Senior Partner Sales Executive

SENIOR PARTNER SALES EXECUTIVE 

As a Senior Partner Sales Executive you will be part of a growing Partner Sales Team and a critical piece of company growth initiatives in EMEA. You must appreciate the build-process and apply your exceptional presentation, leadership, go-to-market, relationship, execution, and relationship-building skills to convey Zendesk's value proposition to executives, sales, and technical sales people.
You will work closely with direct and partner marketing, partner enablement and partner team peers, to ensure successful lead sharing, execution of marketing programs, focus generating activities, and be accountable to a partner-sourced and incremental revenue number.

Successful candidates will have deep experience of subscription (SaaS) models, exhibit a robust nature that can challenge - but not be challenging, possess strong critical thinking skills, have an executive presence, a 'can-do' attitude, entrepreneurial spirit, and extensive experience managing partners.

Are you ready to join the Zendesk Partner team?

Role responsibilities

• Self-starter mentality, able to be managed remotely with lower levels of day-to-day supervision 

• Ownership of named accounts or a defined territory of existing and target partners 

• Ramp existing revenue generating partners 

• Locate, recruit, ramp and manage new revenue generating partner relationships 

• Develop and leverage executive partner relationships to grow Zendesk mindshare across all levels of the partnership 

• Understand partner business value and how Zendesk adds to it 

• Generate product knowledge, enthusiasm and passion for Zendesk's offer

• Maintain and execute against quarterly business and partner GTM plans 

• Work with Partner Marketing to develop and oversee marketing and incentive programs that fill the top of the sales funnel 

• Along with Partner Enablement, you will guide partners enablement trainings 

• Facilitate communications and deal flow between partners and Zendesk direct sales teams 

• Collaborate with your peers and Partner leadership to support the overall growth of our Partner program by bringing your ideas, experience, and accountability to the workday 

• Think and act as the General Manager of your territory

• Expect to travel 30% of the time

Education, Experience, and Skills

• 10 years or more of experience in direct and/or indirect (Partner) software sales, 5 years in SaaS.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written) including outstanding video conference and Event presence

• Quota carrying experience with a track record of over-achieving sales targets

• Proficiency with various software applications programs, including: Google Apps, CRM, Docs, Spreadsheets, Presentations etc.

• Tenacity, drive, and motivation to be a top performer who exceeds expectations.

• Proficient in creating business plans with C-level stakeholders that guide and ensure successful execution with partners as well as internal stakeholders.

• Significant experience selling within the software/SaaS industry

• Self motivated and accountable with a tenacious work ethic to over-achieve targets and find innovative solutions to obstacles

• Must be flexible and comfortable working in a fast-paced, high growth, and collaborative environment

• Knowledge of a sales methodology (i.e. Sandler, Challenger Sales etc.) a plus; ability to coach others throughout a sales cycle and experience with forecasting.

• Strong analytical skills; experience building reports and dashboards, working with BI tools a plus

• Bachelor's degree

• Fluency in English and German required, others regional languages an advantage

Hybrid: In this role, our hybrid experience is designed at the team level to give you a rich onsite experience packed with connection, collaboration, learning, and celebration - while also giving you flexibility to work remotely for part of the week. This role must attend our local office for part of the week. The specific in-office schedule is to be determined by the hiring manager.

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 with your specific accommodation request.