Business Development Manager - Education

Avanade is looking for Business Development Managers who are deal hunters, deal makers, originators and self-starters who can develop and win new business in a complex consulting environment with sophisticated technology solutions. The Business Development role is accountable for originating, solutioning, qualifying, negotiating, and closing deals for all Avanade products, capabilities, services, and solutions. This role focuses on activating sales strategy in chosen Accounts or Territories to grow the market.

This will include coordinating with the right teams, achieving the envisioned sales and revenue impact, and bringing necessary support through the business, tools and other requirements to the teams needed to embed new ways of delivering value to clients across a complex landscape. The Business Development Manager operates within a region and is aligned to an Industry Group, working closely with other Business Development professionals, Regional Sales Leadership, Avanade Client Account Lead (ACAL), Regional Integrated Go-to Market, Regional Marketing teams, Finance, Legal, Sales Operations, Alliance teams and counterparts in Accenture and Microsoft.

Within this role you will be selling digital transformation services (e.g. Microsoft Dynamics or Azure Cloud implementation/integration) to clients within the industry. Hence, we require you to have experience selling these types of services in the industry.

What you’ll do

• Create a business development plan to assess, qualify, develop, and shape key opportunities in client accounts, territories, sectors and ensure continued financial health and maximum value creation for both our clients and Avanade.
• Work closely with partners and alliances (Microsoft, Accenture, and ecosystem partners etc.) to grow the book of business.
• Build and maintain strong long-term relationships with key decision-makers and influencers within client organizations in support of business development objectives.
• Develop and implement a relationship management plan for potential client accounts to identify and build relationships.
• Manage key client relationships; collaborating with the Avanade Client Account Leads (ACALs), where appropriate, to drive business growth.
• Engage with clients to clarify client needs and translate them into potential Avanade solution opportunities.
• Lead/support a cross-functional internal team to configure bespoke solutions that meet the client’s mid- to long-term needs.
• In collaboration with various internal stakeholders negotiate client agreements, ensuring that client requirements are met through a compelling and differentiated value proposition.
• Collaborate internally and work as the client champion in cross-functional teams to build strong external client relationships and meet client needs.
• Act as a player-coach, delivering outcomes as an individual contributor.

Market Strategy

• Develop a personal network of senior executives within the business sector and represent the organization at major business sector events.
• Contribute to the account strategies across Avanade’s portfolio of complex accounts.
• Leverage market intelligence to optimize and broaden Avanade's business positioning and enhance its reputation.
• Craft and deliver value-oriented proposals to the client that clearly articulate the business benefits from adopting Microsoft-based solutions from Avanade.
• Provide thought leadership and sales collaboration with our channel partners and become a trusted advisor for the channel in chosen Accounts, where appropriate.

Key Performance Indicators

• Booked Sales Target
• Pipeline Target
• Forecast Accuracy

About you

• Proven track record of selling large-scale consulting engagements that include global delivery within the industry.
• Highly organized with strong time management and coordination skills.
• Resilience in dealing with multiple client stakeholders to unify the vision and strategy.
• Natural leader defined by their knowledge and experience.
• Collaborative and able to navigate multiple cultures and styles.
• Problem solving mindset.
• Mature interpersonal and persuasion skills.
• The ability to persevere in the face of challenges.
• Relentless commitment to higher standards balanced with a pragmatic outlook.
• Education and/or experience in the relevant field/business.
• Solid experience in sales or business development, relationship building, acting as a trusted advisor to address customer needs.

Enjoy your career

As you bring your skills and abilities to Avanade, you’ll get distinctive experiences, limitless learning, and ambitious growth in return. We work hard to provide an inclusive, diverse culture with a deep sense of belonging for all our employees.