Strategic Leader, Private Equity Relations & Engagement

Role: Reporting to the Global Private Equity Practice Leader, you will drive strategic engagements with Zscaler’s Private Equity (PE) Partners. Through the Zscaler PE360 Program, you will help PE partners build cyber resiliency, boost EBITDA, mitigate risk, and accelerate value creation across portfolio companies using the Zscaler Zero Trust platform.

As the primary Zscaler lead for PE firms, you will manage strategic relationships, negotiate commercial frameworks, ensure governance, and oversee portfolio outcomes. You will originate opportunities and drive value-based sales cycles tailored to each portfolio company, mobilizing Zscaler specialists, solution engineers, and experts to translate tech capabilities into clear investment impact for key stakeholders.

What you'll do (Role Expectations)

• Strategic Relationship Management: Serve as the primary point of contact for Private Equity partners, building high-trust relationships, managing firm stakeholders, and defining go-to-market plans with clear success metrics to promote Zscaler’s value proposition.
• Pipeline & Pursuit Co-Leadership: Partner with internal Zscaler account teams to identify, originate, and drive pursuit opportunities across target PE firms and their portfolio companies.
• Commercial Strategy & Execution: Lead commercial partnership negotiations and structure tailored solutions across diverse transaction types—including add-ons, buyouts, and carveouts—to accelerate time-to-value.
• Value Creation & Business Case Development: Collaborate with the Business Value team and advisory partners to model quantitative business cases that prove EBITDA impact, cost synergies, and risk reduction.
• Governance & Operational Excellence: Conduct recurring QBRs and portfolio reviews with executive leadership, track key performance indicators with Sales Operations, and manage partner escalations to ensure exceptional CSAT.

Who You Are (Success Profile)

• You thrive in ambiguity. You're comfortable building the path as you walk it. You thrive in a dynamic environment, seeing ambiguity not as a hindrance, but as the raw material to build something meaningful.
• You act like an owner. Your passion for the mission fuels your bias for action. You operate with integrity because you genuinely care about the outcome. True ownership involves leveraging dynamic range: the ability to navigate seamlessly between high-level strategy and hands-on execution.
• You are a problem-solver. You love running towards the challenges because you are laser-focused on finding the solution, knowing that solving the hard problems delivers the biggest impact.
• You are a high-trust collaborator. You are ambitious for the team, not just yourself. You embrace our challenge culture by giving and receiving ongoing feedback-knowing that candor delivered with clarity and respect is the truest form of teamwork and the fastest way to earn trust.
• You are a learner. You have a true growth mindset and never stop developing yourself, actively seeking feedback to become a better partner and a stronger teammate. You love what you do and you do it with purpose.

What We're Looking for (Minimum Qualifications)

• Foundational understanding of AI/ML technologies and experience leveraging, securing, or positioning AI-driven solutions to optimize outcomes within your functional domain.
• 7+ years of experience across Private Equity, Strategy Consulting, or Investment Banking, with a deep track record advising on M&A transactions and buy/sell side portfolio engagements.
• Strong fluency in PE operating models and core financial metrics (IRR, ROI, TCO, LBO business cases) to drive cost transformations, value creation, and EBITDA growth.
• Proven executive presence to lead strategic, value-based discussions with C-level stakeholders, coupled with hands-on experience navigating complex sales ecosystems and SaaS business models.
• Solid grasp of cybersecurity fundamentals (risk management, network security) and the ability to operate autonomously to lead high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams in fast-paced environments.

What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)

• Top-Tier Pedigree & Advisory Elite: MBA/Master’s degree from a top institution combined with top-tier strategy consulting or M&A / Private Equity background executing enterprise-wide digital transformations.
• Established PE Ecosystem Network: Deep, high-trust relationships across leading Private Equity and Venture Capital firms globally that immediately open doors and catalyze partnership opportunities.
• AI & Cyber Innovation Leader: Advanced experience leveraging AI-powered analytics, to accelerate deal cycles, optimize portfolio risk, and maximize value creation.

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At Zscaler, we are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve and the customers we work with. We foster an inclusive environment that values all backgrounds and perspectives, emphasizing collaboration and belonging. Join us in our mission to make doing business seamless and secure.

Our Benefits program is one of the most important ways we support our employees. Zscaler proudly offers comprehensive and inclusive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families throughout their life stages, including:

• Various health plans
• Time off plans for vacation and sick time
• Parental leave options
• Retirement options
• Education reimbursement
• In-office perks, and more!

Learn more about Zscaler's hybrid working model and benefits here.

By applying for this role, you adhere to applicable laws, regulations, and Zscaler policies, including those related to security and privacy standards and guidelines.

Zscaler is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals. We strive to create a workplace where employees are treated with respect and have the chance to succeed. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy or related medical conditions), age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. See more information by clicking on the Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal link.

Pay Transparency

Zscaler complies with all applicable federal, state, and local pay transparency rules.

Zscaler is committed to providing reasonable support (called accommodations or adjustments) in our recruiting processes for candidates who are differently abled, have long term conditions, mental health conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs, or who are neurodivergent or require pregnancy-related support.