Principal Roaming & Partnerships Strategist

GCI Communication Corp•Anchorage, AK

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position owns and drives GCI’s end-to-end wholesale wireless roaming and strategic partnership strategy, with enterprise accountability for commercial performance, partner ecosystem development, and long-term market positioning. The role serves as the company’s most senior subject matter expert (SME) for wholesale wireless partnerships, leading strategy across inbound and outbound roaming, carrier relationships, and emerging partnership models. The role operates with significant autonomy and executive visibility, influencing priorities across Product, Network, Finance, and Executive Leadership to optimize revenue, margin, network utilization, and customer experience outcomes. Primary customers include international, nationwide, regional, and Alaska-based wireless communications providers and roaming partners. This role serves as the primary strategic and commercial point of contact for all wholesale roaming accounts and carrier partnership relationships. Internally, the position partners closely with Wholesale, Product, Network Operations, Engineering, Consumer, Business, Finance, and Executive Leadership teams to ensure alignment, operational execution, service excellence, and achievement of enterprise business objectives.

Requirements

A combination of relevant work experience and/or education sufficient to perform the duties of the job may substitute to meet the total years required on a year-for-year basis
High School diploma or equivalent.
Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Economics, Telecommunications, or relevant field.
Minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in wireless and data communications, including significant experience in wholesale wireless roaming and carrier partnerships.
Demonstrated experience leading complex contract negotiations, strategic partnership management, and enterprise-level account relationships.
Multi-tiered strategic account management.
Business planning and financial analysis.
Commercial pricing and settlement negotiations.
Development and presentation of complex customer proposals and executive business cases.
Cross-functional leadership and enterprise stakeholder management.
Proficient computer skills and MS Office knowledge (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel) to complete job duties effectively, such as using the company intranet and to accurately retrieve and input information into databases or equivalent.
Demonstrates strong technical and operational understanding of wireless technologies, roaming systems, and telecommunications infrastructure.
Experience with wireless technologies including GSM, UMTS, LTE, and CDMA.
Knowledge of systems, technologies, and operational processes required to deliver roaming services to external wireless providers.
Proficient with Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Ability to adjust to a rapidly changing environment and multi-task with minimal supervision.
Demonstrated ability to prioritize competing priorities and execute within established timelines and business objectives.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with Tier 1 wireless roaming and backhaul negotiations and contracts.
Experience shaping product and/or network strategy based on wholesale opportunities.
Experience in working with wholesale markets and accounts.
Experience in reciprocal sell/buy partnership structures and roaming economics.
Other relevant telecom industry or job specific certifications.

Responsibilities

Defining and evolving GCI’s enterprise wireless roaming and strategic partnership strategy in alignment with product, consumer, business and network priorities.
Managing the full portfolio of inbound and outbound roaming agreements and wholesale wireless partnerships.
Leading commercial performance, revenue optimization, and profitability of inbound roaming services.
Coordinating outbound roaming services and carrier relationships for GCI subscribers in alignment with operational, technical, and financial objectives.
Developing and maintaining strong internal and external relationships to support service delivery, issue resolution, and long-term partnership growth.
Ensuring compliance with company policies, contractual obligations, regulatory requirements, and applicable industry standards.
Define, develop, and evolve GCI’s wholesale wireless partnership strategy, including roaming, resale, interconnect, and broader ecosystem expansion opportunities.
Provide portfolio-level commercial leadership with accountability for revenue growth, margin optimization, cost structures, and long-term strategic value across all roaming and wholesale wireless relationships.
Lead development of multi-year strategic roadmaps aligned to GCI’s wireless, mobility, broadband, and enterprise growth strategies.
Serve as executive-level relationship lead for strategic roaming and carrier partners (e.g., Tier 1 operators, international carriers, and key industry stakeholders).
Evaluate emerging market trends, partnership models, and competitive opportunities to support enterprise growth and differentiation.
Lead high-value, complex, and multi-party negotiations for roaming and wholesale wireless agreements, including pricing structures, settlements, technical requirements, service levels, and performance obligations.
Develop innovative commercial constructs including reciprocal roaming models, usage-based pricing strategies, strategic alliances, and partnership frameworks.
Conduct financial modeling, business case development, and commercial analysis to support negotiation strategies and executive decision-making.
Act as senior escalation points for commercial, operational, and contractual disputes.
Partner with Legal, Finance, Product, and Network teams to ensure agreements align with enterprise risk, operational capabilities, and strategic objectives.
Drive alignment across Product, Enterprise, Network, Engineering, and Finance to optimize network utilization and roaming economics.
Align partnership strategy with product roadmap and business priorities (e.g., FWA, mobility, MVNO and future wireless services).
Influence prioritization of network investments, operational enhancements, and product capabilities based on strategic wholesale opportunities and partnership commitments.
Lead cross-functional resolution of systemic service, operational, or partner performance issues impacting customer experience, revenue, or contractual obligations.
Ensure effective coordination between internal operational teams and external carrier partners to support service continuity and issue resolution.
Serve as internal thought leader and SME on wireless wholesale and roaming industry trends: GSMA roaming standards and best practices, Interconnect and roaming economics, Carrier partnership strategies and competitive market dynamics, Emerging wireless technologies and ecosystem opportunities.
Monitor market activity, competitive positioning, regulatory developments, and industry trends to identify opportunities and risks.
Advise executive leadership on market entry / expansion opportunities, partnership strategies risks, and competitive positioning initiatives.
Lead strategic governance and performance management across the wholesale roaming portfolio.
Define, monitor, and analyze KPIs related to partner performance, revenue growth, profitability, customer experience, and operational effectiveness.
Drive continuous optimization across the partnership portfolio to ensure alignment with financial objectives, operational capabilities, and enterprise strategic priorities.
Develop and deliver executive-level reporting, strategic recommendations, and performance insights.