Chief of Staff, People Strategy & Operations

Zendesk, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 185,000 - 277,000; Full time

Job summary

Zendesk, Inc. is seeking a strategic Chief of Staff to the Chief People Officer to lead the People team's portfolio, budget rhythm, and executive communications.

You will partner with Finance and leaders to forecast, report, and accelerate initiatives across a global organization. You will design leadership rhythms, prepare board materials, and coordinate offsites while maintaining discretion on sensitive information.

Qualifications

• Strategic operator mindset combining big-picture thinking with practical execution.
• Ability to translate complex people, business, and financial data into concise narratives and materials.
• Excellent judgment when handling sensitive employee and organizational information.
• Data-informed approach to prioritization, portfolio management, budgeting, and reporting.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders without formal authority.
• Calm, flexible approach to ambiguity and competing priorities; action-oriented.
• Comfort using AI-enabled tools to improve planning, analysis, and communications.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the CPO to shape and execute People team's strategic priorities and annual plans.
• Lead portfolio management across People initiatives: clarify outcomes, dependencies, risks, and progress.
• Own People team planning process and budget rhythm with Finance and leaders; forecast and report.
• Prepare materials for Board and executive discussions with clear narratives and follow-through.
• Plan and facilitate People Leadership Team offsites with agenda design and action capture.
• Coordinate People Team All Hands and engagement moments to build connection and momentum.
• Collaborate across functions as part of Zendesk’s Chief of Staff community and leadership team.
• Lead high-priority, confidential projects from diagnosis to measurable results.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Executive communication

Judgment and discretion

Prioritization and budgeting

Influencing senior leaders

Ambiguity tolerance

AI-enabled tooling awareness

Job description

Zendesk, Inc. is seeking a strategic Chief of Staff to the Chief People Officer to lead the People team's portfolio, budget rhythm, and executive communications.

You will partner with Finance and leaders to forecast, report, and accelerate initiatives across a global organization. You will design leadership rhythms, prepare board materials, and coordinate offsites while maintaining discretion on sensitive information.