Channel Partner Account Director

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Channel Partner Account Director

🔹 Company: SmartChoice Communications

🔹 Location: St. Petersburg, Florida

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time

🔹 Category: Sales

🔹 Date Posted: April 25, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Expanding and scaling the business through strategic partnerships
• Proactively engaging potential partners and driving new business opportunities
• Serving as a trusted advisor to partners, helping them grow their businesses
• Managing relationships with existing partners to ensure mutual success
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to support partner needs and drive growth

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a hunter mentality, with a focus on new business development and strategic relationship building. It also involves managing existing partnerships to ensure ongoing success.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Partner Acquisition: Relentlessly prospect and identify new channel partners through deep market research and competitive analysis

✅ Strategic Relationship Development: Build, manage, and nurture long-term partnerships, creating trusted and value-driven relationships

✅ Sales Strategy & Leadership: Collaborate with partners to design and implement high-impact sales strategies, ensuring mutual success and driving quota attainment

✅ Product Champion & Thought Leadership: Become an expert on SmartChoice's solutions and communicate their unique value proposition to partners and their clients

✅ Training & Coaching: Enable partners to enhance their consultative selling skills through continuous sales training and coaching

✅ Sales Forecasting & Analytical Precision: Provide accurate sales forecasts and rely on CRM tools to track progress and optimize partner performance

✅ Customer Support & Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ensure partners deliver exceptional customer support and work closely with internal teams to support partner needs and drive growth

✅ Reporting & Strategic Communication: Report on partner activity, challenges, and opportunities, providing leadership with actionable insights for future growth

✅ Community Event Involvement: Mandatory participation in all SmartChoice-sponsored events and team-building activities to promote a strong, collaborative company culture and drive sales initiatives

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a balance of hunting for new business opportunities and managing existing partnerships to ensure ongoing success and growth.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent in business, communications, or related fields

Experience: Proven experience in partner acquisition within the technology, telecom, or communications sectors, with a demonstrated ability to hunt down and close new opportunities

Required Skills:

• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and presentation skills
• A self-starter with the ability to work independently and manage a pipeline in a fast-paced sales environment
• Thorough understanding of unified communications and collaboration tools (a strong plus)

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the unified communications and collaboration (UCC) industry
• Fluency in multiple languages (a plus)

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a proven track record in partner acquisition and a strong understanding of the technology or communications sectors. Familiarity with unified communications and collaboration tools is a plus.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $120,000 - $160,000 per year (based on experience level and industry standards for a Channel Partner Account Director role in the St. Petersburg, FL area)

Benefits:

• Competitive salary with performance-based incentives
• Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision, life insurance)
• Generous paid time off
• Employer-matched 401(k)
• Monthly cell phone stipend
• Employee Assistance Program

Working Hours: Full-time, typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility for remote work as needed

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a Channel Partner Account Director role in the St. Petersburg, FL area. Actual compensation may vary based on experience and performance.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: SmartChoice Communications is a leading provider of advanced voice, internet, and communications solutions, operating in the competitive IT Services and IT Consulting industry

Company Size: With 51-200 employees, SmartChoice offers a mid-sized company environment, providing opportunities for growth and collaboration while maintaining a personal touch

Founded: In 1998, SmartChoice has a rich history and extensive experience in the communications industry

Company Description:

• SmartChoice is a trusted Voice Carrier, Internet Service Provider, Microsoft Teams Partner, and Service Expert, helping businesses nationwide achieve new levels of performance with tailored and cutting-edge technology
• The company prides itself on delivering exceptional white-glove service and building partnerships that create lasting impacts for businesses across the country
• SmartChoice offers a dynamic and inclusive work environment, fostering creativity, collaboration, and celebrating successes

Company Specialties:

• UCAAS (Unified Communications as a Service)
• Contact Center
• Security
• Infrastructure
• SD-WAN
• Business Phone Solution
• Data and Analytics
• Cloud Communications
• VOIP
• Team Messaging and Collaboration
• PBX

Company Website: http://www.smartchoiceus.com

ASSUMPTION: SmartChoice Communications is a well-established company with a strong presence in the IT Services and IT Consulting industry. Its focus on exceptional service and strategic partnerships sets it apart in the competitive market.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is at the senior level, requiring a proven track record in partner acquisition and strategic relationship management

Reporting Structure: The Channel Partner Account Director reports directly to the Chief Revenue Officer

Work Arrangement: This is an on-site role, with flexibility for remote work as needed. The position requires frequent travel to meet with partners and attend industry events

Growth Opportunities:

• As SmartChoice continues to expand, there will be opportunities for the Channel Partner Account Director to take on new challenges and advance their career within the company
• The role offers the chance to build and manage a team of partner account managers as the partner ecosystem grows
• Successful candidates will have the opportunity to shape the future of SmartChoice's partner program and make a significant impact on the company's growth

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth opportunities for the right candidate, with the potential to build a team and shape the future of SmartChoice's partner program.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: SmartChoice Communications has a modern, collaborative office space in St. Petersburg, Florida

Office Location(s): 360 Central Ave, Suite 200, St Petersburg, Florida 33701

Geographic Context:

