VP VALIDATED SOLUTIONS & PARTNER STRATEGY

Vice President of Validated Solutions and Partner Strategy

Lumen connects the world. We are igniting business growth by connecting people, data and applications quickly, securely, and effortlessly. Together, we are building a culture and company from the people up committed to teamwork, trust and transparency. People power progress. We're looking for top-tier talent and offer the flexibility you need to thrive and deliver lasting impact. Join us as we digitally connect the world and shape the future.

The Vice President of Validated Solutions and Partner Strategy is a cross-functional leader responsible for creating, maintaining, and scaling the Lumen Validated Designs (LVD) program. This role will also lead the development and management of Lumen's strategic partner ecosystem identifying, onboarding, and enabling technology partners that align with Lumen's solution strategy. This is a high-impact role that operates at the intersection of partner strategy, solution development, and go-to-market readiness. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in partner programs, ecosystem development, and technical solution validation, with a track record of driving scale and operational rigor.

The Main Responsibilities

Build and lead the Lumen Validated Designs (LVD) framework creating a repeatable, scalable model for validating multi-partner technology solutions on the Lumen network.

Design and operationalize the end-to-end partner onboarding process, from qualification and use case alignment to technical validation and go-to-market readiness.

Develop and execute a partner engagement model that includes joint solution planning, co-development, field enablement, and marketing integration.

Manage and grow a portfolio of strategic technology alliances, driving shared success metrics and long-term relationship value.

Lead cross-functional collaboration with Product, Engineering, Marketing, Sales, and Finance to align LVD and partner initiatives to Lumen's business priorities.

Drive adoption of the LVD program internally and externally, serving as a champion of trusted, validated solutions.

Establish governance and performance metrics for partner success and solution certification, including ROI and customer adoption KPIs.

Create tools, templates, and enablement content that ensure consistency, transparency, and efficiency across the LVD lifecycle.

Define and manage the operating cadence for LVD governance, including partner review boards, solution councils, and stakeholder updates.

Own internal and external communications strategy to elevate the visibility and strategic value of the LVD ecosystem.

What We Look For in a Candidate

15+ years of experience in partner management, product strategy, or solution development.

Proven leadership driving partner-led growth, alliance ecosystems, or validated solution programs.

Strong understanding of enterprise IT environments, including cloud, security, networking, and managed services.

Exceptional cross-functional collaboration and executive communication skills.

Experience building scalable programs and partner frameworks within large, matrixed organizations.

Ability to influence at all levels of the organization and represent Lumen externally with technology partners.

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field; with Masters in Computer Science or advanced degree preferred.

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. Location Based Pay Ranges $238,076 - $317,434 in all states. 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.

Learn more about Lumen's : Benefits

Equal Employment Opportunities

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, religion, veteran status, disability, genetic characteristic or information, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, family status, pregnancy, or other legally protected status (collectively, "protected statuses"). We do not tolerate unlawful discrimination in any employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, compensation, promotion, benefits, discipline, termination, job assignments or training.