Innovation Executive

The Role

The Innovation Executive (Senior BDM) serves as a strategic growth architect for Lumen’s emerging technologies. This role focuses on ideation and opportunity development – building executive-level customer relationships, identifying, and shaping new business opportunities, and laying the groundwork for beta program execution and early technology adoption. 

The Innovation Executive takes newly established executive relationships and helps lead a process where Lumen's cross functional team co-innovates solutions with clients, manages the relationship through a comprehensive and specific beta program, culminating in commitment with urgency to be an early adopter of our emerging capabilities. Success in this role means consistently generating high-value opportunities and referenceable customer successes that drive strategic growth for both the client and Lumen.

The Main Responsibilities

• Ideation with Customers: Engage clients in collaborative design thinking brainstorming sessions, innovation workshops, and proof-of-value discussions. The goal is to co-innovate solutions that address customer needs while aligning with Lumen’s future offerings. By involving customers in the innovation process (co-innovation), the Innovation Executive fosters deeper client partnerships and develops solutions that closely match customer needs.
• Use Case & Business Case Development: Translate promising ideas into concrete use cases that drive quantifiable business value as this person builds compelling proposals for Beta program and early product adopter commitment. This involves articulating a clear value proposition for each opportunity, highlighting the benefits for the customer and how it advances Lumen’s strategy. A strong business case will tie the innovative idea to measurable business value – for example, improved efficiency, enhanced customer experience, or new revenue streams for the client.
• Pipeline Generation: Identify and qualify new opportunities to ensure a robust pipeline of high-potential targets that fit with our use cases and emerging capabilities. This includes continuously researching industry trends and client pain points to spot emerging opportunities early.
• Strategic Value Creation: Focus on opportunities that drive significant value for both the customer and Lumen. Rather than the sheer volume of leads, success in this role is measured by the quality and impact of the opportunities generated. The Innovation Executive prioritizes deals that solve critical customer problems and position Lumen ahead of the market curve (even before products are fully market-ready). Key outcomes include high-impact use cases and business cases that lead to flagship pilot projects and referenceable success stories for Lumen. In practice, this means emphasizing lead quality over quantity – targeting high-potential opportunities that are likely to convert and deliver meaningful results.

What We Look For in a Candidate

• Proven Business Development Experience:  Eight plus years (or equivalent) of success in business development, innovation consulting, or strategic sales. A track record of identifying and developing new business opportunities is essential. Experience taking new technologies or solutions to market (startup or corporate innovation experience) is highly valued.
• Strategic Thinking & Opportunity Shaping: Ability to understand complex customer challenges and ideate creative solutions. Skilled at connecting emerging technology capabilities with business needs to craft compelling opportunities. Should be adept at developing business cases, including performing market research and ROI analysis to justify projects.
• Exceptional Communication and Facilitation: Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to engage senior executives and lead collaborative workshops. Comfortable guiding clients through brainstorming sessions and innovation exercises. Strong presentation and storytelling abilities to articulate vision and value in proposals.
• Relationship-Building: Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships at executive levels. Talent for consultative selling – listening to clients, understanding their strategic goals, and becoming a trusted advisor. Experience in navigating complex organizations and aligning diverse stakeholders around new ideas.
• Collaboration and Handoff Skills: Team-oriented mindset with experience working closely with sales, product, and technical teams. Able to document and communicate opportunity details clearly for others to execute. Cross-functional collaboration skills are a must to ensure smooth transitions of deals and joint success with account teams
• Domain and Technical Knowledge: Familiarity with emerging technology domains relevant to Lumen’s business (e.g., networking, cloud, edge computing, AI, etc.). Able to quickly learn new tech concepts and discuss them credibly with customers. Understanding of industry trends and innovation practices to inspire clients.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, Technology, or related field is required. An MBA or advanced degree is a plus, especially with a focus on innovation or entrepreneurship. Equivalent work experience in innovation-driven roles will also be considered.
   

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

$136,437 - $181,913 in these states: 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.

Learn more about Lumen's:

• Benefits
• Bonus Structure

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