Strategic Account Director, Federal Partnerships

This is an incredible opportunity to be part of a company that has been at the forefront of AI and high-performance data storage innovation for over two decades. DataDirect Networks (DDN) is a global market leader renowned for powering many of the world's most demanding AI data centers, in industries ranging from life sciences and healthcare to financial services, autonomous cars, Government, academia, research and manufacturing.

"DDN's A3I solutions are transforming the landscape of AI infrastructure." - IDC

"The real differentiator is DDN. I never hesitate to recommend DDN. DDN is the de facto name for AI Storage in high performance environments" - Marc Hamilton, VP, Solutions Architecture & Engineering | NVIDIA

DDN is the global leader in AI and multi-cloud data management at scale. Our cutting-edge data intelligence platform is designed to accelerate AI workloads, enabling organizations to extract maximum value from their data. With a proven track record of performance, reliability, and scalability, DDN empowers businesses to tackle the most challenging AI and data-intensive workloads with confidence.

Our success is driven by our unwavering commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, and a team of passionate professionals who bring their expertise and dedication to every project. This is a chance to make a significant impact at a company that is shaping the future of AI and data management.

Our commitment to innovation, customer success, and market leadership makes this an exciting and rewarding role for a driven professional looking to make a lasting impact in the world of AI and data storage.

We are seeking a dynamic and entrepreneurial Strategic Account Director to lead DDN's Federal Partnerships, Sales, and Systems Integration strategy. This pivotal role will drive revenue growth by forging strategic partnerships with top-tier federal systems integrators (FSIs) and global partners, expanding DDN's footprint within the federal sector, and ensuring exceptional delivery of high-performance data solutions. The Senior Director will play a crucial part in leading DDN's expansion, developing a robust pipeline, and collaborating across internal teams to meet federal procurement and compliance standards.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Sales: Develop and execute sales strategies to achieve revenue targets and market share growth within the federal sector, including the identification of emerging trends and customer needs.
• Partnership & Alliance Development: Identify, establish, and nurture strategic partnerships with top-tier FSIs, global GSIs, and key federal contractors (e.g., Lockheed Martin, Leidos, GDIT, Booz Allen, Raytheon, MITRE, Peraton, Accenture Federal) to enhance DDN's presence in the federal and enterprise markets.
• Pipeline & Growth Strategy: Create and manage a replicable pipeline, leveraging existing relationships and identifying new opportunities to expand DDN's footprint within federal, multi-cloud, and hybrid ecosystems.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Lead and collaborate with sales, marketing, product development, and technical teams to ensure DDN's solutions are aligned with federal market demands and compliance standards.
• Customer & Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with federal clients and systems integrators, tailoring solutions to meet their needs and ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction. Act as DDN's ambassador, influencing key stakeholders and decision-makers.
• Market Mastery & Federal Expertise: Stay ahead of federal procurement processes, compliance requirements, funding cycles, and competitive shifts. Lead the strategy for government contracting, including leveraging GSA, GWACs, IDIQs, and other acquisition vehicles.
• Sales & Compliance Reporting: Provide regular sales forecasts, performance reports, and ensure all activities adhere to federal regulations and DDN's internal policies.

Qualifications:

• Experience: Minimum of 10 years in federal sales, alliances, or systems integration, with a proven track record of revenue growth, strategic partnership development, and mastery of government contracting.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Information Technology, or related field; MBA preferred.
• Skills:
• Deep understanding of federal procurement processes and compliance standards.
• Strong leadership, team management, and entrepreneurial abilities.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Ability to develop sales strategies and business growth plans tailored to the federal sector.
• Established relationships within the federal systems integrator ecosystem.
• Technical fluency in high-performance storage, AI infrastructure, and cloud data platforms.
• Proficiency in CRM software and Microsoft Office Suite.

Additional Information:

• Travel Requirements: Occasional travel may be required to meet with clients and partners.
• Security Clearance: Preferred for familiarity with federal processes and contracts.

DDN has a very strong orientation towards these 4 characteristics and any successful employee will demonstrate these capabilities:

Self-Starter - Takes independent action to identify and solve problems. Seeks out relevant information needed to make decisions. Gets involved with new initiatives.

Success/Achievement Orientation - Delivers quality results consistently. Targets, achieves (or exceeds) measurable results. Sets challenging goals, focuses on critical priorities, and is accountable.

Problem Solving - Recognizes problems and responds with a systematic assessment that identifies and addresses cause of issue. Practical, realistic, and resourceful.

Innovative - Builds and improves key business processes that enhance the effectiveness of DDN. Generates new ideas, challenges the status quo, and solves problems creatively.

DataDirect Networks, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, sex stereotyping, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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