Cisco Solutions Architect

Cornerstone Consulting Group, LLC; Auburn Hills (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Cornerstone Consulting Group, LLC is seeking a senior IT pre-sales consultant to plan and consult with clients to understand IT vision and strategic initiatives as they pertain to client communication systems, core route/switch networking, wireless and security opportunities.

You will design complex solutions across cloud, server, network, storage, virtualization and business continuity for mid-sized to large enterprises.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in a relevant field.
• 10 years IT marketplace experience with pre-sales activity and Cisco solutions.
• Strong communication and consultative skills with customer-facing experience.

Responsibilities

• Consults as technical authority to determine scope and solutions.
• Meets with local Area Sales Director to review goals.
• Coordinates sales and marketing activities with Account Executives.
• Develops Statements of Work for Professional Services Solutions.
• Supports Sales team with POCs, demonstrations, RFP responses and regional events.

Skills

Customer communication

Pre-sales experience

Technical depth in networking

Solution design

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Business, Management Disciplines or related field

Tools

Cisco CCW

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Visio

Job description

Works with internal Account Executives and Area Sales Directors to plan and consult with clients to understand client’s IT vision and strategic initiatives as they pertain to client communication systems, core route / switch networking, wireless and security opportunities. Combines sales ability and consultative skills with technical expertise to design complex solutions which may include; cloud, server, network, storage, virtualization and business continuity solutions for mid-sized companies to large enterprises. Consults with client to define need or problem, conducts studies and surveys to obtain and analyze data, discusses possible solutions, makes technical recommendations with supporting documentation and in some cases may be involved with professional delivery of solution.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Consults as technical authority with regards to client opportunities to ascertain and determine scope required to obtain required solution. Uses different medias (whiteboard, PowerPoint, Visio, etc.) to define need or problem area and how our solutions meet that need.
• Meets regularly with local Area Sales Director to review goals and performance within region.
• Coordinates sales and marketing activities with Account Executive in all accounts.
• Creates awareness of uncovered opportunities outside of Account Executive’s particular specialty and maps those requirements to our solutions.
• Understands and drives our Professional Services Solutions and creates Statements of Work.
• Provides support as subject matter expert to Sales team and other Technical Consultants focusing on mid-size and enterprise accounts in areas including but not limited to:
• Sales support
• Marketing support
• Regional and national event participation
• RFP response
• Regional team meetings
• Vendor relations
• Ensures successful customer Proof-of-Concepts (POCs) and demonstrations.
• Demonstrates and actively promotes an understanding and commitment to the mission through performing behaviors consistent with the organization's values.
• Maintains a working knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and Local laws and regulations as well as policies and procedures in order to ensure adherence in a manner that reflects honest, ethical and professional behaviors.
• Supports and conducts self in a manner consistent with customer service expectations.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Business, Management Disciplines or related field.

Experience:

10 years experience in IT marketplace with pre-sales experience in:

• Implementation planning, design and support of Cisco Networking and/or Unified Communications solutions.
• Designing Cisco Data Center switching, routing and campus wireless solutions.
• Designing Cisco Security, Voice / Video Solutions.
• Cisco Commerce tools (CCW) and other solution design tools.
• Consulting background focused on Cisco solutions.
• Cisco technical background - particularly around Core Route/Switch technologies.
• Computer Skills

Computer Skills

• Proficient use of Microsoft Office applications.
• Proficient use of Microsoft Visio application.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

One of the following Cisco certifications required:

• Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)

Other Skills and Abilities

• Outstanding oral, written, and technical/business communication skills.
• Strong technical and customer interaction skills. Comfortable leading whiteboard discussions on current technology options in our networking partners’ portfolios.
• Understanding of customer applications, Data Center compute and storage requirements (on-premise and in the cloud) and how they relate to network.
• Ability to multi-task and accommodate requests from multiple customers and internal Account Executives.
• Ability to have business level conversations with customers and assist them in deploying solutions to meet business requirements.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is constantly required to sit, talk, see, hear, and use hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand; move about, climb steps or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.