Customer Advocacy Manager, Startups

At Vanta, our mission is to help businesses earn and prove trust. We believe that security should be monitored and verified continuously, and we empower companies to practice better security and prove it with ease. Vanta has a kind and talented team, and while some have prior security experience, many have been successful at Vanta without it. 

As the Customer Advocacy Manager, Startups at Vanta, you’ll own and scale programs that activate early-stage customers as trusted advocates — turning founder trust into long-term growth and brand influence.

This role is part of the Customer Engagement team, which drives customer marketing, advocacy, and community initiatives. Our mission is to scale high-signal community and advocacy programs that strengthen customer health and fuel new business growth. By activating early-stage customers as trusted voices — and giving them the spaces, stories, and programs to thrive — we influence how founders buy, use, and champion Vanta. You’ll play a key role in bringing this to life for our startup segment.

We’re looking for a builder who’s passionate about founders and operators, and who knows how to cultivate advocacy at scale — through storytelling, advisory programs, and authentic peer connections. You’ll work closely with Product Marketing, Brand, VC Partnerships, Sales, and Success to shape how Vanta shows up across the founder journey.

What you’ll do as a Customer Advocacy Manager, Startups at Vanta:

• Own and scale founder-first advocacy programs — including the Startup Advisory Board (Trust SOCiety), customer storytelling, and builder-focused activations.

• Identify, activate, and grow startup champions — sourcing advocates for referrals, content, events, and peer-led moments that build trust and influence growth.

• Drive visibility for startup voices by partnering with Product, Field, and Brand Marketing to feature founders in key campaigns and GTM motions.
  Own and evolve startup-facing digital spaces (e.g., Slack, Reddit, Indie Hackers), fostering authentic peer engagement and community-driven advocacy.

• Collaborate cross-functionally across GTM, PMM, Brand, and VC Channel teams to amplify founder proof points and shape high-impact programs.

• Lead program communications and roadmap planning — tracking what works, iterating on what doesn’t, and aligning advocacy efforts to business needs.

How to be successful in this role:

• Have the ability to commute to the San Francisco office in a hybrid setting.

• 2–5 years of experience in customer marketing, advocacy, or startup ecosystem programs.

• Empathy for early-stage founders — ideally with firsthand experience building or supporting startups (YC, Techstars, On Deck, etc. a plus).

• Proven ability to identify, activate, and grow advocates across storytelling, referrals, and peer-led initiatives.

• Clear, confident communicator with experience influencing across teams and functions.

• Comfortable owning both strategy and execution — knowing when to lead, iterate, or adapt.

• Open to using AI to amplify their skills and strengthen their work - demonstrating curiosity, a willingness to learn, and sound judgment in applying AI responsibly to improve efficiency and impact.

What you can expect as a Vanta'n:

• Industry-competitive salary and equity

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, with 100% of employee-only benefit premiums covered for most medical plans

• 16 weeks fully-paid Parental Leave for all new parents

• Health & wellness stipend

• Remote workspace, internet, and cellphone stipend

• Commuter benefits for team members who report to the SF and NYC office

• Family planning benefits

• Matching