VP Data Center Strategy & Sales

VP Data Center Strategy & Sales

Lumen connects the world. We are igniting business growth by connecting people, data and applications – quickly, securely, and effortlessly. Together, we are building a culture and company from the people up – committed to teamwork, trust and transparency. People power progress. We're looking for top-tier talent and offer the flexibility you need to thrive and deliver lasting impact. Join us as we digitally connect the world and shape the future.

The VP Data Center Strategy & Sales will lead Lumen's strategic and sales initiatives across its data center portfolio, driving growth, innovation, and operational excellence. This role requires a visionary leader with deep expertise in telecom, cloud, and AI infrastructure, capable of aligning cross-functional teams and delivering measurable outcomes. The VP will also be responsible for direct and collaborative sales strategies, infrastructure planning, and talent development to position Lumen as a market leader.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the strategic roadmap for Lumen's data center business, aligned with corporate transformation goals.
• Lead sales motions including Sell To, Sell Through, and Sell With strategies to maximize revenue and market penetration.
• Oversee infrastructure expansion initiatives across 34 targeted metro markets, including bandwidth upgrades and PoP enhancements.
• Champion AI and multi-cloud enablement by integrating high-speed, low-latency network capabilities into data center offerings.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration with product, procurement, engineering, and sales teams.
• Drive customer-centric integration strategies with partners like DRT to enhance service delivery and cost efficiency.
• Monitor competitive landscape and identify high-growth opportunities to position Lumen as a preferred provider.
• Ensure execution of strategic programs such as 100G Ethernet rollout and ECN deployment with clear KPIs.
• Design, plan, and build infrastructure delivering co-location, managed hosting, and cloud services.
• Manage success-based and infrastructure capital costs, as well as operational-maintenance vendor costs to budget.
• Develop and enhance positive, collaborative relationships with key global internal stakeholders and strategic global clients.
• Evaluate, retain, hire, and build a field sales force to maximize revenue growth. Motivate, coach, and develop the team.
• Drive business strategy to identify and penetrate new market opportunities within the financial segment.
• Leverage key alliance and system integrator relationships to deliver incremental revenue opportunities.
• Own P&L for the data center business, ensuring financial discipline, forecasting accuracy, and ROI on strategic investments.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in telecom, data center operations, or cloud infrastructure leadership.
• 5+ years experience in sales leadership within the Data Center and telecommunications industry.
• Proven track record of strategic planning and execution in complex, cross-functional environments.
• Strong understanding of AI, edge computing, and hybrid cloud technologies.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience in sales strategy, partnership development, and infrastructure investment planning.
• Thorough understanding of outcome-based solution selling, account management, and sales processes.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing sales teams.
• Ability to attract, develop, and retain top-tier talent.

Key Focus Areas

• Strategic Leadership & Role Calibration
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Market Intelligence & Positioning
• Talent & Organizational Design
• Execution & Accountability

Compensation

This information reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position based on current national data. Minimums and maximums may vary based on location. Individual pay is based on skills, experience and other relevant factors. Location Based Pay Ranges $260,474 - $347,288 in all states. Lumen offers a comprehensive package featuring a broad range of Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle benefits and other perks that enhance your physical, mental, emotional and financial wellbeing.