Director, Culture Activation & Employer Brand
Tessian
People & HR
Sunnyvale, CA, USA
USD 152,900-293,810 / year + Equity
About Us:
Proofpoint is a global leader in human- and agent-centric cybersecurity. We protect how people, data, and AI agents connect across email, cloud, and collaboration tools. Over 80 of the Fortune 100, 10,000 large enterprises, and millions of smaller organizations trust Proofpoint to stop threats, prevent data loss, and build resilience across their people and AI workflows. Our mission is simple: safeguard the digital world and empower people to work securely and confidently. Join us in our pursuit to defend data and protect people.
How We Work:
At Proofpoint you’ll be part of a global team that breaks barriers to redefine cybersecurity guided by our BRAVE core values:
Bold in how we dream and innovate
Responsive to feedback, challenges and opportunities
Accountable for results and best in class outcomes
Visionary in future focused problem-solving
Exceptional in execution and impact
About Us:
Proofpoint is a global leader in human- and agent-centric cybersecurity. We protect how people, data, and AI agents connect across email, cloud, and collaboration tools. Over 80 of the Fortune 100, 10,000 large enterprises, and millions of smaller organizations trust Proofpoint to stop threats, prevent data loss, and build resilience across their people and AI workflows. Our mission is simple: safeguard the digital world and empower people to work securely and confidently. Join us in our pursuit to defend data and protect people.
How We Work:
At Proofpoint you’ll be part of a global team that breaks barriers to redefine cybersecurity guided by our BRAVE core values:
Bold in how we dream and innovate
Responsive to feedback, challenges and opportunities
Accountable for results and best in class outcomes
Visionary in future focused problem-solving
Exceptional in execution and impact
The Role
Proofpoint is looking for a strategic and creative leader to serve as our Director, Culture Activation & Employer Brand. This role will lead the activation of our BRAVE values across the organization, strengthen and evolve our employer brand, and drive internal communications that connect employees to our mission, strategy, and culture.
This leader will sit at the intersection of Culture, Communications, Talent, and Brand, helping shape how employees experience Proofpoint and how talent experiences our company from the outside in.
The ideal candidate is equal parts strategist, storyteller, operator, and culture builder. They know how to turn values into behaviors, messaging into movement, and employee stories into brand equity.
Location & Work Model
This role requires an onsite presence at our Sunnyvale office four days per week and includes a lunch stipend along with opportunities to participate in onsite events
What You’ll Do
Operationalize Proofpoint’s BRAVE Values
Lead enterprise-wide initiatives that embed BRAVE values into leadership behaviors, recognition programs, communications, and people processes
Develop scalable frameworks, campaigns, and toolkits that bring Proofpoint’s culture to life globally
Partner with HR, Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, and business leaders to integrate culture activation into core talent practices
Drive initiatives that strengthen alignment, accountability, and cultural consistency across the organization
Lead Employer Brand Strategy
Define and evolve Proofpoint’s employer brand strategy and employee value proposition
Partner with Talent Acquisition and Corporate Brand teams to elevate Proofpoint’s reputation as an employer of choice
Lead employer brand storytelling across social media, recruiting campaigns, employee advocacy, careers content, and talent marketing
Develop authentic employee storytelling strategies that highlight Proofpoint’s culture, mission, and impact
Lead external recognition strategies, including Best Places to Work programs, employer awards, workplace rankings, and culture recognition opportunities
Monitor employer brand performance, talent market trends, candidate insights, and external reputation metrics to continuously improve attraction strategies
Lead Internal Communications
Develop and execute internal communication strategies that connect employees to company priorities, culture, and leadership messaging
Partner with executive leaders and cross-functional stakeholders on enterprise communications and culture campaigns
Modernize communication channels, content strategies, and storytelling approaches to improve employee engagement and clarity
Ensure communications consistently reinforce Proofpoint’s BRAVE values and organizational priorities
Storytelling, Content, and Advocacy
Build and manage a scalable content engine that drives a steady pipeline of employee stories, leadership narratives, and culture moments across LinkedIn, the careers site, and internal channels
Identify and equip employee ambassadors and storytellers to amplify Proofpoint’s culture through authentic advocacy
Translate complex cybersecurity work and the human impact of our mission into compelling stories for technical and non-technical audiences
