Innovation Technologies Business DevelopmentLead

The Role

The Innovation Technologies Business Development Lead will play a pivotal role in driving sales growth of new co-innovation initiatives with customers and partners. In this role, you will lead executive-level collaborations with partners, customers, and internal stakeholders to identify emerging opportunities and shape transformative initiatives. Working cross-functionally with Account teams, Solution Engineering, and Customer Success, you will help architect innovative solutions that align technical capabilities with broader business strategies. Your focus will be on accelerating innovation, operationalizing new offerings, and positioning Lumen as a catalyst for strategic growth and digital transformation.

Location

This is a hybrid position with expectations of being in the Lumen office located at 10401NE 8th Street Bellevue Washington 98004 an estimated 2 to 3 times weekly.

The Main Responsibilities

Business Development with Customers and Partners.

Orchestrate the full lifecycle of customer engagement, from executive ignition through adoption, aligning all stakeholders.

Design and operationalize a repeatable engagement framework for beta programs.

Conduct deep discovery with beta customers to uncover needs, validate hypotheses, and shape solution direction.

Align closely with Solution Architects and other key roles to ensure technical feasibility and delivery readiness.

Manage the beta program lifecycle, including onboarding, milestone tracking, feedback loops, and success measurement.

Engage the Legal Team to secure commercial engagements.

Ensure clarity of roles and accountability within both customer and Lumen organizations.

Prove value against co-created design thinking maps and drive toward measurable outcomes.

Capture customer outcomes, case studies, and feedback artifacts to bolster proof and validation.

Ensure customer success by driving adoption and managing value affirmation and customer stories / case studies for use in marketing, PR and EBCs.

Deliver a high-touch, white-glove experience throughout the customer journey.

Own the E2E Partner and Customer journey, working with Account teams to secure customers.

Ensure we deliver Lumen Validated Designs by partnering with Solution Architects and product team.

Partner across disciplines to secure customer success stories that demonstrate meaningful impact.

What We Look For In A Candidate

8-10 years in technology innovation, enterprise solutions, networking, and / or technical sales consulting roles.

Strong Sales Acumen : Business Development Success with Co-creation, Pilot or Beta Programs.

Strategic Relationship Builder : Able to engage and build trust with C-suite and cross-functional teams, driving executive-level customer engagement.

Technical Acumen : Understands emerging technologies, technical architectures, and can assess customer readiness for adoption.

Discovery & Validation Skills : Skilled at conducting deep customer discovery, validating hypotheses, and shaping solution direction.

Program Leadership : Can design and operationalize repeatable frameworks for beta programs, manage lifecycles, and ensure clarity of roles and accountability.

Outcome Orientation : Focused on measurable outcomes, value realization, and referenceable customer success stories.

Collaboration : Works closely with Solution Architects and other key roles to ensure technical feasibility and delivery readiness.

High-Touch Experience : Delivers a white-glove, high-touch customer journey, orchestrating for velocity and delight.

Communication : Able to capture and communicate customer outcomes, case studies, and feedback artifacts for proof and validation.

Compensation

This information reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position based on current national data. Minimums and maximums may vary based on location. Individual pay is based on skills, experience and other relevant factors. This is a sales role with Sales Incentive in addition to base pay.

Location Based Base Pay Ranges : $136,437 - $181,913 in this state : WA

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.