Practice Lead - SASE

Description
At CDW, we make it happen, together. Trust, connection, and commitment are at the heart of how we work together to deliver for our customers. It's why we're coworkers, not just employees. Coworkers who genuinely believe in supporting our customers and one another. We collectively forge our path forward with a level of commitment that speaks to who we are and where we're headed. We're proud to share our story and Make Amazing Happen at CDW. CDW - Integrated Security delivers a unified approach to addressing data risk through a unique combination of service offerings. CDW has brought together industry-leading expertise in cyber security, identity governance and access management, data privacy and analytics, internal audit, and hands-on training services, giving companies everything needed to plan and develop effective risk and security programs. By integrating these services, we provide our clients with the flexible support they need to protect and leverage data across any part of their organization. Simply put, CDW is the next generation of risk management. The Solution Practice Lead role is a technical leadership role with broad responsibilities across the presales practice. This role works closely with cross-functional teams, including Research and Development, Service Delivery, Product and Partner Management and Sales Leadership to create and implement a comprehensive strategy for the Enterprise Networking team. The Solution Practice Lead is responsible for driving a variety of presales strategies and initiatives across multiple technologies and sales segments. This role is also engaged heavily in the selection, onboarding and mentoring of Solution Architects (SA) and Business Development Strategists (BDS) for the presales practice. This role supports solution architects with enablement and complex opportunity guidance. The Solution Practice Lead is an industry-recognized, strategic thought leader that engages directly with manufacturer partner leadership, providing expertise and insight gained directly from our customers, influencing manufacturer solution development for new and emerging solutions and defining CDW's technical go-to-market strategy. Essential Responsibilities
* Proactively develop and execute presales strategy for Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), support all sales segments and provide thought leadership across the Enterprise Networking practice.
* Proactively identify and solve issues that impact the strategic direction of CDW.
* Build strong relationships and joint go-to-market strategies with cross-functional teams such as Networking, Security, Data Center Solutions, R&D, Digital Velocity, Sales and external partners.
* Work with internal and external partner executives and other key stakeholders to influence change regarding industry and solution issues.
* Explore innovative technology trends and new solutions to ensure presales and post sales are successfully prepared to meet customer demand.
* Provide insight into emerging technical trends affecting CDW's portfolio, regularly contributing to major industry publications.
* Regularly create forward-thinking, thought leadership deliverables (e.g., external monthly blog posts, internal technical strategy documents).
* Present at technology showcase events, at national industry or technology conferences and/or participates on Partner Technical Advisory Boards. Presentation platforms include keynotes, breakout sessions, etc.
* Promote a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration by organizing knowledge bases, contributing regularly, and encouraging team members to contribute.
* Coach and mentor team members to improve their technical, consulting, and sales skills.
* Conduct technical assessment and expertise evaluations during candidate selection process.
* Assist managers with onboarding new Solution Architects, facilitate mentoring process, and proactively provide assistance and guidance to new hires to accelerate productivity.
* Provide technical leadership, enablement, and guidance to Solution Architects, peers, leaders, and other stakeholders within the organization.
* Serve as subject matter expert for the creation of new tools and processes for emerging and evolving technologies (e.g., cross-sell opportunities, technical enablement, services calculators, SOW templates, demonstration environments, sales collateral, customer presentations, assessments)
* Maintain and lead peer review process for complex proposals.
* Advise leadership, peers, architects, and sales in uniquely challenging customer scenarios.
* Facilitate best-practice sharing and communication between presales segments and regions (e.g., solution positioning, closing deals, enhanced profitability). Minimum Qualifications:
* Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or equivalent experience.
* 10 years minimum technical pre-sales or technical network architecting experience.
* 10 or more years' experience in assessing business drivers and translating them into qualifiable, quantifiable and tactical solutions.
* Demonstrated subject matter expertise in Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solutions.
* Stay up to date on products, applications, technical service, market conditions, competitive activities, advertising and promotional trends through the reading of pertinent literature, seminars, and online training.
* History of successfully coordinating complex projects with multiple facets and stakeholders
* Proficient in Microsoft Office applications
* Proven success and experience selling technologies solutions and services.
* Knowledge and proven success of engaging and working with sales teams.
* Ability to adapt and change to the business needs of the practice and team coverage model.
* Strong interpersonal and presentation skills, including consulting skills, with the ability to effectively interact with stakeholders and various cross-functional teams as well as customers.
* Effective communications skills both orally and written using a variety of styles and techniques appropriate to the audience.
* Strong passion for learning and teaching others Other preferred qualifications:
* Motivated and self-starting
* Excellent analytical skills
* Demonstrated ability to understand data finding to draw conclusions and develop actionable recommendations
* Must be able to communicate effectively and in a constructive manner with management, peers and coworkers.
* Proven ability to proactively collaborate and build relationships, take initiative, and creatively problem solve.
* Ability to think creatively and come up with proactive ideas that will increase sales.
* Ability and willingness to travel up 50% or as needed to other CDW locations, meeting and client sites.
* Ability to understand, remember, and apply oral and/or written instructions or other information.
* Ability to organize thoughts and ideas into understandable terminology.
* Ability to multi-task, organize and prioritize.
* Ability to apply common sense in performing job.
* Ability to understand and follow basic instructions and guidelines.
* Obtain and maintain relevant industry standard certifications (e.g., CCIE, CCDE, CCNP, CCDP), a plus.
* Experience working in a fast-paced work environment, a plus.
* We make technology work so people can do great things.
* CDW is a leading multi-brand provider of information technology solutions to business, government, education and healthcare customers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. A Fortune 500 company and member of the S&P 500 Index, CDW helps its customers to navigate an increasingly complex IT market and maximize return on their technology investments. Together, we unite. Together, we win. Together, we thrive. CDW is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by state and local law.