Principal Enterprise Strategist - Services Engagement

CDW; Vernon Hills (IL); On-site; USD 151,000 - 212,000; Full time

Job summary

CDW seeks a Principal Enterprise Strategist in Vernon Hills, IL to lead Pre-Sales - Services Engagement, defining strategic vision and advising senior leadership. The role drives transformational IT strategies, designs multi-practice solutions, and publishes IP while guiding executive workshops across CDW’s portfolio, including cloud, data, security, and AI.

This position collaborates with R&D and delivery to ensure scalable outcomes and measurable business impact through AI adoption and thought

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; 10+ years of experience or 14+ years overall experience.
• Experience designing multi-practice solutions for complex customer environments.
• Proven ability to influence business and IT stakeholders at executive level.
• Certifications across multiple disciplines (AWS/Azure) are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Act as segment evangelist for transformational technologies (cloud, automation, AI/ML).
• Lead executive-level workshops and technology visioning sessions.
• Provide strategic advisory to translate business objectives into technology roadmaps.

Skills

Executive influence

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional leadership

Public speaking

Cloud strategy

Education

Bachelor's degree

14+ years experience

Tools

AWS Solutions Architect

Azure Architect Expert

Job description

Description

Job Summary

As a Principal Enterprise Strategist, you serve as the foremost authority in Pre-Sales - Services Engagement, defining strategic vision and advising senior leadership. This role engages executive clients to deliver high-impact solutions, while driving innovation and thought leadership across CDW's technology portfolio.

What you will do

• Act as a segment-wide evangelist for transformational technologies (cloud-native platforms, automation, AI/ML).
• Publish white papers, build reusable IP (frameworks, templates), and deliver external presentations.
• Provide non-billable advisory oversight during delivery of multi-practice solutions to ensure architectural integrity and alignment with intended outcomes.
• Conduct executive-level workshops and multi-practice technology visioning sessions.
• Provide strategic advisory consulting to clients, translating business objectives into technology strategies and actionable roadmaps.
• Guide long-term IT transformation, ensuring scalability, interoperability, and alignment to business outcomes.
• Identify opportunities early by spotting emerging technical trends.
• Lead financial impact modeling to support new products, services, and partner-adjacent initiatives.
• Collaborate across Digital Infrastructure, Digital Velocity, Managed Services, and Global Security Strategy Office (GSSO).
• Support solution scaling and transition planning in partnership with R&D and delivery teams.

What we expect of you

• Bachelor's degree required and 10+ years of experience OR 14+ years of work experience required
• Experience designing multi-practice solutions for complex customer environments.
• Strong understanding of CDW's portfolio including Cloud, applications, data, security, modern infrastructure, DevOps, SaaS technologies, and AI.
• Proven ability to influence business and IT stakeholders at the executive level.
• Demonstrated success building and delivering enterprise technology roadmaps and digital transformation strategies.
• Certifications across multiple disciplines (AWS Solutions Architect, Azure Architect Expert) is a plus.
• Background in vertical-specific architecture (healthcare, financial services, manufacturing) is a plus.
• Strategic mindset with ability to translate vision into executable strategies is a plus.
• Executive presence with strong communication skills is a plus.
• Cross-domain expertise across integrated technology solutions is a plus.
• Innovation and agility in fast-paced environments is a plus.
• Collaborative leadership across sales, engineering, and delivery teams is a plus.
• Outcome-driven focus on measurable business impact is a plus.

Pay range: $151,350 - $211,870 depending on experience and skill set
Annual bonus target of 25% subject to terms and conditions of plan
Benefits overview: https://cdw.benefit-info.com/
Salary ranges may be subject to geographic differentials

CDW is committed to being an AI-fluent organization

We're looking for people who bring curiosity, a learner's mindset, and a willingness to engage with ever-evolving technology and tools. We value adopting AI as a partner, openness to experimentation, and a shared interest in learning together on AI. Our goal is to create a culture where AI enhances-not replaces-human creativity and decision-making. You don't need to be an expert today; what matters is your readiness to explore, adapt, and grow with us as we integrate AI responsibly and effectively into our work.

Additionally, CDW is committed to fostering an equitable, transparent, and respectful hiring process for all applicants. During our application process, our goal is to understand your experience, strengths, skills, and qualifications. As an AI forward company, we see AI not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for new ways of thinking, creating, and communicating. We encourage candidates to embrace an AI mindset, one that's curious, adaptive, and ready to explore what's possible. We welcome thoughtful use of AI to expand your perspective and elevate how you share your story, while ensuring your application remains rooted in your own background, judgment, and voice.

About Us

CDW is a Fortune 500 technology solutions provider that helps businesses, government, education, and healthcare organizations achieve what's possible through technology. What makes CDW different isn't just what we do-it's how we do it. At CDW we act as one-building trust, speaking candidly, and working together to achieve more. We play to win-focusing on what matters most and delivering for our customers. And we think forward-staying curious, moving fast, and continuously learning. We believe meaningful work happens when people feel supported, heard, and empowered to contribute. That's why we think of ourselves as coworkers, not just employees-working together to solve complex challenges and deliver real impact for our customers and communities.

As a fullstack, fulllifecycle technology partner, CDW brings deep expertise, strong relationships, and broad industry knowledge to help turn ideas into outcomes. When you join CDW, you become part of a collaborative environment where your work matters, your growth is supported, and your contributions help shape what's next.

Together, we deliver the full promise of what technology can do. Together, we Make Amazing Happen.

CDW is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by state and local law.