Partner Director, Cisco

NWN Carousel•Exeter, CA

9d•Remote

About The Position

We are seeking a Partner Director, Cisco to own and strengthen one of NWN's most strategic technology partnerships — spanning networking, security, collaboration, and an emerging AI-infrastructure practice. This role will serve as the primary point of contact for the Cisco alliance, building on a significant, high-value relationship while driving joint go-to-market initiatives around NWN's offerings.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, Technology, Marketing, or related field preferred
10+ years of experience managing strategic technology partnerships
Experience working with partner programs or go-to-market strategies
Experience collaborating with sales, marketing, and technical teams
Strong understanding of networking, security, and collaboration technology, partner programs, and go-to-market motions.
Excellent communication, relationship management, and negotiation skills
Proven ability to collaborate cross-functionally with sales, marketing, and technical teams
Results-oriented, with a track record of driving measurable business outcomes through partnerships

Nice To Haves

MBA degree preferred but not required
MSP, SI, or Cisco partner ecosystem experience preferred
Cisco certifications preferred, if relevant
Project Management certification preferred, if applicable

Responsibilities

Serve as the central relationship manager for Cisco's field, channel, and systems engineering organizations.
Build and execute joint go-to-market strategies with Cisco, ensuring alignment with NWN's overall business objectives.
Manage Cisco's partner programs, rebate tiers, and funding opportunities (e.g., MDF, VIP) to maximize partnership value.
Track and report on partnership performance metrics including partner-sourced pipeline, revenue, EMP attach rate, and certification status.
Collaborate with NWN sales, marketing, and technical teams to enable and execute joint initiatives.
Act as an advocate for NWN within Cisco, and for Cisco within NWN.
Own the annual partner business plan and executive QBR cadence, driving cross-functional accountability against Cisco commitments.
Manage Cisco's certification and specialization roadmap (e.g., Gold Partner status) to protect rebate-tier eligibility and unlock new incentives.
Stay current on Cisco's partner program requirements, market trends, and the competitive landscape.