Innovation Technologies Business Development Lead

CenturyLink; Bellevue (WA); On-site; USD 136,000 - 182,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology firm in Washington is seeking an experienced Innovation Technologies Business Development Lead. You will be pivotal in driving sales growth through executive-level collaborations and the management of customer engagement. The ideal candidate should possess 8-10 years of experience in technology innovation and have a strong sales acumen. The position is hybrid with a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Comprehensive health benefits

Life insurance

Voluntary lifestyle benefits

Qualifications

• 8-10 years in technology innovation, enterprise solutions, networking, and/or technical sales consulting roles.
• Strong Sales Acumen with Business Development success on co-creation, pilot or beta programs.
• Ability to engage and build trust with C-suite and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Drive sales growth of co-innovation initiatives with customers and partners.
• Lead executive-level collaborations to identify emerging opportunities.
• Manage the beta program lifecycle, ensuring clarity of roles and accountability.

Skills

Technology innovation

Technical sales consulting

Business Development

Strategic relationship building

Program leadership

Discovery and validation skills

Job description

Innovation Technologies Business Development Lead

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 Role

The Innovation Technologies Business Development Lead will play a pivotal role in driving sales growth of new co-innovation initiatives with customers and partners. In this role, you will lead executive-level collaborations with partners, customers, and internal stakeholders to identify emerging opportunities and shape transformative initiatives. Working cross-functionally with Account teams, Solution Engineering, and Customer Success, you will help architect innovative solutions that align technical capabilities with broader business strategies. Your focus will be on accelerating innovation, operationalizing new offerings, and positioning Lumen as a catalyst for strategic growth and digital transformation.

Location

This is a Hybrid position with expectations of being in the Lumen office located at 10401NE 8th Street Bellevue Washington 98004 an estimated 2 to 3 times weekly.

The Main Responsibilities

• Business Development with Customers and Partners.
• Orchestrate the full lifecycle of customer engagement, from executive ignition through adoption, aligning all stakeholders.
• Design and operationalize a repeatable engagement framework for beta programs.
• Conduct deep discovery with beta customers to uncover needs, validate hypotheses, and shape solution direction.
• Align closely with Solution Architects and other key roles to ensure technical feasibility and delivery readiness.
• Manage the beta program lifecycle, including onboarding, milestone tracking, feedback loops, and success measurement.
• Engage the Legal Team to secure commercial engagements.
• Ensure clarity of roles and accountability within both customer and Lumen organizations.
• Prove value against co-created design thinking maps and drive toward measurable outcomes.
• Capture customer outcomes, case studies, and feedback artifacts to bolster proof and validation.
• Ensure customer success by driving adoption and managing value affirmation and customer stories/case studies for use in marketing, PR and EBCs.
• Deliver a high-touch, white-glove experience throughout the customer journey.
• Own the E2E Partner and Customer journey, working with Account teams to secure customers.
• Ensure we deliver Lumen Validated Designs by partnering with Solution Architects and product team.
• Partner across disciplines to secure customer success stories that demonstrate meaningful impact.

What We Look For in a Candidate

• 8-10 years in technology innovation, enterprise solutions, networking, and/or technical sales consulting roles.
• Strong Sales Acumen: Business Development Success with Co-creation, Pilot or Beta Programs.
• Strategic Relationship Builder: Able to engage and build trust with C-suite and cross-functional teams, driving executive-level customer engagement.
• Technical Acumen: Understands emerging technologies, technical architectures, and can assess customer readiness for adoption.
• Discovery & Validation Skills: Skilled at conducting deep customer discovery, validating hypotheses, and shaping solution direction.
• Program Leadership: Can design and operationalize repeatable frameworks for beta programs, manage lifecycles, and ensure clarity of roles and accountability.
• Outcome Orientation: Focused on measurable outcomes, value realization, and referenceable customer success stories.
• Collaboration: Works closely with Solution Architects and other key roles to ensure technical feasibility and delivery readiness.
• High-Touch Experience: Delivers a white-glove, high-touch customer journey, orchestrating for velocity and delight.
• Communication: Able to capture and communicate customer outcomes, case studies, and feedback artifacts for proof and validation.

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. This is a sales role with Sales Incentive in additiontobase pay.

Location Based BasePay Ranges

$136,437 - $181,913 in this state: WA

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. We're able to answer any additional questions you may have about our bonus structure (short-term incentives, long-term incentives and/or sales compensation) as you move through the selection process.

If you are selected for a position, there will be a background screen, which may include checks for criminal records and/or motor vehicle reports and/or drug screening, depending on the position requirements. For more information on these checks, please refer to the Post Offer section of our FAQ page . Job-related concerns identified during the background screening may disqualify you from the new position or your current role. Background results will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, religion, veteran status, disability, genetic characteristic or information, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, family status, pregnancy, or other legally protected status (collectively, “protected statuses”). We do not tolerate unlawful discrimination in any employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, compensation, promotion, benefits, discipline, termination, job assignments or training.

Disclaimer

The job responsibilities described above indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not intended to include a comprehensive inventory of all duties and responsibilities for this job. Job duties and responsibilities are subject to change based on evolving business needs and conditions.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Please be advised that Lumen does not require any form of payment from job applicants during the recruitment process. All legitimate job openings will be posted on our official website or communicated through official company email addresses. If you encounter any job offers that request payment in exchange for employment at Lumen, they are not for employment with us, but may relate to another company with a similar name.

Nearest Major Market: Seattle
Nearest Secondary Market: Bellevue
Job Segment: Business Development, Engineer, Consulting, Sales, Engineering, Technology