Account Director Senior

Lumen is the trusted network for the AI‑powered world, connecting people, data, and applications through our expansive fiber network and connected ecosystem. We enable secure, high‑performance connectivity across cloud, edge, and AI workloads for enterprises, governments, and communities. At Lumen, you’ll work on infrastructure customers rely on today and build for what’s next, where performance, security, and resilience matter. This is a high accountability environment where bold ideas drive real innovation for our customers, partners, and industry. If you’re ready to take ownership, deliver meaningful impact, and help shape the future of AI‑ready connectivity, join us today. The Business Development Account Director is accountable for developing and implementing the overall market penetration and growth strategy. They will work in close cooperation with internal and external teams to develop winning strategies and multiple strategic alternatives to solve customer problems through competitive positioning. The Business Development Account Director will gain a firm comprehension of the customer's requirements, long term objectives, hot buttons, and effectively communicates those goals to the internal Lumen groups, to better meet the eventual SOW’s (including product enhancements, pricing initiatives, and partnerships). Develop and communicate prioritized list of strategic opportunities for target government organizations and briefs senior management on high dollar opportunities Develops and maintains milestones and metrics for presentation to management that measure the progress of strategic plans, projects, and programs against organizational goals and objectives Promote and position Lumen services and solutions through direct and indirect existing contracts, new customer contracts, and teaming opportunities Identifies, qualifies and develops a pipeline of strategic opportunities and growth strategy to achieve annual new business objectives Leads preparation of initial gate reviews and supports capture and proposal efforts throughout the opportunity lifecycle Penetrates target agencies/organizations as assigned and other supporting agencies/organizations to uncover longer term opportunities. Broadens and deepens existing customer relationships to gain strategic positioning, retain existing revenue, and attain additional business. Develops proposals for presentation to customers. Coordinates account resources with representatives from marketing, pre-sales engineering, and product management. Establishes trust, rapport and creditability with client organizations senior leadership and operational managers SLED telecommunications, carrier, hardware or network services sales/BD experience required within the last 12 months ~7-10 years experience working within the SLED sector, with a minimum 5 years sales/business development experience calling on government/education organizations required ~ Extensive knowledge of wireline telecommunications technologies and recurring revenue business models ~ Knowledge of respective acquisition / procurement policies ~ Demonstrated success winning contracts and business in the government/education market place required ~ Track record of success developing business within specific agencies identified below ~ Strategic planning, account management, account planning (including account profiling, account positioning strategy, customer needs analysis, sales opportunity development, service improvement planning, and long range account management strategies) and proven contract negotiation skills required ~ Training in consultative sales techniques required ~ Ability to use Microsoft Word to create, edit, and share routine documents; Microsoft Excel spreadsheet package to organize, tabulate, and analyze data; and Microsoft PowerPoint to develop presentations ~ Possess exceptional written/verbal communications skills, presentation skills, organizational time management skills, and display a strong customer-facing, sales and marketing, and presentation skills ~ Ability to articulate the requirements for technical, contractual, commercial and management responses. ~ Ability to travel nationally & internationally to customer facilities as required ~ This information reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position based on current national data. Lumen offers a comprehensive package featuring a broad range of Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle benefits and other perks that enhance your physical, mental, emotional and financial wellbeing. We're able to answer any additional questions you may have about our bonus structure (short-term incentives, long-term incentives and/or sales compensation) as you move through the selection process. With real support and shared accountability, teams collaborate better, move faster, and deliver meaningful outcomes. If you are selected for a position, there will be a background screen, which may include check