Sr. Director, Alliance Manager

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. 

As the Senior Director, Alliance Manager focused on Server OEMs, you will play a pivotal role in driving strategic partnerships, maximizing opportunities for mutual growth between Server OEMs and DDN, and most importantly, drives a significant revenue target. You will serve as the primary interface to the Server OEMs field sales team, fostering strong relationships and advocating for the adoption of DDN 's industry-leading AI solutions within AI workloads for their customers. Your responsibilities will encompass a wide range of activities including business development, relationship management, and cross-functional collaboration.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build and Execute a Go-To-Market plan that drives a Sales Revenue number between DDN and the Server Alliance. This will be the main measure of success in this role.
• Serve as Interface to Server OEMs Field Sales Team: Act as the primary point of contact for the Server OEMs field sales team, providing insights, support, and resources to facilitate the successful integration of DDN 's high-performance solutions into their customer engagements.
• Build and Foster Relationships: Cultivate and nurture relationships with every Server OEMs industry team across the region, establishing trust and rapport to drive collaboration and joint initiatives. Leverage DDN 's proven track record and expertise in powering the world's most demanding AI environments to build strong partnerships.
• Educate Server OEMs Field Organization: Become a trusted partner to the Server OEMs field organization by thoroughly educating them on the unparalleled performance, scalability, and reliability of DDN 's AI solutions. Provide training sessions, workshops, and resources to ensure Server OEMs teams are equipped to effectively communicate DDN 's value proposition to customers.
• Conduct Business and Pipeline Reviews: Regularly engage with Sever OEMs field teams to conduct business and pipeline reviews. Showcase DDN 's successes in accelerating AI workloads, share insights, and highlight the transformative impact of DDN solutions on customer outcomes.
• Identify Sell-with Opportunities: Proactively identify sell-with opportunities by closely collaborating with Server OEMs field teams. Strategically position DDN as the preferred or first partner in emerging account opportunities, leveraging the combined strengths of DDN 's advanced solutions and Server OEMs cutting-edge AI technologies to drive exceptional value for customers.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with internal teams at DDN, including marketing, solutions engineering, and executives, to align resources and support specific field engagements. Act as a bridge between Sever OEMs and DDN sales teams, facilitating collaboration on qualified customer engagements and ensuring seamless execution.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Marketing, or related field (MBA preferred).
• 5-7 years’ experience with proven experience in alliance management, business development, or partner relations within the technology industry, with a strong understanding of the AI and ecosystem.
• Deep knowledge of AI, data analytics, and high-performance computing technologies, with a keen ability to articulate the value of DDN 's solutions in these contexts.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build rapport with stakeholders at all levels, leveraging DDN 's reputation as a trusted leader in the industry.
• Strategic thinker with a demonstrated ability to drive results in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, capitalizing on DDN 's agility and customer-centric approach.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a cross-functional team, embodying DDN's culture of collaboration and innovation.

Must be located on the West Coast for this role

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.

#LI-Remote