Establish editorial standards, creative direction, and voice guidelines to ensure consistency, quality, and inclusivity across employer brand communications
Partner with Corporate Marketing, Talent Acquisition, and the CHRO’s office to align internal narratives and external employer brand messaging
Measure Impact
Define success metrics and KPIs across culture activation, employer brand, and internal communications
Provide regular updates and insights to senior leadership on program effectiveness and impact
Establish measurement frameworks that connect employer brand investment to business outcomes, including brand awareness, candidate quality, source of hire, offer acceptance, eNPS, and employer reputation
Use insights from listening data, review platforms, and external benchmarks to continuously refine strategy and prioritize investment areas
What We’re Looking For
8+ years of experience in Employer Brand, Culture, Internal Communications, Talent Marketing, or related functions
Proven success building and scaling culture and employer brand strategies in a global organization
Experience leading Best Places to Work submissions, employer awards, and workplace recognition programs
Exceptional storytelling, communication, and content development skills
Strong strategic thinking combined with operational execution capabilities
Experience partnering with executives and cross-functional stakeholders
Strong project management and organizational skills
Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive alignment across teams
Experience using employee insights and analytics to inform strategy and measure impact
Passion for building cultures where employees feel connected to purpose, values, and business impact
What Success Looks Like
BRAVE values are consistently activated and visible across the organization
Employees feel connected to Proofpoint’s mission, culture, and leadership
Proofpoint’s employer brand becomes a competitive differentiator in attracting top talent
Proofpoint earns and strengthens recognition as a Best Place to Work and employer of choice
Internal communications are clear, engaging, and aligned to company priorities
Employees become authentic advocates for the Proofpoint experience
Why Proofpoint?
Our people power a mission that matters, and we invest in rewards that reflect that responsibility. From wellbeing and financial security to recognition, community, and career growth, we support the whole person at every stage of their career:
Competitive compensation
Comprehensive benefits
Career success on your terms
Flexible work environment
Annual wellness and community outreach days
Always on recognition for your contributions
Global collaboration and networking opportunities
Our Culture:
Our culture is rooted in values that inspire belonging, empower purpose and drive success-every day, for everyone.
We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. If you need accommodation during the application or interview process, please reach out to [email protected].
#LI-JK1
Why Proofpoint?
At Proofpoint, we believe that an exceptional career experience includes a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Here are just a few reasons you’ll love working with us:
Competitive compensation
Comprehensive benefits
Career success on your terms
Flexible work environment
Annual wellness and community outreach days
Always on recognition for your contributions
Global collaboration and networking opportunities
Our Culture:
Our culture is rooted in values that inspire belonging, empower purpose and drive success-every day, for everyone.
We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. If you need accommodation during the application or interview process, please reach out to [email protected].
How to Apply
Interested? Submit your application along with any supporting information- we can’t wait to hear from you!
Consistent with Proofpoint values and applicable law, we provide the following information to promote pay transparency and equity. Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets as set out below. Pay within these ranges varies and depends on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The actual offer will be based on the individual candidate. The range provided may represent a candidate range and may not reflect the full range for an individual tenured employee. This role may be eligible for variable compensation and/or equity. We offer a competitive benefits package, including flexible time off, a comprehensive well-being program with two paid Wellbeing Days and two paid Volunteer Days per year, plus a three-week Work from Anywhere option.
Base Pay Ranges:
SF Bay Area, New York City Metro Area:
Base Pay Range: 200,300.00 - 293,810.00 USDCalifornia (excludes SF Bay Area), Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Washington DC Metro, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Texas, Washington, Virginia, and Alaska:
Base Pay Range: 167,300.00 - 245,355.00 USDAll other cities and states excluding those listed above:
Base Pay Range: 152,900.00 - 224,235.00 USD