Partner Program Leader

Nokia’s Network Infrastructure group is at the heart of a revolution to bring more and faster network capacity to people worldwide through our ambition, innovation, and technical expertise.

The NI Services & Solutions organization is responsible for:

• Develop and support the NI (IP, Optics and Fixed) services portfolio to contribute to the profitable growth of NI revenues.
• Drive Services business growth and assure services competitiveness, performance, innovation, and customer satisfaction.
• Facilitate transversal solutions across the NI portfolio, focusing on elements that the BDs would not natively address.
• Run a highly competitive NI Partner Program to grow NI indirect business.
• Portfolio and GTM for network automation of our customer operation processes at NI Level.

The Partner Program Manager is responsible for developing and managing a Partner Program that drives business growth, enhances market positioning, and creates value for the organization. This role involves overseeing the planning, execution, and optimization of partner programs, ensuring strong collaboration between internal teams and external partners. The leader will also work to identify new partnership opportunities and foster long-term relationships with partners that align with the company’s objectives.

Qualifications

You have:

• Proven experience (10+ years) in partner management along with business development, product line management, marketing, sales, or similar executive roles.
• Strong leadership skills with a demonstrated ability to drive results through strategic partnerships.
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills, with experience managing complex partner relationships.
• In-depth understanding of the company’s products, market landscape, and competitive positioning.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and manage cross-functional teams.
• Experience in the Telecom & IT market.
• Experience with Enterprise Customers.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or a related field.

Skills and Competencies:

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving ability.
• Negotiation and contract management expertise.
• Strong business acumen and market insight.
• Project management and organizational skills.
• High level of adaptability and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

It would be nice if you also had:

• Master's in business administration (MBA).

Responsibilities

• Lead the vision, strategy, and execution of the NI Partner Program.
• Collaborate with leadership to align partner strategies with overall business goals.
• Oversee the end-to-end partner lifecycle, from onboarding to ongoing partner management.
• Design and implement partner incentives and reward programs.
• Ensure partner enablement through effective training, tools, and resources.
• Monitor and evaluate the performance of partner programs, adjusting strategies as needed to improve results.
• Work closely with sales, marketing, product, and operations teams to ensure alignment and successful execution of partner initiatives.
• Act as a liaison between partners and internal teams to ensure effective communication and issue resolution.
• Identify and evaluate new partnership opportunities to expand the company’s partner ecosystem.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) for the partner program and monitor progress against goals.
• Analyze partner performance data, identify trends, and make data-driven recommendations for improvement.
• Regularly report on program performance to senior leadership, highlighting successes, challenges, and opportunities for growth.
• Ensure that all partner activities comply with legal, regulatory, and company standards.
• Identify potential risks in partner relationships and take proactive steps to mitigate them.