Manager, Partner Alliance - Cisco

Overview

Working under minimal supervision of the Vice President of Product Management, referring only exceptional problems to management for review or approval, the Manager, Partner Alliance develops the Connection - partner solutions strategy and manages the team responsible for implementation. The Partner Alliance Manager plays a prominent role in expanding the partner’s business and driving the success of the company’s goal to increase advanced technology sales. The Partner Alliance Manager uses a wide array of both business development and marketing skills to develop and execute successful go-to-market strategies to increase net sales that drive overall company profitability. Essential job functions include partner growth, partner communication, team management, crisis management, sales enablement, negotiation, and cost control for the growing partnership.

Where applicable, this position assures departmental processes are performed in compliance with applicable Sarbanes-Oxley Controls.

Responsibilities

1. Owns and develops the partner’s business plan for Connection to include: identifies market opportunities while collaborating with multiple departments to ensure various functions are aligned with partner and Connection strategy; orchestrates cross-functional team members to deliver and support sales and marketing efforts; identifies and develops new market opportunities; harvests incremental dollars to increase net sales and vendor contribution; delivers accurate business metrics and monthly forecasts and anticipates any change in opportunities, market, customer needs and requirements that could impact the overall revenue target.
2. Creates and executes partner communication including; field alignment, business plans, pricing, and product information to include: primary point of contact on all partner initiatives -- driving awareness, identifying training needs, scheduling conducting training (cube days, floor walks, solution trainings) while mobilizing PDSs, SSSs, TSEs, and extended team; works closely with partner and Connection Sales teams to drive strategy around solutions and services and evangelizes partnership internally at Connection and externally with vendor Sales teams and Executive Leadership.
3. Develops and manages direct reports to achieve and exceed company goals for partner growth to include: provides consistent training methodologies; maintains biweekly team check-in calls; establishes quarterly, monthly, and annual qualitative and quantitative goals; communicates actuals to goals regularly along with general performance feedback; coaches, motivates and inspires team; solicits, recruits and manages vendor funded headcount; ensures timely and accurate completion and submission of biweekly timecards to payroll and conducts formal performance evaluations as required; submits timely annual evaluations per company procedures.
4. Plans and executes enablement programs for ongoing use of partner solutions including; training and education, demonstrations, and webinars to include: works directly with PLM and PLD to implement all vendor marketing and sales initiatives to ensure synergy across entire organization and utilizes PDSteam to deliver training according to Connection and partner standard.
5. Performs all other duties or special projects as assigned.

• Advanced Microsoft Office skills to include creating presentations, creating documents in Word to include advanced formatting, creating spreadsheets to include the use of macros.
• Technical vendor solutions knowledge with ability to drive business outcomes.
• Leadership skills with ability to manage and develop a team.
• Advanced knowledge of Business Development with ability to create new lines of business.
• Strong understanding of and working knowledge of the value added reseller technology industry.
• Strong trend analysis skills with proven ability to develop short and long term business plans.
• Mastery in developing trusted business relationships.
• Confidence in applying business and financial expertise to identify and qualify opportunities.
• Experience creating and executing marketing campaigns with ability to measure and monitor campaign success.
• Adaptable with ability to switch tasks based on shifting priorities.
• Articulate with ability to express oneself clearly and professionally in written and oral communication.
• Decisive with ability to make a prompt determination and substantiate decision if challenged.
• Conceptual with ability to conceive mentally, formulate ideas, use imagination to achieve results.
• Excellent written communication skills with ability to compose professional business communications via email, letter, and proposals.
• Excellent verbal communication skills with ability to present professional demonstrations.
• Intuitive with ability to perceive others' feelings and motives quickly from subtle signals.
• Judgment with ability to formulate opinions, compare and decide with good sense.
• Interpersonal skills with ability to work well with all levels of the organization.
• Good listening skills with ability to receive information completely and understand what is being said.
• Quick study with ability to master a situation or learn new things with minimum direction or training.
• Supportive mentor with ability to guide and develop team members.
• Strategic thinker in future-oriented terms who anticipates and considers external and internal elements with ability to develop long-term plans to leverage resources.

Degree requirements: Bachelor's Degree or the equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Minimum years of work experience to qualify for role: 8