Strategic Alliance Director - Cisco

We are looking for a Strategic Alliance Director to join our Global Strategic Alliance team covering the relationship with our strategic partner Cisco. You will be responsible for the joint GTM with Cisco driving the business development and developing joint growth plans fostering activities and programs with the Channel and Field Organization to achieve the company sales goals, increase long-term revenue as well as performance of the company.

Essential Job Functions

• Strategic Partnership Development: Collaborate with Cisco to develop the partnership beyond infrastructure solution, explore and identify innovative areas of collaboration that align with organizational goals and enhance overall leadership of the partnership.
• Research and Analysis: Conduct comprehensive market research and analysis to understand emerging trends in software and cybersecurity, ensuring that our partnership with Cisco remains competitive and forward-thinking.
• Business Development: Own and ensures execution of the Lenovo Business Plan with Cisco through the enablement of the GEOs, Channel partners and field. Implement robust risk assessment frameworks in collaboration with Cisco to identify business status and develop proactive strategies to mitigate potential market and business changes.
• Collaboration and Engagement: Foster strong relationships with Cisco representatives and internal stakeholders to facilitate knowledge sharing, training, and joint initiatives that promote best practices in joint designed solutions and work closely with the Lenovo Business Unit, Geos, Marketing, and channel teams to develop structured plans to be deployed Globally.
• Innovation and Continuous Improvement: Drive initiatives that implement cutting-edge Cisco - Lenovo solutions and explore Software and cybersecurity areas of collaboration.
• Training and Development: Organize training sessions and workshops for staff to elevate awareness and skills in Cisco - Lenovo solutions HW, Networking, software applications and cybersecurity practices, leveraging Cisco resources for maximum benefit.
• Performance Metrics and Reporting: Establish key performance indicators to measure the impact of the Cisco partnership on Lenovo ISG business,
• Integration and Implementation: Lead efforts to integrate Cisco's software tools and cybersecurity protocols into existing systems, ensuring seamless functionality and enhanced security measures across the organization.
• Ensure we build relationships at the highest level within the partner to drive mindshare. Drive peer to peer alignment between the partner and the Lenovo teams. Builds senior executive champions to drive change and overcome hurdles. Drive mindshare of Lenovo within the Alliance partners through regular communication (win stories etc.) and relationship cadence.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree
• At least 10 years of relevant work experience, preferably in corporate development, managing partnerships or in a pre-sales role, preferably in the enterprise Data Center industry
• Proven ability to engage and influence partners at the highest executive levels.
• Proven experience in management and control alliance investments to drive pipeline generation initiatives as part of the business plan (Sales Incremental Funds, MDF, POE)
• Proven track record of developing alliance partnerships partners working for a leading enterprise company.
• Knowledge and understanding the technical side Cisco and it's offering.
• Experience of working in a Global matrix managed structure