Vendor Alliances Manager in Leatherhead

Join our hardworking and dynamic team within the thriving Bytes community! This role is part of our Vendor Solutions Team. In this sales-focused position, you'll be responsible for managing and developing strategic vendor relationships with Bytes, acting as a commercial and partnership expert. Your goal will be to increase revenues and profits within our Vendor Solutions, working alongside sales teams and customers to create, win, and optimize sales opportunities. You'll take ownership of various customer-facing opportunities, including upsell, expansion, and renewal engagements, across all customer segments: mid-market, corporate, enterprise, public sector, and channel. Regular interaction with key stakeholders within the Vendors and the internal sales team is essential, so strong communication skills across these areas are crucial. You'll also collaborate closely with the (Job Title TBC) to build and own the Go-To-Market strategy and resources for the aligned vendors. This includes creating sales collateral, supporting marketing plans, and working with peers on multi-vendor messages.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Business Planning and Strategy: Collaborate with the Head of proposition/alliances to own the creation and monitor the execution of the vendor business plan, ensuring the outcomes align with core business objectives. Track and manage direct vendor rebates. Organise, prepare, and co-present on vendor QBRs. Co-ordinate sales enablement, focus days, sales-based events and vendor networking. Manage certification and specialisation requirements with vendors, working alongside Vendor Operations to ensure we remain compliant. Working closely with the marketing lead, ensure marketing activities are incorporated into the plan and communicated effectively with the vendor to encourage promotion. You will be expected to create relevant and appropriate content and messaging for each sales segment, supporting the marketing team with execution and follow-up of all initiatives. Creation of any vendor investment plans, including MDF, incentives, and rebates. Organise and support consistent exec vendor alignment with Bytes, in alignment with the business plan. Lead Go To Market strategies and integration sales plays in conjunction with supporting vendors and peers.
• Sales and Deal Management: Be responsible for delivering the expected Vendor GP against the annual target. You will be measured directly against this. Own the progress and reporting of Renewal Retention, Refresh Potential & Cross Sell/Upsell (to include bi-annual tech update meetings set with clients). Support AM’s, Specialists, and the vendor in new business customer opportunities. Sell Bytes back into the vendor, building relationships and finding customer opportunities through the vendor. Review and report against deal registrations for strategic vendors, tracking a win/loss ratio and utilising this information to inform future activity. Undertake and review loss analysis data. Review whitespace data and present this, along with insights to the relevant sales teams and Specialists to drive impactful customer engagement. Compile, distribute and monitor the delivery of propensity data analysis. Proactive renewal management - Accountable for success criteria, Responsible for direct customer & Account Manager engagement, collaboration to Specialist team if at risk renewal, reporting to Leads. Proactive upsell management - Accountable for success criteria, Responsible for direct customer & AM engagement, collaboration with peers and Specialists team if multi-vendor options required, reporting to Leads. Support the accuracy of forecasting, in collaboration with Specialists and Account Managers. Support Customer engagements with Specialists and Account Teams when required. Understand and enable sales to utilise cloud marketplaces as a transaction route for technology purchases.
• Internal Systems and Documentation: Maintain our internal SharePoint (Compass) vendor pages, including min margins on the portal. Own the accuracy of the vendor taxonomy. Work with internal supply chain team and distribution partners to ensure our processes are efficient, including marketplace offers. Utilise internal SharePoint (Compass) to promote news and updates about managed vendors. Encourage the accurate use of CRM, working in conjunction with the Specialists and Account Managers, ensuring deal values and timelines are accurate for forecasting and reporting.

Personal Requirements:

• Have a deep commercial understanding of relevant vendors partner programmes.
• Growth mindset and positive attitude to continuous learning, including sales and product topics.
• Comfortable presenting vendor specific updates to sales and Specialists.
• Able to explain the USPs and value delivered by their vendors.
• Understanding where their vendors complement other vendors.

WIDER TEAM NETWORK:

• Internal: Sales, Specialists, marketing, Head of Solutions.
• External: Working directly with our sales teams to address customers, mainstream Distributors & Partners, and Key Vendors.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, & SKILLS:

• Educational Qualifications: Minimum GCSEs (A-C) English & Mathematics Educated to A-level standard.

ESSENTIAL:

• Vendor Sales Accreditations.
• Experience of Selling software solutions.
• Experience in commercially compiling complex (vendor) quotes.

DESIRABLE:

• 2-3 years’ experience in a similar role.
• Customer facing experience.
• Vendor development management experience.

Other Requirements:

• Commercial / Bid awareness.
• Excellent presentation delivery.
• Accuracy & Attention to detail.
• Excellent organisational and customer service skills.
• Excellent Time Management & Project prioritisation.
• Multi-tasking.
• Team player.
• Outgoing and enthusiastic.
• Copes well under pressure.

CORE Competencies & SKILLS – BASED ON POSITION AND GRADE:

• Regarded as trusted advisor in proposition area.
• Commercial creativity skills across product, services, and support.
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships across Bytes, customer, and vendor community.
• Ability to articulate proposition area to all levels, including up to Exec level.
• Pro-active approach to maintaining customer base and driving new sales.
• Tenacious, outgoing, and quick to learn.
• Adaptable and forward thinking.