Channel Account Manager SLED

F5 Networks, Inc.; Field (NM); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 203,000; Full time

Job summary

F5 Networks, Inc. is seeking a senior Channel Account Manager to drive revenue by recruiting and developing partner opportunities across North America.

You will train partners, coordinate with the F5 direct sales team, and manage demand generation initiatives to maximize bookings and growth. The role emphasizes building strong partner relationships, aligning business plans, and delivering compelling F5 messaging in executive engagements.

Qualifications

• BA or Master’s degree or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• 8+ years of directly related experience, progressing to senior-level role(s).

Responsibilities

• Uphold F5’s Business Code of Ethics and report violations.
• Provide sales training to partners to position and sell F5 solutions.
• Drive pipeline growth with partners and manage opportunity registrations.
• Develop strong relationships across partner organizations and internal teams.
• Excel at conflict management in deals, contracts, and partner requirements.
• Leverage marketing funds to drive demand generation and ROI for channel activities.
• Map accounts with partners and the F5 sales team to drive new opportunities.
• Develop and execute strategic business plans with partners.

Skills

Channel sales

Partner management

Sales training

Strategic planning

Public speaking

Microsoft Office

Relationship building

Market development

Education

BA or Master's degree

Tools

Outlook

PowerPoint

Word

Excel

CRM systems

Job description

At F5, we strive to bring a better digital world to life. Our teams empower organizations across the globe to create, secure, and run applications that enhance how we experience our evolving digital world. We are passionate about cybersecurity, from protecting consumers from fraud to enabling companies to focus on innovation. Everything we do centers around people. That means we obsess over how to make the lives of our customers, and their customers, better. And it means we prioritize a diverse F5 community where each individual can thrive.

At F5, we strive to bring a better digital world to life. Our teams empower organizations across the globe to create, secure, and run applications that enhance how we experience our evolving digital world. We are passionate about cybersecurity, from protecting consumers from fraud to enabling companies to focus on innovation. Everything we do centers around people. That means we obsess over how to make the lives of our customers, and their customers, better. And it means we prioritize a diverse F5 community where each individual can thrive.

Position Summary

This position is responsible for increasing revenue in region/territory/district through identifying, recruiting and developing opportunity generating partnerships with partners. In addition this position is focused on driving the partners to operate as an extension of F5's direct sales team through effective sales and technical training, demand generation marketing efforts and mutual business planning.

Primary Responsibilities

• Responsible for upholding F5's Business Code of Ethics and for promptly reporting violations of the Code or other company policies.
• Sales Training - Ensure that partner is able to effectively position and sell F5 solutions. Work with the F5 sales team to drive partner sales training opportunities; ensuring partners have the tools to identify opportunities, sell F5 solutions, and fully understand F5's UNITY Partner program.
• Pipeline Growth and Management - Identify, in conjunction with partners, new sales opportunities. Ensure partners, F5 sales reps and management are working together in the sales process, lead generation, registering opportunities, accurately forecast bookings and tracking to required bookings goals established by the partner’s UNITY Partner tier.
• Relationship Management - Develop strong top to bottom relationships throughout the partner organization (Management, sales teams, technical teams and marketing) ensuring partner compliance with the F5's UNITY Partner Program and fostering a well-developed relationship between F5/partner sales and technical teams.
• Excel at Conflict Management - Excellent conflict management skills, with ability to be fair and firm with F5 team and partners. Examples are: Deal registration, support contracts, and partner tier requirements.
• Marketing & Demand Generation - Leverage F5 marketing funds to drive demand generation activities that generate the highest possible ROI. Manage channel marketing funds to ensure event and partner success.
• Account Mapping - Drive regular cadence of account mapping sessions with partners and the F5 sales team focused on driving net-new accounts and new opportunities in existing accounts.
• Business Planning - Work with partners to develop and execute a strategic business plan focused on driving new accounts, new opportunities, sales and technical competency and incremental bookings growth.
• Collaborate with Strategic Partner Managers to develop and execute business plans for our national strategic partners in territory where appropriate. The partner business plans are the basis for QBRs and need to be updated quarterly.
• Special Projects & Reporting - Work on strategic initiatives as established by channel management and reporting business issues/opportunities as requested by channel and/or executive management. Build relationships with strategic eco-system business partners in the field (examples: VMware, Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco). Recruit and develop new partner relationship to drive whitespace penetration, access to new vertical and technology markets.
• Create and execute awareness and training programs for the F5 sales force to highlight partners, educate on the UNITY Partner program, and actively participate in district QBRs.
• In North America, a Sr CAM can support a territory plus one or more small to midsize strategic partner accounts. Responsible for geographic territory and a Strategic Partner Account that has headquarters within that region. Acts as a lead on planning and programs for that Strategic Partner.
• Advanced Business Acumen - Well developed understanding of business, and strategy. Takes initiative on new programs and innovation to further business goals.
• Influence/channel leadership -Trusted advisor status with District Manager; Channel leadership - ability to lead, positively influence and shape behavior of partners and TAMs/MAMs (and broader channel team); Excellent Brand at F5.
• F5 Messaging - Excels at delivering F5 story and messaging. High skilled at delivering compelling presentations on F5's products & solutions.
• Leverage F5 internal resources - Influence and obtain sponsorship from internal F5 groups to support programs at partners to drive incremental business opportunities for F5 and the partner.
• Actively engage with F5's eco-system business partners to plan activities that will drive F5 awareness and opportunities with our partners.
• The position requires exceptional executive presence and ability to work across multiple executive roles to direct/educate/ communicate our business plan priorities and progress. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Metrics

