Director, Channel Programs & Enablement

Kong; United States; Remote; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Kong Inc., the AI Connectivity Company, is seeking a Director of Channel Programs Enablement in the United States. You will design and manage partner programs to support Kong's channel business and develop collateral, onboarding tools, and portal capabilities using SFDC and PRM systems.

You will lead cross-functional initiatives with Marketing, Product, Legal, and Finance, build a high-performing team, and ensure alignment across the organization while traveling as needed.

Qualifications

• Prior experience building and running partner programs, channel enablement, channel marketing, and/or channel development in the technology or services space.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.
• Problem solver and self-motivated.
• Exceptional oral and written communication and presentation skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to conceptualize and sell ideas internally.
• Excellent time-management and multi-tasking abilities.
• Innovation and the ability to build consensus.
• Works extremely well as a member of a team, but also excels as an individual contributor.
• Shares Kong's values and works in accordance with them.
• Prior leadership experience appropriate to a director-level role at Kong.
• Ability to travel if needed and comply with the company's travel policy

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and manage partner programs that support Kong's channel business.
• Develop partner program collateral, documentation, and onboarding tools to enhance the overall partner experience and communicate program details to partners
• Develop the partner portal, leveraging Salesforce (SFDC) and a partner relationship management (PRM) system, working with Marketing and Channel Operations
• Manage and administer the partner portal to create an engaging platform for partners to interact with Kong (lead registration, opportunity tracking, commissions, etc.)
• Work with Channel Operations/IT to implement channel strategy, data/reporting, system workflows, and overall operational governance for the program
• Design the Channel Enablement certification and badge model; work closely with Channel Marketing, Channel Services, Customer Success, and Sales Enablement on partner enablement tools/training, and implement them as part of the overall program
• Manage and administer partner agreements and partner contracting, in coordination with Legal
• Communicate channel programs, strategies, events, and updates internally to drive alignment throughout the business
• Work cross-functionally with Marketing, Product, Legal, and Finance to continue to implement and grow partner programs, and ensure alignment across the business
• Work with partners to solicit feedback on existing programs/processes and implement changes (e.g., Partner Advisory Councils, via channel teams)
• Build a team to effectively manage channel programs, enablement, the partner portal, communications, and MDF/incentive management

Skills

Channel programs

Enablement

Sales enablement

Strategic leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Sell ideas internally

Time management

Multi-tasking

Team leadership

Travel readiness

Job description

Director, Channel Programs Enablement Responsibilities

• Responsible for the design, build, and management of partner programs that support Kong's channel business.
• Develop partner program collateral, documentation, and onboarding tools to enhance the overall partner experience and communicate program details to partners
• Develop the partner portal, leveraging Salesforce (SFDC) and a partner relationship management (PRM) system, working with Marketing and Channel Operations
• Manage and administer the partner portal to create an engaging platform for partners to interact with Kong (lead registration, opportunity tracking, commissions, etc.)
• Work with Channel Operations/IT to implement channel strategy, data/reporting, system workflows, and overall operational governance for the program
• Design the Channel Enablement certification and badge model; work closely with Channel Marketing, Channel Services, Customer Success, and Sales Enablement on partner enablement tools/training, and implement them as part of the overall program
• Manage and administer partner agreements and partner contracting, in coordination with Legal
• Communicate channel programs, strategies, events, and updates internally to drive alignment throughout the business
• Work cross-functionally with Marketing, Product, Legal, and Finance to continue to implement and grow partner programs, and ensure alignment across the business
• Work with partners to solicit feedback on existing programs/processes and implement changes (e.g., Partner Advisory Councils, via channel teams)
• Build a team to effectively manage channel programs, enablement, the partner portal, communications, and MDF/incentive management

Director, Channel Programs Enablement Requirements

• Prior experience building and running partner programs, channel enablement, channel marketing, and/or channel development in the technology or services space
• Thrives in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment
• Problem solver and self-motivated
• Exceptional oral and written communication and presentation skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to conceptualize and sell ideas internally
• Excellent time-management and multi-tasking abilities
• Innovation and the ability to build consensus
• Works extremely well as a member of a team, but also excels as an individual contributor
• Shares Kong's values and works in accordance with them
• Prior leadership experience appropriate to a director-level role at Kong
• Ability to travel if needed and comply with the company's travel policy#LI-JS2

About Kong:

Kong Inc., the AI Connectivity Company, is building the connectivity layer of AI. Trusted by the Fortune 500® and AI-native startups alike, Kong’s unified API and AI platform enables organizations to