Leader, Solutions Engineer-Partner Collaboration

Cisco is a leading technology company revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era. They are seeking a visionary leader to manage and develop a team of Solutions Engineers focused on Collaboration solutions, emphasizing partner engagement and technical excellence.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and Develop a High-Performing Americas SE Team: Manage, mentor, and develop a team of 7 Solutions Engineers located across the US and LATAM, fostering a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, innovation, and consistent quota attainment
• Drive Partner Success (50%+ Partner Facing): Actively engage with key partner technical leadership and sales teams across the Americas
• Develop and execute strategic technical enablement plans, provide deep architectural guidance on AI-powered Collaboration solutions, and co-sell solutions to drive partner-led revenue growth for Cisco Collaboration
• Executive Engagement & Influence: Build and maintain strong relationships with senior-level executives (CXO, VP, Director) within partner organizations influencing technical strategy and driving adoption of Cisco Collaboration solutions
• Articulate the business value and technical capabilities of AI in Collaboration clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences
• Strategic Technical Leadership: Translate Cisco's Collaboration strategy and roadmap into actionable technical sales initiatives for the partner ecosystem
• Identify market trends, competitive landscapes, and emerging technologies (especially in AL for communication and productivity) to guide partner technical strategies and uncover new opportunities
• Enable Partner Technical Expertise: Oversee the development and delivery of technical training, workshops, and readiness programs for partner SEs and technical teams, ensuring they possess the skills to architect and deploy comprehensive Collaboration solutions that leverage AI for enhanced user experience, operational efficiency, and security
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Cisco's internal Sales, Partner Management, Product Management, Engineering, and Marketing teams to ensure alignment, share market feedback on AI trends and partner needs, and drive cohesive go-to-market strategies
• Operational Excellence: Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for the SE team and partner technical engagement, ensuring efficient resource allocation and continuous improvement
• Manage team performance, providing regular feedback and coaching
• Americas Market Acumen: Understand and navigate the diverse technical and business landscapes across the US and LATAM markets, tailoring approaches to maximize partner success in each region, considering varying levels of AI maturity and adoption

Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience in technical sales, solutions engineering, or a related field within the Collaboration technology space (e.g., UCaaS, CCaaS, Video Conferencing, Team Collaboration Platforms)
• Proven track record of building and enabling technology partner ecosystems
• Demonstrated experience in executive-level engagement, particularly in discussions around AI strategy and implementation within enterprise Collaboration
• Strong understanding of Cisco's Collaboration portfolio and competitive landscape, with a clear grasp of AI capabilities and their strategic impact
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in a leadership or management role, directly managing and developing technical teams
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
• Master's degree or MBA
• Deep expertise in cloud-based Collaboration solutions
• Experience working within a Channel/Partner Sales organization
• Experience managing geographically dispersed teams across North and South America
• Strong understanding of networking, security, and cloud infrastructure principles relevant to Collaboration deployments, including data privacy and ethical AI considerations
• Experience with formal sales methodologies and partner enablement frameworks
• Certifications or advanced training in AI, data science, or related fields