Creative Lead, Experiential Marketing

Zendesk, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 179,000 - 269,000; Full time

Job summary

Zendesk, Inc. is seeking a Creative Lead for Experiential Marketing in San Francisco, hybrid work arrangement. You will own the event design system, translate brand strategy into immersive experiences, and lead creative direction for flagship events.

The role requires translating complex business goals into engaging customer experiences, partnering across Creative, Experiential Marketing, and external agencies, and mentoring teams. Travel to events is expected.

Qualifications

• Strong expertise in event branding and customer-focused experiences.
• Understanding of production processes across live, digital, and hybrid events.
• Experience with brand activations and attendee engagement.
• Experience with cross-functional facilitation, executive engagement, and strategic concept development.
• Strong business acumen including financial literacy, executive presence, and project management.
• Customer-obsession and entrepreneurial spirit with bias toward action.
• Ability to translate complex business problems into inspiring creative opportunities.
• Provide clear creative direction and feedback to internal teams and agency partners.
• Willingness to travel to site visits and on-site events.
• Proven ability to work across timezones effectively.
• Experience using generative AI tools in the creative process.
• Proficiency in Adobe, Figma, and Google apps.

Responsibilities

• Own the design system for Zendesk’s event architecture across formats.
• Translate brand strategy and event objectives into connected experiences.
• Set guidance and quality standards for consistency across events.
• Lead creative direction for flagship events like Relate, Showcase, and AI Summit.
• Drive attendee Journeys from demand generation through in-person experiences.
• Collaborate with teams and partners to ensure high creative quality.

Skills

Event branding

Production processes

Brand activations

Cross-functional facilitation

Executive engagement

Strategic concept development

Business acumen

Customer obsession

Entrepreneurial spirit

Creative direction

Travel to site visits

Time zone coordination

Generative AI tools

Adobe

Figma

Google apps

Tools

Adobe

Figma

Google apps

Job description

Creative Lead, Experiential MarketingThis website uses cookies to improve your web experience. By using the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy### Creative Lead, Experiential MarketingPostuler: Hybrid: San Francisco, California, United States of America: Full time: Publié aujourd'hui: R35700## Job DescriptionThe Zendesk Creative Team brings Zendesk to life by designing high-impact brand moments that are aligned with our voice, look, and feel, and stand out from the competition. We ensure a cohesive and consistent brand experience through our guidelines, creative direction, and partnership with agencies and Marketing business partners.As the Creative Lead for Experiential Marketing, you will enhance our creative platform across both digital and in-person experiences. Your focus will be on fostering human imagination, innovation, and storytelling to create engaging interactions that align with Zendesk’s brand and business goals.This role is part of Creative Leadership and sits in close collaboration with the Experiential Marketing team, the Creative Studio, Communications, the executive leadership team (ELT), combining strategic leadership with a hands-on approach to create world-class immersive experiences that shape the way people interact with our brand. **Key responsibilities:*** Own the design system for Zendesk’s event architecture + Define and steward a cohesive system of visual principles, templates, and components that scales across event types and channels. + Translate brand strategy and event objectives into connected experiences across presentations, livestreams, and in-person environments. + Set clear guidance and quality standards so internal teams and agency partners can apply the system consistently while making each event feel distinct.* Deliver creative excellence at our flagship events + Lead creative direction for Relate, Showcase, AI Summit, and other flagship events, translating event strategy into memorable customer experiences. + Bring storytelling to life across the full attendee journey: demand generation, registration, in-person and digital experiences. + Partner with the Experiential Marketing team and external agencies from concept through execution to ensure every detail meets a high creative bar.* Lead through teamwork and creative partnership + Build strong partnerships across Creative, Experiential Marketing, agencies, Communications, executive leaders, and business stakeholders to align the work around shared event goals. + Create an environment of candor, respect, psychological safety, and constructive critique. + Guide and mentor creative partners, share best practices, and help the broader team deliver its best work. ## **Skills required:*** Strong expertise in event branding with a focus on the customer experience* Understanding of production processes* Experience with brand activations and attendee engagement* Experience with cross-functional group facilitation, creative ideation, executive engagement, and strategic concept development* Strong business acumen skills, including financial literacy, executive presence, and project management* Customer-obsession, entrepreneurial spirit, persistence, bias towards action and a well-rounded skill set* Ability to translate complex business problems into inspiring creative opportunities* Provide clear creative direction and feedback to internal creative team and agency partners* Willingness to travel to site visits and/or on-site events* Proven ability to work across timezones effectively* Experience using generative AI tools as part of the creative process* Proficiency in Adobe, Figma, and Google apps #LI-WO1 The US annualized base salary range for this position is $179,000.00-$269,000.00. 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.**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 [e-mail] with your specific accommodation request.