[Hiring] Strategic Alliance Manager @Talent Shore

Role Description

We help organizations and individuals build the capability to adopt new technology. Almost everything we deliver runs on an authorized vendor relationship: the accreditation is our licence to trade, and the vendor program is a source of funding, leads and co-sell opportunity we are not fully using. This role owns those relationships. You will manage the Microsoft, Cisco, AWS and PeopleCert partnerships as commercial assets, building the joint plan for each, securing and spending the funding, driving campaigns and co-sell with vendor field teams, and making sure the internal teams that handle scheduling, delivery, finance and reporting hit every vendor deadline to the vendor standard. You will not carry a direct course quota, but you will be measured on the revenue these partnerships influence. This is a contract engagement for an independent contractor based in South Africa, with a review at 90 days and the intention to extend.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the Microsoft, Cisco, AWS and PeopleCert partnership relationships, ensuring each partnership is actively managed and commercially maximised.
• Develop and maintain joint business plans and QBRs with each vendor, covering revenue targets, priority portfolios, certification, campaigns and funding opportunities.
• Secure and claim available partner funding, including MDF, co-op funding, skilling incentives, seat subsidies and launch funding, ensuring opportunities are fully utilised and no funding lapses unclaimed.
• Build and execute proactive joint campaigns around product launches, certification releases, curriculum changes and other key vendor priorities.
• Drive co-sell activity with vendor field teams, increasing visibility of the training portfolio, creating referral routes and following opportunities through to booking.
• Enable internal sales teams with portfolio information, pricing guidance, certification pathways, battlecards and objection handling.
• Ensure operations, compliance and reporting land on time through the internal teams responsible for scheduling, delivery, finance and reporting.
• Maintain strong vendor authorisation and accreditation by tracking renewals, tier thresholds, KPIs, audits and required evidence.
• Monitor instructor accreditation and coverage across vendor tracks, identifying upcoming certification expiries and planning against forecast demand.
• Provide leadership with clear monthly reporting on partnership performance, risks, funding position, pipeline and key decisions required.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience in partner, alliance, channel or vendor management, with at least 2 years owning a vendor relationship rather than supporting one.
• Direct experience of an authorised training or IT channel programme, such as Microsoft Training Services Partner, Cisco Learning Partner, AWS Training Partner, PeopleCert or APMG ATO, or an equivalent OEM programme involving tiers, accreditation and audits.
• Demonstrable experience securing and claiming vendor funding, with specific figures or results you can talk through.
• Experience developing joint business plans and running QBRs with vendor partners.
• Experience driving co-sell, partner campaigns or vendor-led commercial activity.
• Ability to influence and deliver results through internal teams that do not report directly to you, including operations, marketing and finance.
• Strong understanding of vendor compliance, accreditation, reporting and programme requirements.
• Clear written and verbal English, with the ability to present structured updates to senior stakeholders.
• Must be set up to work as an independent contractor in South Africa, with own equipment and invoicing in place.

Nice to Have

• Background at an instructor-led training provider, authorised training centre, or the training arm of a reseller or distributor.
• Working knowledge of ILT mechanics, including class scheduling, seat fill, courseware and lab entitlements, instructor accreditation and voucher stock.
• Hands-on familiarity with vendor portals such as Partner Center, Metrics That Matter, LPMS and the PeopleCert ATO portal.
• Experience working on the vendor side of a partner or training programme.
• Marketing literacy, including campaign briefing, demand generation and working effectively with marketing teams.

How We Will Measure Success

• First 30 days: Every vendor contact met, authorisation status audited, unclaimed funding mapped and a single compliance calendar in place.
• First 60 days: Draft joint business plans for all four vendors, an agreed campaign calendar and reporting gaps closed.
• First 90 days: Two funded campaigns live, vendor sellers enabled, the monthly status pack running and the 12-month plans signed off.
• By six months: Measurable growth in vendor-influenced revenue, no lapsed accreditations and a visible lift in funds captured against funds available.
• By twelve months: Tier maintained or improved on every partnership, and a campaign and funding rhythm the business can plan around.

What You Will Get

• Full ownership of four major technology partnerships, with direct access to the vendor teams behind them.
• A seat at portfolio and pricing decisions, not just campaign ones.
• A clearly scoped engagement measured on outcomes rather than hours.
• Access to training and certifications across the vendor catalog.