Vice President, Total Rewards

Zendesk; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 283,000 - 425,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working model

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Accommodations for disabilities

Job summary

Zendesk is looking for a Total Rewards leader based in Austin, Texas. This role involves designing and governing competitive compensation, equity, and benefits programs while partnering with executive leadership and driving the adoption of AI tools.

The ideal candidate should have 12+ years of HR experience, a strong track record in executive compensation, and familiarity with HR automation. This role offers a salary range of $283,000 to $425,000, along with bonus and benefits.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of HR experience with deep Total Rewards and Executive compensation expertise.
• Proven experience designing and operating compensation and benefits programs.
• Experience with AI tools to automate HR workflows.

Responsibilities

• Design and govern competitive compensation, equity, and benefits programs.
• Partner with leadership on executive compensation programs that drive performance.
• Drive AI adoption to automate compensation analysis.

Skills

HR experience

Total Rewards expertise

Executive compensation design

AI and automation implementation

Data analytics

Cross-functional collaboration

Board presentation experience

Compliance management

Tools

Workday

Job description

Join us at Zendesk, where we're on a mission to power exceptional service for every person on the planet. We're accelerating that ambition by building products rooted in AI, automation, and intelligent customer experiences, because behind every interaction lies an opportunity to make a human connection.

Role Summary

• Enterprise owner of Total Rewards standards accountable for global policy, program design, compliance posture, and a roadmap to scale these domains with automation and AI. Serves as an executive advisor and occasional Board presenter on people risk, pay strategy, and program impact.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Design and govern competitive compensation, equity and benefits programs (base, variable, sales comp) informed by benchmarking, pay‑equity analysis and cost modeling.
• Partner with Executive Leadership to design and administer executive compensation programs including base pay, short‑ and long‑term incentives, bonuses, and commissions that drive company performance.
• Drive the adoption of AI and analytics tools to automate compensation analysis, surface pay equity insights, model scenario impacts, and reduce manual, error‑prone processes.
• Simplify and reduce complexity in total rewards operations—rationalizing policies, eliminating redundant processes, establishing clear governance and scaling support into our Employee Services team.
• Own executive presentations and board materials on total rewards strategy, benchmarking results, and gap remediation progress.
• Mentor and develop a high‑performance Total Rewards team.

What You Bring To The Role

• 12+ years of progressive HR experience with deep Total Rewards and Executive compensation expertise; at least 7 years in senior/global leadership or equivalent scope.
• Proven experience designing and operating enterprise compensation, equity and benefits programs at global and complex SaaS/technology or comparable companies.
• Experience implementing or leading selection/governance of HR automation and AI‑enabled solutions.
• Data‑driven operator comfortable with people analytics, HRIS and compensation/benefits platforms to measure and iterate program impact.
• Collaborative executive with demonstrated ability to influence and partner with cross‑functional partners (Legal, Finance, TA, Technology) and communicate with senior leadership.
• Experience creating board materials and presenting succinctly to C‑suite and Boards.
• Experience leading within private, PE‑backed firms and public companies.
• Strong track record managing multi‑jurisdictional compliance issues.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience at a SaaS/AI/technology company or high‑growth enterprise.
• Experience with Workday.
• Experience managing benefits negotiations and renewals.
• Ownership of global equity programs and sales compensation programs.

AI Literacy Requirement

• AI literacy is required. Candidates should be comfortable using AI tools to automate and scale HR workflows, evaluate AI vendors and model risk (privacy, bias, auditability), and define governance and safe use policies for AI in HR. Prior experience implementing AI‑augmented HR processes or a clear plan to operationalize AI at scale is expected.

The US annualized base salary range for this position is $283,000.00‑$425,000.00. This position may also be eligible for bonus, benefits, or related incentives. The compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only 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 while 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, and 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 contact us.

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.