Remote Business Development & Channel Partnerships

Cerence Inc.; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 96,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance coverage (medical, dental, $

Paid time off

Paid holidays

RRSP contribution

Equity awards

Remote or hybrid work

Job summary

Cerence is seeking a remote, North America–based Business Development professional to drive direct customer opportunities across non-automotive businesses. You will lead discovery sessions, craft compelling proposals, and coordinate with Product, Engineering, and Solutions teams to tailor offerings.

A strong track record in technology sales and channel collaboration is essential. Responsibilities include distributor partner management, workshops, and regional growth initiatives, plus

Qualifications

• 3-7 years of experience in business development, sales, account management, or channel management.
• Track record of developing and closing technology-related business opportunities.
• Experience managing customer relationships and sales pipelines.
• Strong presentation, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work effectively across product, engineering, and commercial teams.
• Willingness to travel as needed.

Responsibilities

• Direct Customer Engagement & Revenue Growth (50%) Own and manage a portfolio of direct customer opportunities across Cerence's non-automotive businesses. Conduct customer discovery sessions to understand business needs and technical requirements. Develop and deliver customer presentations, product demonstrations, and solution proposals. Coordinate with Product Management, Engineering, and Solutions teams to develop customer offerings. Prepare quotations, commercial proposals, and statements of work. Manage sales opportunities through the entire customer lifecycle, including negotiation and deal closure. Maintain accurate pipeline forecasting and CRM updates. Identify upsell and expansion opportunities within existing accounts.
• Distributor & Channel Partner Management (30%) Serve as the day-to-day business lead for assigned distributors and reseller partners. Conduct regular pipeline reviews and business planning discussions. Support distributor enablement activities, including product training and sales support. Organize and execute two distributor workshops annually. Assist in the recruitment and onboarding of new channel partners, with emphasis on North American growth. Coordinate joint customer pursuits and co-selling opportunities with distributors.
• Market Development & Events (10%) Represent Cerence at industry conferences, trade shows, and customer events. Support lead generation and follow-up activities from industry events. Develop relationships with key ecosystem partners and industry stakeholders. Provide market feedback and competitive intelligence to internal teams.
• Cross-Functional Coordination (10%) Act as the voice of the customer within Cerence. Work closely with Product, Engineering, Marketing, and Operations teams to support customer requirements. Help prioritize customer requests and coordinate responses across functions. Support go-to-market initiatives and new product introductions.

Skills

Customer engagement

Revenue growth

Sales cycle management

Negotiation

Presentation skills

Cross-functional coordination

Travel willingness

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

Cerence is seeking a remote, North America–based Business Development professional to drive direct customer opportunities across non-automotive businesses. You will lead discovery sessions, craft compelling proposals, and coordinate with Product, Engineering, and Solutions teams to tailor offerings.

A strong track record in technology sales and channel collaboration is essential. Responsibilities include distributor partner management, workshops, and regional growth initiatives, plus