Service Line Specialist-SPE

Job Summary

Service Line Sales Specialists (SLS) provide deep expertise in a Service Line Practice Area to support the Client Leadership Team to close new and expansion opportunities on accounts. They are actively involved in growing the service line's footprint and assisting the Client Partners to engage clients with service line opportunities. SLSs are trusted advisors with a good mix of strategic and tactical management experience.

Responsibilities

In this role the SLS will focus on Cognizant Custom Software Engineering services that are catered to by the Software and Platform Engineering Service Line. This includes "Digital Engineering (DE)" "Application Development & Management (ADM)" and "Quality Engineering & Assuarance (QEA)" Service Lines. The SLS will balance client/project responsibilities with business development and sales responsibilities including identifying qualifying and closing new business opportunities in DE ADM & QEA. The SLS should be a highly client facing dynamic results oriented experienced DE ADM & QEA field sales executive keen to be part of a results-oriented culture accelerating digital change for our large complex clients.

The SLS needs to be highly client facing and should spend most of their time driving client conversations leading to sales. The SLS also work collaboratively and team up with Pre Sales/Practices Solution Architects Offerings and Delivery leaders to ensure that all services and value adds from SPE are represented to the client in a very convincing manner.

Role Responsibilities

Market Leadership:

Creates sales strategies and plan for the Client Partners' review and for its incorporation into the broader client strategy and plan.

Provides subject matter expertise to proposal development and overall solution.

Relationship Management:

Executes and manages the account plan within function/specialism under the guidance or collaboration of the Markets i.e. Client Partners CRMs etc.

Should be the go to person for Client Partners and CRMs to call upon should an opportunity that is relevant to SPE is identified

Invests time in strengthening existing client relationships. Participates in reviews and provides educated and relevant perspectives.

Client Relationship Management; engage with CXO VP and Director level clients

Responds to and deliver on client requests; responds to RFP's

Identifies opportunities makes proactive proposals to client in line with account strategy

Obtains the approvals to pursue opportunities

Leads pursuits to close new and expansion opportunities related to their sales specialisms working closely with Client Leadership Team

Secures revenue renewals related to their sales specialisms

Engages the relevant internal Cognizant teams and service lines team for developing solutions

End to end account management including account forecasting budgeting and operations

Drive RFP responses as well as proactive sales leading to revenue acceleration. Be able to spot opportunities

Ability to sell both T&M as well as Fix Fee work involving end to end digital transformation involving run and operate of Legacy Estate Transformation to the new digital core and Quality Engineering

Handles risks and issues related to the account including delivery oversight

Creates and presents account QBR presentations and executive status reports

Experience & Skills

10+ years of experience in a senior-level consulting client-facing role or account manager leadership role

Ability to become a trusted advisor of the client who can understand client aspirations pain points etc. and orchestrate the right capabilities within Cognizant to establish credibility with the client

Knowledgeable in selling DE ADM & QEA services in the market.

Understands how to capture client pain points and provide detailed. guidance to the other teams for e.g. Pre Sales Practice Solution Architects etc. in terms of how to construct a differentiated proposition

Strong experience in direct interaction with customers in the local market

Ability to drive and orchestrate conversations with point of view to CxO and Head of Digital and/or Technologies

Should have led sales pursuits in the past with the ability to size up deals

Should be knowledgeable in cross-industry use cases for SPE

Strong knowledge of the relevant partner ecosystem and the ability to collaborate within the ecosystem

Recent experience working for IT professional services or management consulting firm(s)

Recent experience managing global service delivery model(s)

Excellent problem solving business communication (written & oral) and client management skills are essential

Experience developing opportunity pipelines qualifying high priority deals and winning new business in line with agreed targets

Experience closing sales with a specific emphasis on growing sales. Specifically win new deals in customer account per pre-agreed targets.

Proven leadership qualities such as conflict/issue resolution strategic and critical thinking and ownership particularly with highly diverse teams

Ability to work collaboratively in a virtual and highly-matrixed environment

Cloud Legacy modernization Modern Engineering (Full Stack Engg SRE and SDET) AI and Automation experience and knowleage are preferable.