Associate Director Business Strategy

Verizon • Basking Ridge, NJ

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director of Strategy shapes and executes strategic growth and partnership initiatives for Verizon’s AI Connect (AIC) portfolio. Supporting the Senior Director of Business Development & Strategy, this leader oversees the strategic roadmap, manages relationships with key ecosystem players—including GPU and data center providers—and drives cross-play commercial strategy to support revenue and EBITDA growth. The role calls for expertise in AI infrastructure and edge compute markets and collaboration with internal and external cross-functional teams to align initiatives with organizational goals. The leader manages end-to-end partner relationships, establishes commercial governance, and communicates the AIC vision to stakeholders at all levels.

The position leads four direct reports responsible for Product Integration, Ecosystem Strategy, Market & Growth, and Strategy & Performance. It can be based at other valid Verizon locations. This is a hybrid role with a defined work location, including work from home and a minimum of three office days per week, as set by the manager. Scheduled weekly hours are 40.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or four or more years of work experience.
• Eight or more years of relevant experience, demonstrated through work and/or military experience or specialized training.
• Eight or more years of product/platform, partnership, or technical work experience in B2B companies.
• Six or more years of partner-facing experience.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree, ideally an MBA.
• Analytical and critical-thinking skills.
• Deep technical knowledge of the VBG portfolio.
• Experience in Business Development, Corporate Strategy, or specialized AI/Cloud BD roles.
• Exceptional written, oral, and presentation communication skills.
• Executive-level presentation skills, including storytelling and cross-functional alignment.
• Ability to convey ideas compellingly and persuasively to varied audiences.
• Proven ability to manage deadlines in a complex, fast-paced environment.
• Experience leading teams, especially cross-functional teams, and executing multiple assignments independently and proactively.
• Ability to mentor team members, foster their growth, and identify opportunities for skill development.
• Experience working in an evolving, collaborative environment and cross-functionally with all levels of management, internally and externally.
• Experience developing strong working relationships inside and outside Verizon.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of four direct reports focused on Product Integration, Ecosystem Strategy, Market & Growth, and Strategy & Performance.
• Cultivate operational excellence and accountability, empowering team members to own their initiatives and supporting their growth.
• Define and execute the AIC growth strategy, strategic roadmap, and pipeline of new market and adjacency opportunities.
• Identify, establish, and manage strategic partnerships with GPU providers, data center operators, and cloud infrastructure partners.
• Manage end-to-end partner relationships, program KPIs, and commercial contract negotiations.
• Drive cross-play commercial strategy and Space, Power & Cooling business development and go-to-market execution, tracking initiatives against business case commitments.
• Monitor business case commitments for AIC strategic initiatives and flag dependencies and delivery risks to leadership early.
• Collaborate with Finance, Product & Segment Marketing, Tech Solutions, TPD, GTS, Legal, and other teams to support product launches, stakeholder alignment, and execution.
• Communicate the AIC vision to stakeholders at all levels.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Short- and long-term disability insurance.
• Basic and supplemental life insurance.
• AD&D insurance.
• Identity theft protection.
• Pet insurance.
• Group home and auto insurance.
• Matched 401(k) savings plan.
• Up to eight company-paid holidays per year and up to six personal days per year.
• Paid parental leave.
• Adoption assistance.
• Tuition assistance.
• Other incentives and an award-winning total rewards package.
• Potential premium pay, such as overtime, shift differential, holiday pay, and allowances, depending on the role.
• Up to 15 days of vacation per year for newly hired employees, increasing with additional service.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director