Partner Marketing Director

Canonical is a leading provider of open source software and operating systems to the global enterprise and technology markets. Our platform, Ubuntu, is very widely used in breakthrough enterprise initiatives such as public cloud, data science, AI, engineering innovation and IoT. Our customers include the world's leading public cloud and silicon providers, and industry leaders in many sectors. The company is a pioneer of global distributed collaboration, with 1200+ colleagues in 75+ countries and very few office based roles. Teams meet two to four times yearly in person, in interesting locations around the world, to align on strategy and execution.

The company is founder led, profitable and growing.

We have created a new leadership role, Partner Marketing Director, to drive our Go-To-Market strategy across our partner ecosystem, from silicon to public cloud, through channel and hardware manufacturers. As the publisher of Ubuntu and the leading provider of open source to major technology firms globally, we play a unique role in a variety of innovative value chains (Public Cloud, Cybersecurity, AI, IoT) supporting our partners both technically and commercially.

Reporting to the VP of Marketing you will lead a team of marketing managers running partner programs. You will work closely with our partners to make Canonical their trusted partner to deliver open source based products and solutions. In this role you will ultimately be responsible for maximising the overall ROI of our campaigns supporting our partners motions whether sell-to, sell-through or sell-with.

The partner marketing team is formed of multi-talented marketing professionals, as comfortable formulating joint value propositions as they are about running lead generation campaigns. They have an eye for creating remarkable messages/assets and a hand in the selection of the most effective channels through a complex supply chain. They are passionate about technology, the users of enterprise technology, and are early adopters of advanced partner analytics technologies.

Location: This role is home based in the AMER region.

The role entails

• Building a marketing strategy that drives pipeline growth and revenue outcomes through key partners – Silicon, IHV, ODM, Channel, GSIs, etc.
• Aligning with growth, field and product marketing to deliver activities integrated with Canonical’s campaigns.
• Owning the execution of partner campaigns across the funnel from recruitment to demand generation programs.
• Engaging and elevating the partner community through exceptional content in partnership with the communication, product and alliances teams.
• Multiplying our partners’ impact through programmatic approaches.
• Crafting bespoke plans and joint value propositions to stand out in the marketplace.
• Championing our partner collaboration vision both internally and externally.
• Managing the use of Marketing Development Funds (MDF) whether we receive it or distribute it.
• Driving the adoption of advanced analytics and reporting tools to continually improve the ROI of partner marketing activities.
• Mentoring and developing a diverse team of partner marketers covering our whole spectrum of partners.
• Cultivating a culture of continuous testing and optimization.

What we are looking for in you

• Strong understanding of the technology ecosystem including Silicon, IHV, ISV, ODM/OEMs, cloud service providers and channels is essential for this role.
• Demonstrated leadership in aligning diverse partners around Go To Market strategies.
• Proven track record of developing and executing successful co-marketing programs in the technology space.
• Experience reporting on complex partner marketing activities and touchpoints.
• Ability to create a culture of excellence, agility and self-drive in your team.
• Curiosity with a habit of continuous learning.
• Outstanding communications skills in English, both verbal and written.
• Exceptional academic results both at high school and university.
• Willingness to travel internationally up to 4 times a year for company events up to two weeks long.

What we are looking for in you

• Familiarity with a particular vertical (e.g. Telco, Finance, Industrial, Automotive).
• Experience in leading distributed teams across different time zones.

What we offer colleagues

We consider geographical location, experience, and performance in shaping compensation worldwide. We revisit compensation annually (and more often for graduates and associates) to ensure we recognize outstanding performance. In addition to base pay, we offer a performance-driven annual bonus or commission. We provide all team members with additional benefits which reflect our values and ideals. We balance our programs to meet local needs and ensure fairness globally.

• Distributed work environment with twice-yearly team sprints in person
• Personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000 per year
• Annual compensation review
• Recognition rewards
• Annual holiday leave
• Maternity and paternity leave
• Team Member Assistance Program & Wellness Platform
• Opportunity to travel to new locations to meet colleagues
• Priority Pass and travel upgrades for long-haul company events

About Canonical

Canonical is a pioneering tech firm at the forefront of the global move to open source. As the company that publishes Ubuntu, one of the most important open-source projects and the platform for AI, IoT, and the cloud, we are changing the world of software. We recruit on a global basis and set a very high standard for people joining the company. We expect excellence; in order to succeed, we need to be the best at what we do. Most colleagues at Canonical have worked from home since our inception in 2004. Working here is a step into the future and will challenge you to think differently, work smarter, learn new skills, and raise your game.

Canonical is an equal opportunity employer

We are proud to foster a workplace free from discrimination. Diversity of experience, perspectives, and background create a better work environment and better products. Whatever your identity, we will give your application fair consideration.