Achieve quarterly business metrics for channels. These include: PIO (Partner Initiated Opportunities), security and software attach rates, net-new accounts, competitive take-out, and other partner value-add metrics.

The Job Description is intended to be a general representation of the responsibilities and requirements of the job. However, the description may not be all-inclusive, and responsibilities and requirements are subject to change.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Highly efficient & organized / excellent time management skills.
• Highly developed, clear concise and compelling communication skills.
• Strong presentation skills and ability to articulate complex technology simply
• Well-developed business acumen and understanding of business strategy
• Excellent conflict management skills, with the ability to be fair & firm
• Knowledge of enterprise networks, security and applications (desired)
• Detailed experience with Microsoft applications such as Outlook, PowerPoint, Word and Excel
• Clear, concise, and effective communicator - highly developed, clear concise and compelling communication skills.
• Persuasive pitch & presentation skills.
• Excellent sales and management skills
• Experience in two-tiered channel resale models
• Background in software/hardware sales and distribution – with large Software, Hardware, Security and/or Networking Companies
• Proven track record of success in sales and marketing programs
• Strong knowledge of Application Delivery Networks and security
• In-depth knowledge of partner organizations, processes, business drivers and internal operations

Qualifications

• BA or Master's degree or equivalent combination of training and experience
• 8+ years of directly related experience, progressing to senior-level role(s)

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Duties will require being on call periodically and working outside normal working hours (evenings and weekends).

Duties may require out of town travel up to 60% of the time.

LI-EM1

LI-Remote

The annual base pay for this position is: $135,200.00 - $202,800.00. The pay range referenced is as of the time of the job posting and is subject to change. You may also be offered incentive compensation, bonus, restricted stock units, and benefits. More details about F5's benefits can be found at the following link: https://www.f5.com/company/careers/benefits. F5 reserves the right to change or terminate any benefit plan without notice. Please note that F5 only contacts candidates through F5 email address (ending with @f5.com) or auto email notification from Workday (ending with f5.com or @myworkday.com).

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is the policy of F5 to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants without regard to unlawful considerations of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, sensory, physical, or mental disability, marital status, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, benefits, training, discipline, and termination. F5 offers a variety of reasonable accommodations for candidates. Requesting an accommodation is completely voluntary. F5 will assess the need for accommodations in the application process separately from those that may be needed to perform the job. Request by contacting [e-mail].

Hybrid & Remote Work

Hybrid: Employees within 30 commutable miles of an F5 office are required to work from the office a minimum of 30 business days per quarter.

Remote: Primarily work from designated home location but can come into an F5 office to work or travel to an offsite location as needed.

Together, we're building a better digital world. Founded in 1996, F5 is a global leader in application delivery and security. Our premier platform helps customers secure and deliver every app, API, and piece of infrastructure across all environments. Backed by over three decades of expertise and 553 patents, our solutions protect against threats while ensuring fast, reliable digital experiences. With over 6,400 employees, we serve more than 23,000 customers in over 170 countries. To continue this work, we need people like you—the best minds in the industry. We're committed to a unique, human-first culture that encourages authenticity, prioritizes diversity and inclusion, and fosters the growth and success of our employees.