Job SummaryThe National Channel Manager (NCM) role is a dedicated resource to the Agents and Sub-Agent of our National Partners, acting as a trusted advisor and valued business consultant. The NCM governs the overall relationship between the Agent and Sub-Agents and Optimum, provides onboarding, training, quoting, marketing and any sales flow assistance. S/he establishes deep relationships with key Agents and Sub-Agents, and in collaboration with the local channel team(s) provides and manages to jointly developed business objectives and action plans, aligns mutual resources, engages in strategic sales opportunities, and ultimately drives profitable revenue growth for Optimum through our National Partners.
ResponsibilitiesIn support of the partners an NCM must also be a Channel Advocate - communicating highly valuable information back to the Optimum regarding:
- The impact of programs and policies on the partners' various business models - "explaining how the effect of decisions hits the partners' top and bottom lines".
- Local market conditions, including opportunities and threats
- Changes to a partner's business strategy that requires a coordinated vendor response
NCM's must also be a Trusted Advisor capable of building a solid business relationship based on economics. This includes:
- Construction of a solid business value proposition during recruiting.
- Advice on how to grow the business with new offers, new markets, new promotions and funds (eg. MDF).
- Identification of options and migration paths to new business models to adapt to changing market conditions.
- Construction of an ROI on partner investments in training, certifications and offers
For Both Optimum and our Partners, the National Channel Manager is:
- A Resource Coordinator making sure that Optimum's resources - technical and sales support (including product teams, product specs, white papers, best practices and testimonials), relevant programs and policies, and opportunities for field coordination, are identified and made available to partners as needed.
- A Conflict Manager responsible for customer-centric field engagement throughout the ecosystem. For example Policy implementation and Program implementation (i.e. Deal Registration).
Qualifications- 8 to 10 years of relevant experience in areas of increasing responsibility, including 5 or more years of marketing communications, advertising or related experience
- Leadership skills to shape/lead growth vision and marketing strategy
- Strong organizational and project management skills, able to plan, meet deadlines, prioritize projects and indirectly manage across cross-functional teams
- Strategic planning and clear thinking with ability to drive change - develop new ideas through collaboration and execute on creative ideas
- Assertiveness - strong influencing skills across business functions; confidence to share difficult messages, defend decisions and make judgment calls
- Ability to formulate and implement strategic marketing plans, establish KPIs, monitor and analyze marketing performance metrics and improve campaigns to inform future marketing decisions
- Excellent oral and written communications skills
