VP, Success Management - Portfolio Leader (Chicago)

To get the best candidate experience, please consider applying for a maximum of 3 roles within 12 months to ensure you are not duplicating efforts.Job CategoryCustomer SuccessJob DetailsAbout SalesforceSalesforce is the #1 AI CRM, where humans with agents drive customer success together. Here, ambition meets action. Tech meets trust. And innovation isn’t a buzzword — it’s a way of life. The world of work as we know it is changing and we're looking for Trailblazers who are passionate about bettering business and the world through AI, driving innovation, and keeping Salesforce's core values at the heart of it all.Ready to level-up your career at the company leading workforce transformation in the agentic era? You’re in the right place! Agentforce is the future of AI, and you are the future of Salesforce.About the RoleSalesforce is the #1 AI CRM, where humans with agents drive customer success together. Here, ambition meets action. Tech meets trust. And innovation isn't a buzzword — it's a way of life. We're looking for Trailblazers who are passionate about bettering business and the world through AI, driving innovation, and keeping Salesforce's core values at the heart of it all.We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Vice President, Customer Success to join our Account Success organization. This executive leader will have responsibility for leading, coaching, and scaling a high-performing team of Customer Success Managers (CSMs) within our premium Life Sciences portfolio. Your team will engage strategically with a premier book of enterprise pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device accounts — guiding customers through our Signature Success framework to accelerate digital and AI-powered transformation, maximize ROI, and achieve long-term business value.Key Responsibilities:Customer Outcomes & Portfolio Leadership:Own the health, retention, adoption, and growth of a defined portfolio of enterprise Life Sciences accounts — including high-visibility Pharma and MedTech partnersServe as an executive sponsor and escalation point to ensure critical customer issues and roadblocks are resolved with operational rigor and quick turnaroundDrive measurable customer outcomes across adoption, expansion, retention, and overall portfolio health — leveraging Agentforce, AI, and data-driven insightsEnsure your team engages systematically within the Signature Success framework, driving maximum business value, smooth renewals, and high adoption of agentic AI capabilitiesEstablish and scale customer health frameworks and metrics; own core business metrics including NNAOV, Attrition, CCR (Customer Consumed Revenue), and product adoptionListen closely to the specialized needs of Life Sciences organizations to create passionate brand promoters through exceptional user experiences and impactful Customer HighlightsTeam Leadership & Talent Development:Build, sustain, and inspire a world-class team of enterprise Customer Success Managers who embody Salesforce values and focus intensely on customer healthHire, coach, and retain top talent; actively manage performance and career growth, empowering team members to do the best work of their careersFoster a vibrant, inclusive culture that inspires people to excel — actively modeling innovative AI workflows to relieve administrative burden and prioritize strategic deep workBuild a culture of accountability, inclusion, and continuous growthIdentify and develop future leaders within the organizationExecutive Engagement & Stakeholder Management:Build and nurture deep, trusted C-suite relationships across top Pharma and MedTech accounts to solidify long-term strategic partnershipsAct as a trusted advisor to customer executives, connecting Salesforce's innovation and Agentforce roadmap to customer business priorities and complex interdependenciesRepresent Salesforce as a thought leader and external ambassador in Life Sciences industry forums and executive engagementsCross-Functional Collaboration & Strategy:Partner closely with Sales leadership (SVPs, EVPs, & Presidents) to align territory planning, execute joint growth strategies, and coordinate cross-functionally with Product, Alliances, and Customer SupportTranslate customer insights and market trends into product innovation and go-to-market strategyDrive alignment across regions and business units, advocating for customer priorities in product roadmaps and executive decision-makingPartner with global SIs, ISVs, and strategic partners to amplify customer outcomesOperational Excellence:Manage and achieve rigorous core business metrics: NNAOV, Attrition, product adoption, NPS/CSAT, and CSM productivityImplement scalable, repeatable methodologies and programs that allow the organization to do more with less over time, maintaining absolute metrics accountabilityChampion a customer-first operating model; leverage data, AI, and operational rigor to drive consistent and scalable customer success deliveryRequired Qualifications:15+ years of professional experience running teams of senior consultants or leading a Services/Customer Success function in an enterprise product company delivering software-based solutions7+ years of dedicated Customer Success leadership experience, with demonstrated success managing, coaching, and developing high-performing, matrixed enterprise teams10+ years of enterprise software experience, with a detailed understanding of best practices for complex enterprise CRM, data, and IT deploymentsProven track record of driving customer retention, adoption, and expansion across a large enterprise portfolioExperience engaging and influencing C-suite stakeholders across complex, global enterprise accounts; high executive presence and emotional intelligenceStrong business and financial acumen; ability to translate customer business challenges into actionable success plansA strong passion for technology and digital transformation, specifically leveraging AI and data-driven insights to solve complex corporate challengesDemonstrated success operating in complex, matrixed organizationsExceptional communication, influencing, and cross-functional leadership skillsAbility and willingness to travel up to 50% regionally for close alignment with customers and field leadershipBachelor's degree or equivalent relevant experiencePreferred Qualifications and Skills:Deep Life Sciences domain expertise strongly preferred — Pharma, Biotech, MedTech, R&D, or commercial operations; understanding of the regulated industry ecosystem is a strong differentiatorPrior Salesforce product knowledge or experience leading CSM teams at a SaaS companyFamiliarity with Salesforce Customer Success methodologies (Signature Success, Accelerator, etc.)Experience building and scaling new teams or functionsExperience leveraging AI tools and agentic workflows to drive team productivity and customer outcomesLeadership Attributes:Salesforce is looking for a leader who:Thinks big — sets ambitious goals and inspires the team to reach themUses data to drive decisions — comfortable with metrics, dashboards, and operational rigorCoaches and develops talent — genuinely invested in the growth of their teamLeads with culture at the center — embodies Salesforce values of Trust, Customer Success, Innovation, Equality, and SustainabilityBuilds trust at every level — with customers, peers, and direct reports alikeUnleash Your PotentialWhen you join Salesforce, you’ll be limitless in all areas of your life. Our benefits and resources support you to find balance and be your best, and our AI agents accelerate your impact so you can do your best. Together, we’ll bring the power of Agentforce to organizations of all sizes and deliver amazing experiences that customers love. Apply today to not only shape the future — but to redefine what’s possible — for yourself, for AI, and the world.AccommodationsIf you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please submit a request via this Accommodations Request Form.Please note that Salesforce uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help our recruiters assess and evaluate candidates’ resumes and qualifications throughout the recruiting process. Humans will always make any candidate selection and hiring decisions. Please see our Candidate Privacy Statement for more information about how we use your personal data and your rights, including with regard to use of AI tools and opt out options.Posting StatementSalesforce is an equal opportunity employer and maintains a policy of non-discrimination with all employees and applicants for employment. What does that mean exactly? It means that at Salesforce, we believe in equality for all. And we believe we can lead the path to equality in part by creating a workplace that’s inclusive, and free from discrimination. Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal. Any employee or potential employee will be assessed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications – without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, transgender status, age, disability, veteran or marital status, political viewpoint, or other classifications protected by law. This policy applies to current and prospective employees, no matter where they are in their Salesforce employment journey. It also applies to recruiting, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, benefits, training, assessment of job performance, discipline, termination, and everything in between. Recruiting, hiring, and promotion decisions at Salesforce are fair and based on merit. The same goes for compensation, benefits, promotions, transfers, reduction in workforce, recall, training, and education.In the United States, compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, job level, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Certain roles may be eligible for incentive co