Sr. Specialized Sales - Chicago

Alkira is the leader in AI-Native Network Infrastructure-as-a-Service (NIaaS). Founded in 2018 by Amir and Atif Khan — the team behind Viptela and the founding of the SD-WAN market — Alkira unifies any environment, site, or user through an enterprise network built entirely in the cloud, managed with the same controls, policies, and security systems network teams already know, and augmented by AI. There is no hardware to deploy, no software to download, and no new architecture to learn. Alkira is trusted by Fortune 100 enterprises, leading system integrators, and global managed service providers, and is part of Lumen Technologies.

We are growing our Sales team and we are looking for a Regional Sales Manager to based in the Chicago, IL region. We are looking for a high energy, dedicated RSM who can help add new enterprise clients to our NIaaS platform. This is a full-time position with great benefits and great career potential. The ideal candidate is able to develop and implement a sales strategy that meets company goals and excels at the following job responsibilities:

Responsibilities:

• Work deals from start to close. These may originate from marketing leads, your cold calling efforts, opportunities set up by your partners, or your own rolodex.
• Understanding the market and the challenges prospects face, mapping accounts key decision makers, identifying their purchase obstacles and understanding how our solutions could help them.
• Pitching our solution through engaging presentations and targeted platform demos to enterprise companies.
• Guide and assist prospects through platform trials with our team to ensure our value offering is properly perceived.
• Communicate the value of Alkira solutions and position in the marketplace.
• Responsible for meeting/exceeding revenue targets for your region.
• Effectively manage and orchestrate the closing of large deals within complex and extended sales cycles.
• Providing feedback to ensure continuous strategy and process optimization.
• Leveraging the support from engineering, product management, marketing, finance, and executives to close deals.

Minimum Requirements:

• Minimum 3+ years of technology sales, preferably in networking
• Experience with SaaS, cloud, and security preferred.
• Experience selling to and working with C-Level and top line management to understand business strategy and objectives.
• Experience building and managing a sales territory full of high performing sellers.
• Strong passion for sales and creating long-lasting professional relationships.
• High level of skills in using Salesforce, excel and powerpoint.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

ABOUT ALKIRA

Alkira, a Lumen company, is building the future of enterprise networking: one programmable platform to connect, secure, and operate every cloud, site, partner, data center, and AI workload.

Founded by Amir and Atif Khan, the creators of Viptela and pioneers of the SD-WAN market, Alkira was built to radically simplify how enterprises deploy and manage network infrastructure. Today, as part of Lumen, we are bringing that cloud-native operating model to a global network foundation trusted by the world’s largest enterprises.

Our platform helps customers move faster without managing hardware, stitching together providers, or operating fragmented cloud networks. Teams can build and scale connectivity on demand, apply consistent security and segmentation, and gain visibility across distributed environments from one place.

At Alkira, you’ll help shape the next chapter of networking: cloud-like consumption, private-network performance, and total control across the enterprise. We move fast, solve hard problems, and build technology that changes how global businesses connect.

Join us and help build the future of networking.

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:
$134,946 - $179,928 in these states: AL  AR  AZ  FL  GA  IA  ID  IN  KS  KY  LA  ME  MO  MS  MT  ND  NE  NM  OH  OK  PA  SC  SD  TN  UT  VT  WI  WV  WY 
$141,694 - $188,925 in these states: CO  HI  MI  MN  NC  NH  NV  OR  RI 
$148,441 - $197,921 in these states: AK  CA  CT  DC  DE  IL  MA  MD  NJ  NY  TX  VA  WA

Life at Alkira, a Lumen Connect Solution

Life at Alkira is human and connected, even in a fast moving, AI‑focused organization. We set clear expectations and trust people to meet them. With real support and shared accountability, teams collaborate better, move faster, and deliver meaningful outcomes. 

Our Lumen 8 behaviors guide how we interact, make decisions, and work together, shaping a culture built to perform and win.  To learn more about Life at Alkira, a Lumen Connect Solution
and how we live into the Lumen 8, please visit:  
https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/life-at-lumen

Background Screening

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.

Equal Employment Opportunities

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.

Privacy Notice

Alkira, a Lumen Connect Solution is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information collected during the recruitment and hiring process. Our Applicant Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect applicant information, as well as how individuals may request access to or deletion of their personal data.

To review Alkira's Global Employment Applicant and Talent Community Privacy Notice, please visit:
https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/privacy-notice

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 Alkira, a Lumen Connect Solution 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 Alkira, a Lumen Connect Solution, they are not for employment with us but may relate to another company with a similar name.