AI Specialist Sales Lead (APAC)

Job Description

As the AI Sales Specialist Lead for the APAC region, you will be instrumental in driving the growth and adoption of our full suite of AI products. In this quota-carrying, leadership overlay role, you will guide and mentor a high-performing team of AI Sales Specialists and work closely with Core Sales Managers across APAC markets. Leveraging your technical acumen, sales leadership, and deep regional expertise, you will shape, execute, and scale go-to-market strategies to deliver value-driven AI solutions to customers—accelerating business growth in both mature and emerging APAC markets.

Importantly, this role is for a player-coach. In addition to leading an ambitious and agile team, you may also be required to lead key opportunities in the region.

Main Responsibilities

Regional Sales Leadership & Goal Achievement

• Own regional AI sales targets; develop and deliver the regional strategy to meet and exceed quotas across diverse APAC territories.

• Collaborate with local Core Sales teams and country managers to tailor, execute, and optimize sales plans for both new and existing accounts.

• Proactively lead large, complex deal pursuits and strategic customer engagements, providing expertise and executive presence at all stages of the sales cycle.

Customer & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Build and nurture strong relationships with key customers and partners - understanding their challenges and aligning the Zendesk AI portfolio to their goals

• Champion a value-based, consultative approach to selling AI products that aligns to customer goals, industry-specific requirements, and emerging regional trends

• Oversee regional support of AI product trials, proofs of concepts (POCs), and customer success stories, demonstrating clear value and positive business impact.

• Collaborate closely with APAC GTM leadership, supporting them to drive greater growth and adoption of our AI portfolio through joint account planning, co-selling, pipeline and expansion plays

AI Sales Enablement & Evangelism:

• Be a subject matter expert and evangelist for AI solutions - driving enablement, best-practice sharing, and continuous learning initiatives across the APAC sales organization

• Maximize AE participation in our AI targets, by providing ongoing education to regional AEs and go-to-market teams on product updates, AI market insights, and competitive dynamics

• Act as the principal point of contact for escalations, complex deal support, and cross-functional collaboration with Product, Sales, Marketing, and Customer Success teams

People Skills:

• Skilled collaborative leader, comfortable operating across and building long term relationships with frontline sales teams and regional Zendesk leadership

• Coach, mentor, and inspire a team of AI Sales Specialists and overlay sellers to excel in prospecting, opportunity creation, and executing winning AI sales plays

• Foster a high-performance, collaborative team culture—sharing success, celebrating diversity, and driving continuous improvement

Product:

• In-depth practical knowledge and understanding of the AI Agent portfolio, with an ability to build and present demo’s, tailored to each customers specific needs. 

• In-depth knowledge of artificial intelligence technologies and their practical application to enhance both customer and agent experiences in contact centres.

Requirements

• Proven experience in a quota-carrying sales leadership role. A focus on Conversational AI solutions or the CX space is preferrable.

• Results-oriented with a track record of meeting or exceeding sales targets

• Exceptional communication, relationship building, and influencing skills - comfortable engaging C-level executives, cross-functional leadership teams, front-line sellers, and technical stakeholders

• Willingness to travel regionally as needed

• Experience in an overlay sales/co-sell role is preferable

If you have a demonstrated history of meeting sales targets, are excited by AI and the capacity to inspire and elevate a sales team to excel in AI sales, we strongly encourage you to submit your application.

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 peopleandplaces@zendesk.com with your specific accommodation request.