• St. Petersburg is a vibrant city on Florida's Gulf Coast, offering a mix of urban and suburban living with a high quality of life
• The city is home to a diverse range of industries, including healthcare, finance, and technology, providing ample opportunities for networking and collaboration
• St. Petersburg has a humid subtropical climate, with mild winters and hot, humid summers

Work Schedule: The work schedule for this role is typically Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, with flexibility for remote work as needed

ASSUMPTION: The St. Petersburg office offers a modern, collaborative work environment, with ample opportunities for networking and professional growth in the local business community.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screening with the HR team
• In-depth phone or video interview with the hiring manager (Chief Revenue Officer)
• Final in-person or video interview with the executive team
• Background check and offer extension

Key Assessment Areas:

• Sales acumen and partner acquisition strategies
• Relationship-building skills and strategic mindset
• Industry knowledge and understanding of unified communications and collaboration tools
• Communication, negotiation, and presentation skills
• Problem-solving abilities and adaptability

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your partner acquisition experience and relevant industry knowledge
• Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your sales strategies, relationship-building skills, and problem-solving abilities
• Research SmartChoice Communications and the unified communications and collaboration industry to demonstrate your understanding of the role and company

ATS Keywords: Partner Acquisition, Channel Sales, Strategic Relationships, Sales Strategy, Unified Communications, Collaboration Tools, Sales Forecasting, CRM, Sales Leadership, Customer Support, Cross-Functional Collaboration

ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role will focus on assessing the candidate's sales acumen, relationship-building skills, and industry knowledge, with a strong emphasis on behavioral interview questions.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
• Unified communications and collaboration tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Slack)
• Sales enablement tools (e.g., Seismic, Showpad)
• Marketing automation tools (e.g., Marketo, Pardot)

ASSUMPTION: The tools and technologies required for this role include CRM software, unified communications and collaboration tools, sales enablement tools, and marketing automation tools to support partner acquisition and management efforts.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Customer-centricity: Putting customers first in all aspects of the business
• Innovation: Embracing change and continuous improvement
• Collaboration: Working together to achieve common goals
• Integrity: Upholding ethical standards and acting with honesty and transparency
• Accountability: Taking ownership of responsibilities and delivering on commitments

Work Style:

• Dynamic and fast-paced, with a focus on driving results and achieving growth
• Collaborative and team-oriented, with a strong emphasis on cross-functional collaboration
• Customer-focused, with a commitment to delivering exceptional service and exceeding customer expectations
• Adaptable and resilient, with the ability to thrive in a changing environment

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you align with SmartChoice's customer-centric approach to business, and how have you demonstrated this in your previous roles?
• How do you approach building and maintaining strategic partnerships, and can you provide an example of a successful partnership you've cultivated?
• Describe your work style, and how do you thrive in a dynamic, collaborative environment like SmartChoice?

ASSUMPTION: SmartChoice Communications values candidates who align with its customer-centric approach, demonstrate strong relationship-building skills, and thrive in a dynamic, collaborative work environment.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing a large partner ecosystem and maintaining strong relationships with all partners
• Balancing new business acquisition with existing partner management and support
• Keeping up with the latest trends and innovations in the unified communications and collaboration industry
• Navigating a competitive market and differentiating SmartChoice's offerings from competitors

ASSUMPTION: The Channel Partner Account Director role presents unique challenges, including managing a large partner ecosystem, balancing new business acquisition with existing partner management, and staying current with industry trends and innovations.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Compared to other partner account director roles, this position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of SmartChoice's partner program and make a significant impact on the company's growth
• In the unified communications and collaboration industry, this role stands out for its focus on strategic partnerships and innovative solutions
• Career-wise, this role offers significant growth opportunities, with the potential to build a team and advance within the company

ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of SmartChoice's partner program and make a significant impact on the company's growth, setting it apart from similar roles in the industry.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing and executing a strategic partner acquisition plan to expand SmartChoice's partner ecosystem
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with key partners, driving mutual success and growth
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to create and deliver targeted partner training and enablement programs

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the key responsibilities and required skills for the Channel Partner Account Director role, focusing on strategic planning, relationship building, and cross-functional collaboration.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• How does SmartChoice differentiate its unified communications and collaboration solutions from competitors in the market?
• What are the key priorities for the first 90 days in this role, and how can I make the most significant impact on SmartChoice's partner program?
• How does SmartChoice support the professional development and growth of its employees, particularly in the sales and partner management areas?
• What are the most successful partner relationships that SmartChoice has cultivated, and what factors contributed to their success?
• How does SmartChoice measure the success of its partner program, and what key performance indicators (KPIs) are most important for this role?

ASSUMPTION: These key questions help candidates better understand the role, the company's priorities, and the expectations for success in the Channel Partner Account Director position.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your partner acquisition experience and relevant industry knowledge
• Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your sales strategies, relationship-building skills, and problem-solving abilities
• Research SmartChoice Communications and the unified communications and collaboration industry to demonstrate your understanding of the role and company
• Follow up with the hiring manager (Chief Revenue Officer) one week after submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.