Associate Program Manager, Localization

Who We're Looking For

At Zendesk, we are committed to creating seamless experiences that connect companies and their customers around the globe. As part of our Product Globalization team, the Localisation function plays a pivotal role in making our products accessible, relevant, and delightful for a diverse global audience. Join us to drive impactful localisation operations that fuel our global growth and customer success.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and detail-oriented Associate Program Manager, Localization to join our Localisation team. You will manage end-to-end localisation projects, collaborating closely with cross-functional internal teams and external vendors to deliver high-quality translations on time. Your work will directly influence the experience of users worldwide, helping Zendesk speak their language in meaningful ways.

What You'll Be Doing

• Design and implement scripts, primarily in Python, to automate manual localisation tasks, streamline file handoffs, and optimise data processing between systems.
• Lead the development and maintenance of AI-driven tools and agents to improve translation efficiency, quality estimation, and operational scalability.
• Oversee the full end-to-end lifecycle of localisation projects, ensuring high-quality delivery and timely execution through effective coordination of internal teams and vendors.
• Educate stakeholders on technical localisation requirements and advocate for internationalization best practices.
• Maintain partnerships with external vendors and utilize data-driven insights to monitor performance, driving continuous improvement through technical innovation.
• Document and standardize localisation workflows, ensuring that technical processes and AI integrations are robust and scalable across all supported languages and markets.

What You Bring To The Role

• 2-4 years of experience in localisation project management, operations, or vendor management, preferably in a tech or software environment.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Localisation, Linguistics, Computer Science, Business, Project Management, or a related field.
• Ability to write scripts (ideally in Python) to automate repetitive localisation tasks, manipulate file formats, and interface with APIs.
• Proven experience in AI tool development or implementation within a localisation context, such as leveraging LLMs for translation quality estimation or workflow automation.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously in a fast-paced, global environment.
• Excellent skills across distributed teams, with the ability to educate stakeholders on technical localisation processes and advocate for global users.
• Familiarity with Translation Management Systems (e.g., Phrase TMS) and knowledge of internationalisation standards such as Unicode and CLDR.
• Proficiency in data analytics tools and techniques to track metrics, generate insights, and identify optimisation opportunities.

Key Skills/Competency

• Localization Project Management
• Python Scripting
• AI/LLM Implementation
• Vendor Management
• Internationalization Standards
• Translation Management Systems (TMS)
• Data Analytics
• Workflow Automation
• Cross-functional Collaboration
• Global Product Accessibility