Senior Director, Strategic Alliances and Business Development - job 1 of 2

The Senior Director of Strategic Alliances and Business Development at Axon holds several pivotal responsibilities. This includes leading the development of an enterprise-wide strategy for partnerships tailored to create a diverse portfolio of go-to-market alliances and technology vendors. The role demands identifying, evaluating, and executing alliances that seamlessly integrate with Axon’s R&D initiatives while fostering innovation across hardware and SaaS solutions. You will also negotiate significant commercial terms, ensuring that the alliances are effectively embedded within the product development pipeline, ultimately driving wealth creation and valuable growth within the public safety technology sector.

To qualify as a Senior Director of Strategic Alliances and Business Development at Axon, candidates typically need a Bachelor’s degree in business, technology, or a related field, with an advanced degree such as an MBA being a plus. Experience is key, with 10+ years in strategic partnerships or business development within the tech industry being ideal. The role also requires a proven track record in managing strategic alliances functions, negotiating high-value partnerships, and expertise in technology R&D and product management. Excellent analytical skills and exceptional communication abilities are also crucial for effectively influencing and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

As the Senior Director of Strategic Alliances and Business Development, you are integral to shaping Axon’s future. Your leadership will impact the organization by driving innovation through strategic alliances, ultimately enhancing product offerings and expanding reach within public safety technology. By identifying new market opportunities and managing high-stakes partnerships, you will help position Axon as a leader in the industry, facilitating growth and aligning with company goals. Your insights and financial analyses will inform senior leadership decisions while ensuring post-partnership integrations are smooth and aligned with overall business objectives.

At Axon, we look for a range of skills in our Senior Director of Strategic Alliances and Business Development candidates. Key skills include strategic thinking, problem-solving, and a data-driven approach to decision-making. Strong experience in negotiating agreements and managing high-value partnerships is crucial. Candidates should also demonstrate exceptional communication and presentation skills to influence stakeholders effectively. A deep understanding of technology trends relevant to public safety and the ability to nurture a high-performance team culture are essential to thrive in this role.

The Senior Director of Strategic Alliances and Business Development manages a small yet high-impact global team of strategic alliance and business development professionals. This role involves mentoring and fostering a collaborative, innovative, and performance-driven culture, ensuring that team members excel while aligning with Axon’s mission and business objectives. As a lead figure, you will empower your team to engage effectively with cross-functional groups—ranging from product and engineering to sales and marketing—driving cohesive efforts towards shared goals.

When answering this question, highlight your relevant experience and specific examples of how you’ve successfully formed strategic partnerships. Share insights on the types of partnerships you've managed, the industries you've engaged with, and the results achieved through these collaborations. Emphasize your strategic approach and how your role influenced the company’s objectives.

To effectively answer this question, discuss your organizational skills and decision-making processes. Explain your methodology for assessing urgency and impact, and provide an example of a time when you successfully managed competing priorities. Showcase your ability to adapt, leveraging data to guide your prioritizations.

In your response, narrate a specific instance where you navigated a complex negotiation. Showcase your preparation strategies, how you approached conflicting perspectives, and the tactics that led to a successful outcome. Highlight the lessons learned and how the experience strengthened your negotiation skills.

Here, emphasize the importance of trust, clear communication, and mutual benefit when forming business relationships. Share personal anecdotes demonstrating how you’ve built long-term partnerships, paying attention to how you nurture relationships through regular communication and delivering value.

Discuss your methods for facilitating cross-functional collaboration between strategic partners and product development teams. Explain your approach to maintaining open communication, regular updates, and incorporating feedback from both sides. Highlight an example where this alignment led to successful product outcomes.

In answering this question, outline specific metrics you utilize to measure partnership success such as KPIs, engagement levels, and return on investment. Give an example of how you used data to refine a partnership strategy and the subsequent results.

Illustrate your experience with legal agreements by discussing your familiarity with reviewing terms pertaining to partnerships and negotiations. Provide an example of a situation where your understanding of legal aspects facilitated a smoother negotiation and helped avoid potential pitfalls.

Identify your passion for strategic partnerships and how they contribute to meaningful outcomes, particularly in sectors you resonate with, such as public safety. Share experiences that highlight your drive for innovation, creating solutions that make a lasting impact.

Describe your conflict resolution skills and provide an example of how you’ve proactively managed disagreements. Emphasize your focus on active listening and mediating discussions aimed at finding common ground before reaching amicable agreements.

In your response, discuss your awareness of emerging trends in technology, such as advancements in AI or data analytics, and how these can influence strategic partnerships. Explain how you would leverage these trends to benefit Axon’s partnership strategy and enhance outcomes.