Business Growth: Driving Strategic Software Partnerships for Sustainable

Business Growth: CDW is an organization built on collaboration, trust, and long-term commitment. The culture emphasizes shared success, where people work together not merely as employees, but as coworkers united by purpose. Every role contributes to delivering meaningful technology solutions that empower customers across industries. Within this environment, the Partner Business Manager – Software and Collaboration plays a critical role in strengthening partnerships, expanding market presence, and driving profitable growth.

This position acts as a central connection point between strategic software partners and internal stakeholders. The focus is on aligning partner objectives with organizational goals while ensuring smooth execution across sales, finance, marketing, and product management teams. By balancing relationship management with data-driven strategy, the role directly supports revenue expansion and brand visibility.

Role Overview and Strategic Importance

The Partner Business Manager – Software and Collaboration is responsible for managing key partner relationships within assigned categories. This role ensures that partner programs, product offerings, and strategic initiatives are fully integrated into business operations. The position requires a strong understanding of software solutions, collaboration platforms, and associated commercial models.

Acting as a trusted advisor, the manager works closely with senior leadership, both internally and externally. This includes participation in discussions around program governance, solution development, and performance evaluation. The role is essential in translating partner strategies into actionable plans that deliver measurable business outcomes.

Partner Expertise and Operational Excellence

A major responsibility of this role is developing deep expertise in assigned partner product portfolios and related programs. This includes understanding deal registration processes, incentive structures, and rebate programs. By mastering these elements, the Partner Business Manager helps streamline operations and ensures sellers are well-informed about transactional requirements.

The role also involves simplifying internal workflows and providing guidance to sales teams, enabling them to focus on customer engagement rather than administrative complexity. Collaboration with technical specialists and service teams ensures that partner solutions are positioned accurately and supported effectively throughout the sales lifecycle.

Market Analysis and Growth Planning

Success in this position depends on the ability to analyze market trends and industry insights. The Partner Business Manager evaluates competitive landscapes, customer demand patterns, and emerging technologies to identify growth opportunities. Based on these insights, strategies are developed to increase market share and expand customer adoption.

Go-to-market planning is a core responsibility. This includes defining target customer segments, selecting priority products, shaping promotional strategies, and supporting product launches. Clear positioning and pricing alignment ensure that partner offerings resonate with the intended audience and deliver value.

Sales Enablement and Relationship Building

Educating internal teams is a key function of the role. The Partner Business Manager supports pre-sales teams and Partner Business Coordinators by providing updates on new products, transitions, and competitive advantages. This knowledge sharing helps uncover new sales opportunities within existing customer bases.

Building and maintaining strong relationships with partner organizations is equally important. The role requires a clear understanding of partner organizational structures and decision-making hierarchies. Regular engagement with senior management fosters trust and ensures alignment on priorities, investments, and long-term goals.

Financial Performance and Reporting

Financial accountability is a central aspect of the role. The Partner Business Manager oversees profitability by managing funding benefits and developing reinvestment strategies that support sustainable growth. Monitoring partner financial health and communicating relevant insights helps mitigate risk and identify new opportunities.

Comprehensive reporting is required to track brand performance, category results, and industry trends. These insights are shared internally and with partners to support transparency and informed decision-making. Hosting Quarterly Business Reviews allows for structured evaluation of performance and discussion of joint initiatives.

Professional Qualifications and Skills

Candidates for this role typically bring a strong foundation in sales, marketing, or partner management. A bachelor’s degree combined with relevant experience, or equivalent internal experience within CDW, is expected. Strong communication skills are essential, as the role involves frequent interaction with diverse stakeholders.

Proficiency in productivity tools and a solid understanding of financial principles are also important. The ability to interpret data, manage budgets, and align investments with strategic priorities contributes directly to success in the role.

Compensation, Culture, and Opportunity

CDW offers competitive compensation aligned with market data and individual qualifications. Salaries are determined based on experience, skills, and demonstrated capabilities, ensuring fairness and transparency. The organization values diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity, creating a respectful and supportive hiring environment.

This position represents an active opportunity for professionals seeking to grow within a leading technology solutions provider. By combining strategic thinking, relationship management, and operational excellence, the Partner Business Manager – Software and Collaboration plays a vital role in shaping the future of technology partnerships.