Manager, SMB Sales

Zendesk, Inc.; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 254,000; Full time

Job summary

Zendesk, Inc. in Austin, TX is seeking an inspiring, AI-forward Manager, SMB Sales to lead Account Executives and drive revenue across new business and expansion.

You will leverage AI, data, and strategic insight to accelerate growth, coach top performers, and shape the next era of our SMB portfolio in a high-velocity, collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading SaaS sales teams.
• Demonstrated ability to forecast, analyze data, and drive results.
• Experience coaching early career reps and building high-performing cultures.
• Willingness to travel as needed.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Account Executives. Set clear expectations, drive accountability, and hit quotas across new business and expansion.
• Recruit, onboard, and mentor talent while fostering a culture of innovation and AI learning.
• Guide the team through high-velocity, multi-stakeholder sales cycles using AI insights and data.
• Support AEs in building AI-driven ROI cases for customers and strategic roadmaps.
• Identify expansion, upsell, and renewal opportunities using signals and AI predictions.
• Collaborate with Solutions Engineers, AI Specialists, Product, and Marketing to design differentiated solutions.
• Conduct weekly forecast and pipeline reviews and maintain dashboards for metrics.

Skills

Sales leadership

SaaS sales

Forecasting & analytics

Coaching & mentoring

AI-enabled selling

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

BA/BS degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Join us at Zendesk, where we’re on a mission to power exceptional service for every person on the planet. Our AI-informed solutions turn every interaction into an opportunity for authentic human connection. Helping businesses deliver faster, smarter, and more personal experiences at scale. To advance this vision, we’re seeking an inspiring, AI-forward Manager, SMB Sales who is passionate about building high performance teams and shaping the future of our SMB business. In this role, you will lead a dynamic group of Account Executives, unlocking their potential, elevating sales excellence, and driving revenue across both new business and expansion. You will harness AI, data, and strategic insight to accelerate growth, streamline execution, and empower your team to deliver exceptional customer outcomes across a diverse SMB landscape.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Account Executives. Setting clear expectations, driving accountability, and achieving monthly and quarterly quotas across new business and expansion.
• Recruit, onboard, and mentor talent while fostering a culture of innovation, curiosity, and continuous AI learning.
• Guide the team through high-velocity and complex multi-stakeholder sales cycles using AI insights, predictive analytics, and customer data.
• Support AEs in building strategic customer roadmaps for AI-driven transformation, focusing on measurable outcomes and long-term value creation.
• Coach AEs to build compelling, AI-powered ROI cases that influence procurement and strengthen customer partnerships.
• Identify expansion, upsell, and renewal opportunities using customer usage data, signals, and AI-driven predictions.
• Partner with Solutions Engineers, AI Specialists, Product, and Marketing to co-design differentiated, technically sound customer solutions.
• Facilitate customer conversations on product capabilities, integrations, and AI architecture where needed.
• Conduct weekly forecast and pipeline reviews, providing clarity, strategic guidance, and operational rigor.
• Build and maintain dashboards to monitor sales efficiency, pipeline health, and customer behavior trends—including buying and churn signals.
• Report on team performance, insights, and regional trends to senior leadership.
• Innovate and improve sales processes by automating manual workflows and evolving demonstration strategies.

What You Bring

• Extensive experience in sales leadership, ideally within SaaS or Customer Support technologies.
• Consistent track record of leading teams to 100%+ quota achievement.
• Experience managing high velocity sales teams across both transactional motions and six-figure strategic deals.
• Ability to incorporate AI tools, predictive analytics, and automation to increase team productivity and accelerate cycles.
• Strong cross-functional experience working with customer-facing, technical, and operational teams.
• Exceptional presentation, organization, coaching, and listening skills.
• Analytical, data driven, and highly effective at forecasting, operational rigor, and strategic planning.
• Passion for developing talent, especially early career reps, and building a positive, performance-based culture.
• BA/BS degree or equivalent experience.
• Willingness to travel as needed.

Who You Are

• Inspirational Leader: You empower teams to think boldly, innovate continuously, and deliver exceptional customer outcomes.
• Performance Driven: You set ambitious goals, monitor performance rigorously, and instill accountability and urgency.
• Customer-Obsessed Strategist: You put the customer at the center of every decision and champion AI-driven value creation.
• AI- & Data-Driven Decision Maker: You leverage analytics and insights to shape strategy, coaching, and team execution.
• Collaborative Partner: You build trust, alignment, and strong relationships across internal and external teams.
• Growth Mindset Mentor: You promote continuous learning, AI fluency, and professional development within the team.
• Execution-Focused Visionary: You balance strategic thinking with disciplined, results-oriented execution.

The US annualized OTE (On Target Earnings) range for this position is $170,000.00-$254,000.00 with a pay mix of 50/50 (base/commission). This position may also be eligible for 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.

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.

Zendesk endeavors to make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities and disabled veterans pursuant to applicable federal and state law.