertise on managing customer support and/or sales teams.
• Hands-on experience with Zendesk products, CRM tools (Salesforce, Airtable), or startup-focused GTM motions.

Hybrid: This role follows a hybrid model with in-office and remote work. The in-office schedule is determined by the hiring manager.

Zendesk is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and prohibit discrimination in all forms. If you require accommodation during the application process, please contact us.

About Zendesk: Zendesk is on a mission to simplify the complexity of business and make it easy for companies and customers to create connections. Our customer experience software unlocks the power of billions of interactions. We offer flexible work arrangements and offices worldwide.

Recruitment Scam Alert: Be cautious of recruitment scams. All official Zendesk communications will come from verified sources. If you encounter suspicious messages, report them to the appropriate channel.