Partner Advocate II

Partner Advocate IIPurpose: Manage Sage’s Business Partners relationships, provides advice, guidance and support to strengthen and accelerate Business Partners’ growth and helps Business Partners with sales and revenue generating activities. POSITION SUMMARY: This field-based position will be responsible for maximizing sales opportunities and driving business development with assigned partner(s). It provides a single point of contact within Sage for business partners and serves to enhance partner satisfaction, loyalty, productivity and product revenue growth aligned with Sage FY revenue goals. The Partner Advocate will also act as the primary liaison between the business partners and the internal Sage sales team, sales support, finance, legal, administrative and other program managers. This role requires travel to partner, customer and prospect sites. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Other duties may be assigned. The Partner Advocate works with assigned partner(s) in all sales-based activities such as partner marketing efforts, lead generation, prospect qualification, needs analysis, demonstrations, and all phases of the selling cycle. Accountable for goals agreed upon by Sage and Partner to increase partner product revenue productivity. Tracks and communicates key performance metrics such as New License Revenue, Product Revenue, Pipeline strength, Customer Renewal Rates, etc., by month, quarter and fiscal year – with the ability to set course corrections that allow partner to meet or exceed goal. Able to manage long, complex sales cycles -- often involving multiple Sage products and decision-makers. Must be able to strategize, plan and recruit the appropriate resources (whether from Sage or the Partner) to best support the opportunity at the optimum point in the sales cycle. Works with partners’ top customers to ensure success and satisfaction, including monitoring customer usage rates and knowing when and how to position upgrades and add-ons to these top customers. Responsible for advising partner(s) on marketing activities and tactics, leveraging industry conferences, Sage collateral and Events as necessary. Encourages partner to effectively utilize co-op spend and advise on best practices Creates and executes action plans on behalf of partner to engage appropriate Sage cross functional teams who contribute to the partner sales and development efforts. Becomes the partner’s trusted advisor and influences key decisions by the partner with regard to growing their business Acts as a liaison between partner and other Sage stake holders (such as Product Specialists, Professional Services Group, Marketing, etc) to eliminate redundancy in communication between Sage and the partner. Helps to strengthen the working relationship between the partner and its assigned SSAN member(s) to develop and nurture new customer opportunities Works with Business Partner Acquisition Reps to identify partners able to bring on, support and sell an additional Sage product line. Qualification Requirements: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  Education and/or Experience: Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 7 to 10 years of successful, quota carrying, sales experience Previous experience in working with business software solutions Previous partner management experience with proven ability to build trusted relationships, influence and drive important partner decisions Project management skills to help co-manage execution of partner’s business plan Experience in forecasting revenue across multiple product lines Strong communications skills, with the ability to develop and deliver presentations Ability to create marketing and business development plans, track progress and augment plans swiftly when needed Knowledge of Sage Software product portfolio and the ability to position Sage with enthusiasm, accuracy and conviction preferred Intimate knowledge of Sage’s related service and support capabilities preferred Experience with sales force automation tools. Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) Relocation within geographic region of partner group is required. Willingness to travel at least 50% of the time. Other Skills and Abilities: Ability to contact and work with individuals inside and outside the Company Ability to initiate ideas and develop recommendations at an upper management level Problem solving, negotiating, and decision-making skills required Must possess strong organizational skills, the ability to follow through on commitments and the ability to balance proactive calls and on-site partner visits Ability to write speeches, design presentations, and effectively present information to public groups is necessary.   Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to travel as well as sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand or walk and climb stairs. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move 10 pounds. Specific visions abilities required by this job include close, distance, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The work environment is fast paced and requires travel. When not traveling, employee typically works out of a home-office or a company office. Simplicity     •     Agility     •     Trust     •     Integrity     •     Innovation When you join Sage Software, you'll not only work with a team of more than 5,000 dedicated, diverse, and highly talented professionals, you'll become a member of a fast growing, billion-dollar global company. We strike that fine balance of working for a large, financially strong, and stable company, while providing a relaxed, family-oriented environment where you can make long-term friendships. We're not just another software company. Most of our brand name products have been around 15 to 25 years, remarkably long for the software industry. Our employees are not merely average, either! They are highly qualified and energetic individuals who inspire, encourage, and challenge each other every day. We have high expectations of performance, and every individual and team can truly make a difference at Sage Software. Contributions are highly visible, acknowledged, and rewarded across the company. We offer an outstanding benefits package designed to be affordable and comprehensive to meet you and your family's needs. Some of these benefits include: Flexible medical, dental, and vision plans A wide range of Life/Short Term Disability/Long Term Disability plans including buy-up options Attractive paid time off benefits Flexible spending and education plans Retirement plans, including 401(k) (US) and RRSP (Canada) Educational reimbursement Sage Software is an Equal Opportunity Employer