Regional Sales Lead

At Avanade, we believe in making a genuine human impact in everything we do. We transform businesses and help our clients envision new paths forward; we uncover ways technology can improve the way we work and live; and provide opportunities for our people to leave the world better than we found it.

For more than two decades, we’ve tapped into the power of our people and cutting-edge Microsoft technology to deliver business-critical technology capabilities to thousands of organisations around the world. Our deep expertise and relentless commitment to client success is the reason we are Microsoft’s #1 global partner. We’re also driven by an innovative spirit and a growth mindset, and we value leaders who can bring the best out in our people and nurture their careers while inspiring excellence for our clients and one another.

Role Overview

Avanade operates globally across geographic Regions; each Region has a community of sales professionals who are accountable for identifying, qualifying and developing business opportunities which connect the full breadth and depth of Avanade’s market-leading capabilities and solutions with the business and technology needs of our clients, seizing the market opportunity for Avanade .

Our sales professionals are often the first point of contact for clients and bring critical market-facing and competitive insights into Avanade’s business to ensure that we collectively focus on high quality, differentiated, client-specific value propositions. Our Sales teams are accountable for owning and driving Avanade’s ambitious sales growth, bringing Avanade’s Integrated Go-to-Market (IGTM) approach to life for clients, within each of our Regions .

Practices are where Avanade’s employees are ‘homed ’. The Regional Sales Practice is where Avanade’s in-region selling professionals and sales-focused employees are homed. Working closely with the Global Practice Lead, the Regional Sales Practice works in alignment with Avanade's global strategic business and sales priorities, with an emphasis on creating and supporting an engaged community of expert, high-performance selling and sales-focused professionals who have access to ongoing skills, capability and career development. Having a dedicated, engaged Regional Sales Practice will foster a community of sales professionals who are highly motivated and capable to drive ambitious business growth while ensuring excellent client business outcomes, bringing the ‘voice of the customer’ into Avanade.

The Benelux Regional Sales Lead has responsibility for leading our overall sales organisation and targets, including the sales teams and sellers for the Benelux region ( Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) , owning the local relationship with the regional Accenture Microsoft Business group Sales Lead and the regional Microsoft executives.

Benelux as a region is a very important part of Avanade’s European business with impressive growth rates for both sales and revenues with favourable market conditions and a strong presence across all three geographic markets.

The position is a member of the Benelux Leadership team and European Sales Leadership team and will have the influence and scope to ensure that Avanade is ideally positioned for successful growth over the long term.

This role will provide expert guidance, support and oversight to the regional sales activities and work towards a high level of consistency in the design, execution and efficiency of sales. The role requires a thought leader with a growth mindset, able to transform and develop the existing sales capabilities, positioning Avanade as an innovator for customers and the ability to develop and grow long term, high value customer relationships at Executive level.

Key to this will be a demonstrative understanding of our business, managed services and the consulting eco-system. As a solutions based business we also want to see a leader who has driven cross-solution selling and exhibits an instinctive approach to client challenges that culminates in solution orchestration for mid-market customers.

The Benelux Regiona l Sales Lead role requires a track record in developing and growing high performance sales teams in local markets whilst working as part of a wider team; demonstrating and role modelling team player behaviours.

A strategic outlook will assist the ideal profile in the navigation of a “new normal ”, both for Avanade and its client and partner ecosystem. A strong orientation towards execution will also be required , to lead Sales will be involved with key customers and big deals as Executive Sponsor or Deal strategist. A combination of hands-on strategic deal and client relationship experience, together with gravitas and impact, will drive continuous value for the organisation's top clients. This individual will be entrepreneurial and results oriented and will contribute to the overall business.

In summary:

A highly credible commercial leader with a proven track record in consulting-led growth, managed services, sales origination and executive stakeholder management. This individual will accelerate growth across the Enterprise, Corporate and Medium Business markets in Benelux, strengthen Avanade's market position, and connect consulting, sales, solutioning and delivery into a single growth engine that delivers sustainable client and business outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Sales Strategy & Planning

Responsible for regional planning, pipeline development, complex channel management, strategic deal shaping, bid management, and ongoing sales effectiveness program implementation, as well as the development and management of various sales reporting processes

Work in partnership with the local Client Group Leaders who are responsible for the industry portfolio of clients

Build, manage, and orchestrate GTM and sales efforts with both regional MSFT and Accenture CF/AMBG

Articulate an inspiring sales vision and strategy for the region working with Client Group Leads and Integrated Go to Market Lead

Develop business growth plans including annual growth plans and sales target/quota plans

Work in partnership with the Region General Manager and Accenture/Microsoft leaders to agree on the sales territory to target (both direct and indirect)

Support the development of region growth plans across all Business Groups in partnership with Region BG Leads and translate into quota plans

Promote and drive best practices in business development and selling

Drive Sales Performance

Manage and assess performance of regional practice members, in line with agreed plans and KPIs, working closely with Client Group Leadership

Operate as a sales leader and coach to drive a set of specific deals and mentor to pursuit teams across the region

Define and align region practice workforce needs and plans with Global and Area Sales Leadership, Regional Business Leadership

Pro-actively work with Client Account, and Line of Business/Play Leads to identify , qualify, and prioritize opportunities that will drive sales and revenues and align on seller deployment

Foster a high-performance culture encompassing both the immediate sales team and the broader sales community

Practice Leadership and Growth of the Region Sales Practice

Define, align (with Global, Area Sales Leaders, Global Practice Lead and Regional Business Leadership), implement, and evolve regional sales practice development strategy to ensure the region has market leading capabilities, in line with agreed Global, Area, Regional key KPIs for the Sales Practice community

Incorporate global/area practice priorities into regional practice priorities, cascade to region practice team members and provide feedback loop upwards to global

Work closely with the Regional Sales Practice Champions to advocate strongly for the Regional Sales Practice, building a thriving and engaged sales community

Leverage GTM assets and resources

Ensure best practice lever