Principal Customer Success Executive, U.S. Federal

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Vienna (VA); Remote; USD 180,000 - 282,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Health plans

401(k) plan with company match

ESP P

Job summary

ServiceNow seeks a Principal Customer Success Executive for U.S. Federal accounts to lead high-impact, post-sale engagement with senior stakeholders. You will drive renewal, expansion, and value realization across complex, multi-workstream programs, leveraging AI-enabled workflows and strategic advisory skills.

The role requires extensive executive-level collaboration, transformation leadership, and deep IT governance know-how within federal environments, with flexible/remote work options.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15+ years in client-facing roles with account management or transformation leadership.
• Experience with U.S. Federal customers is preferred.
• Expertise in IT Strategy and Planning, IT Operations, HR, Security Operations, and IT Governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-complexity transformations for strategic customers with governance alignment.
• Identify and pursue professional services opportunities through product roadmaps and adoption analysis.
• Partner with Impact teams to create executive-ready narratives and platform value stories.
• Shape customer organizational strategy by identifying trends and aligning delivery with market demands.
• Standardize delivery methodologies and ensure governance and quality adherence.

Skills

Executive leadership

Client-facing experience

AI in workflows

Strategic account management

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Risk management

Cross-functional collaboration

Transformation leadership

Job description

Principal Customer Success Executive, U.S. Federal

• Full-time
• Employee Type: Regular
• Region: AMS - North America and Canada
• Work Persona: Flexible or Remote

It all started when engineer Fred Luddy wrote code that automated a tedious task for his coworker, Phyllis. She cried tears of joy. That moment inspired Fred to build a company that could do that for everyone—freeing people from busywork so they could focus on meaningful work. Today, ServiceNow is the AI control tower for business reinvention. Our ServiceNow AI platform brings together any AI, any data, and any workflow— helping 85% of the Fortune 500® work smarter, faster, and better. We're building an AI-native culture where technology and talent are unstoppable together. And we're just getting started.

Join us to put AI to work for people.

As a trusted C-Suite / senior executive level advisor on ServiceNow offerings, the Principal Customer Success Executive (PCSE) owns the post-sale customer relationship, aiming to increase customer satisfaction and drive retention through Impact delivery. Principal CSEs are experienced individuals who bring a consultative, problem-solving approach to partnering with senior customer stakeholders to derive value from our platforms. They demonstrate a strong understanding of customer’s industry and specific business strategies, driving alignment between these factors and what ServiceNow can offer to enable better business outcomes for their customers. This role drives business transformation by maximizing the long-term strategic value of ServiceNow and ensuring that every aspect of the customer’s platform and capability are ready for expansion.

They provide strategic direction and mentorship to both customers and ServiceNow teams managing complex, multi-workstream programs. They play a pivotal role in resolving escalations and mitigating risks, ensuring adoption and usage is maintained at healthy levels. Principal CSEs focus on ensuring the customer recognizes the value of the ServiceNow Platform at all levels and stages, facilitating a smooth path to both renewal and up- and cross-sell.

Overall, Principal CSEs are responsible for fostering the relationship with C-suite level stakeholders in a smaller number of strategically important Impact accounts, with the aim of increasing customer satisfaction and driving retention and upgrades, where applicable.

What You Get to Do in This Role:

• Lead high-complexity transformations in our largest and most strategic customers, ensuring all ServiceNow Customer Excellence roles align and deliver in accordance with governance frameworks, customer objectives, and organizational priorities; ultimately chaperoning Impact value management and demonstrating strategic oversight.
• Proactively identify professional services pipeline opportunities through product capabilities road mapping, value blueprints and adoption analysis, providing pre-sales support for funnel opportunities as requested.
• Partner with Impact team members (e.g., Customer Success Managers or other Customer Success Executives) leveraging the joint visibility of customer insights to create executive-ready narratives and platform value stories.
• Work with senior executives to shape and influence customer organizational strategy by identifying emerging trends, refining best practices, aligning delivery approaches with evolving market demands, and providing industry-specific thought leadership.
• Drive operational consistency and excellence by standardizing delivery methodologies and ensuring adherence to governance and quality standards, interfacing with Delivery as required.Advise on change management plans to support strong post-delivery adoption.
• Establish relationships with ServiceNow leaders, advocating for product evolution based on customer insights, and mentoring other Customer Success resources on transformation best practices.
• Identify areas of risk and take steps to prevent customer or revenue churn.
• Work closely with Sales Teams to define and execute product adoption and customer retention plans.
• Provide prescriptive guidance on internal project/program governance and help the customer create the appropriate governance models and ensure adherence.
• Help the customer identify incidents where contractual SLAs were missed and take necessary action.
• Improve overall customer satisfaction, as well as the satisfaction of their internal customers.

To be successful in this role you have:

• Experience in leveraging or critically thinking about how to integrate AI into work processes, decision-making, or problem-solving. This may include using AI-powered tools, automating workflows, analyzing AI-driven insights, or exploring AI's potential impact on the function or industry.
• Significant experience collaborating with senior IT and business leaders, with a track record of successfully translating corporate strategy/objectives with the applied use of ServiceNow technology in the context of the client’s environment.
• Minimum 15+ years in client-facing roles with a focus on account management, consulting, or transformation leadership throughout all phases. Experience in executive-level leadership roles, with a proven track record of influencing senior stakeholders and driving strategic outcomes, is strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting or working with U.S. Federal customers preferred
• Experience in any of the following critical subject areas, with a demonstrated history delivering consulting services:
  • IT Strategy and Planning
  • IT Operations and Management
  • Human Resources
  • Security Operations
  • Customer Service Management
  • IT Processes
  • IT Governance
  • IT Portfolio, Program and Project Management
  • IT Project Delivery (SDLC)and adoption
• Experience with project problem diagnosis, solution development, client communications, facilitation of decision making, documentation, managing client expectations, and team leadership.
• Independently leverages AI to optimize workflows, tailor customer solutions, and inform strategic decisions.
• Articulates AI system design, ethical implications, and platform use cases clearly, guiding peers and stakeholders in responsible, value-driven AI adoption.

For positions in this location, we offer a base pay of $180,200 - $281,600, plus equity (when applicable), variable/incentive compensation and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the base pay shown is a guideline, and individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies, and work location. We also offer health plans, including flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) Plan with company match, ESPP, matching donations, a flexible time away plan and family leave programs. Compensation is based on the geographic location in which the role is located and is subject to change based on work location.

We approach our distributed world of work with flexibility and trust. Work personas (flexible, remote, or required in office) are categories that are assigned to ServiceNow employees depending on the nature of their work and their assigned work location. Learn more here . To determine eligibility for a work persona, ServiceNow may confirm the distance between your primary residence and the closest ServiceNow office using a third-party service.

Equal Opportunity Employer

ServiceNow is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity, veteran status, or any other category protected by law. In addition, all qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with legal requirements.

Accommodations

We strive to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or are unable to use this online application and need an alternative method to apply, please contact [e-mail] for assistance.

Export Control Regulations

For positions requiring access to controlled technology subject to export control regulations, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), ServiceNow may be required to obtain export control approval from government authorities for certain individuals. All employment is contingent upon ServiceNow obtaining any export license or other approval that may be required by relevant export control authorities.

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