Manager Channel

Lumen is the trusted network for the AI‑powered world, connecting people, data, and applications through our expansive fiber network and connected ecosystem. We enable secure, high‑performance connectivity across cloud, edge, and AI workloads for enterprises, governments, and communities.

At Lumen, you’ll work on infrastructure customers rely on today and build for what’s next, where performance, security, and resilience matter.

This is a high accountability environment where bold ideas drive real innovation for our customers, partners, and industry. The work is challenging, expectations are clear, and trust is built into how we operate. If you’re ready to take ownership, deliver meaningful impact, and help shape the future of AI‑ready connectivity, join us today.

The Role

The Manager, Channel leads a team of Inside Channel Managers, individual contributor sales professionals responsible for driving revenue growth through indirect sales channels and strategic partner relationships. This role is accountable for sales performance, talent development, forecasting accuracy, and execution of channel growth strategies across a substantial customer and partner portfolio.

Location

Business needs require the successful candidate to reside within the Eastern or Central time zone.

The Main Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Inside Channel Managers responsible for achieving revenue, growth, and customer retention objectives.
• Drive execution of channel sales strategies that accelerate customer acquisition, partner engagement, upsell, and cross-sell opportunities.
• Establish a high-performance sales culture through coaching, performance management, skill development, and accountability.
• Own pipeline management, funnel health, forecasting accuracy, productivity metrics, and revenue attainment for the team.
• Analyze business trends, sales performance, and customer insights to identify growth opportunities and improve business outcomes.
• Partner with Sales, Operations, Marketing, Product, and Channel leadership teams to support strategic business initiatives.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, and develop top sales talent while building a strong succession pipeline.
• Drive operational excellence through process improvement initiatives, sales discipline, and adoption of best practices.

What We Look For in a Candidate

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent education and experience, with 8+ years of related sales, business development, channel sales, or customer growth experience.
• 3+ years of sales leadership experience leading inside sales, channel sales, partner sales, or business development teams.
• Proven success leading teams of individual contributor sales professionals with accountability for revenue growth, sales execution, and business performance.
• Experience driving pipeline management, forecasting accuracy, sales productivity, and attainment of financial objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to coach and develop Inside Channel Managers and other sales professionals in consultative and solution-based selling environments.
• Experience recruiting, hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing sales talent.
• Strong analytical, communication, negotiation, and organizational skills with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Experience leading large, geographically dispersed teams of individual contributor sales professionals.

Preferred

• Experience supporting indirect sales channels, partner ecosystems, or channel-led go-to-market strategies.
• Demonstrated success leading significant business growth initiatives or sales transformation efforts.
• Advanced experience using sales analytics, forecasting tools, and performance data to drive business decisions.
• Experience operating within complex, matrixed organizations.
• Proven ability to influence strategy and drive alignment across multiple business functions.

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

$91,935 - $122,577 in these states: AL AR FL GA IA IN KS KY LA ME MO MS ND NE OH OK PA SC SD TN VT WI WV

$96,540 - $128,713 in these states: MI MN NC NH RI

$101,136 - $134,839 in these states: CT DC DE IL MA MD NJ NY TX VA

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.

Learn more about Lumen's:

LI-Remote

Requisition #: 343129

Life at Lumen

Life at Lumen 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 Lumen and how we live the Lumen 8, please visit:

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

Lumen 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 Lumen’s Global Employment Applicant and Talent Community Privacy Notice, please visit:

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.