Director Sales @ CenturyLink

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

We are seeking a strategic, customer-focused sales leader to drive new revenue, margin growth, and expansion across large, complex strategic accounts. This leader will build and lead a high-performing sales team while working closely with customers, partners, and internal teams to translate business and technology priorities into differentiated solutions and measurable outcomes.

The leader will establish account and coverage strategies, identify new opportunities across the portfolio, strengthen executive relationships, and create the operating discipline required to deliver sustainable and predictable growth.

The Main Responsibilities

Develop and execute account strategies that drive new revenue, profitable growth, deeper customer relationships, and expansion across strategic enterprise accounts.
Engage directly with customers and Account Directors to understand business priorities, technology strategies, operational challenges, and desired outcomes, translating those insights into actionable sales opportunities and value propositions.
Build, lead, and develop a high-performing sales team by attracting and retaining talent, setting clear expectations, creating accountability, coaching performance, and empowering team members to make decisions close to the customer.
Develop and maintain comprehensive account plans, pipeline strategies, and financial forecasts while driving forecast accuracy and consistent achievement of sales targets.
Identify whitespace across untapped products and solutions, develop compelling sales propositions, and collaborate with complementary technology partners to create new business opportunities.
Develop and execute sales and coverage plans, including sector strategies, hiring plans, territory design, customer and prospect assignments, and other programs supporting growth.
Own critical sales operating processes, including opportunity management, forecasting, sales execution, territory management, and sales readiness or certification.
Partner across the organization to improve sales productivity and customer outcomes while managing expense objectives, identifying performance risks, and taking corrective action when needed.

What We Look For in a Candidate

Minimum

Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of applicable education and experience.
8+ years of relevant professional experience with responsibilities similar to those outlined for this role.
5+ years of demonstrated sales management and leadership experience within telecommunications sales.
Demonstrated success leading, developing, mentoring, and motivating high-performing, solution-oriented sales teams.
Proven track record of consistently achieving or exceeding revenue goals and growing complex strategic customer relationships.
Strong capabilities in strategic planning, enterprise account management, consultative selling, opportunity development, and complex contract negotiations.
Experience with account planning, customer needs analysis, account positioning, financial forecasting, pipeline management, and long-range account strategies.
Strong business and financial acumen with the ability to prioritize and execute effectively across multiple complex opportunities.

Preferred

10+ years of relevant sales, business development, or commercial leadership experience.
Bachelor's degree in Telecommunications, Sales, Marketing, Business, or a related field; MBA or related graduate degree preferred.
Experience leading sales within telecommunications, technology, connectivity, or other complex solution-based environments.
Experience working directly with strategic enterprise customers to translate business and technology priorities into actionable solutions and growth opportunities.
Demonstrated success identifying whitespace and expanding customer relationships across multiple products, services, or solution portfolios.
Experience building complementary technology or channel partnerships that increase customer value and create new business opportunities.
Proven experience developing territory, sector, customer/prospect, hiring, or sales coverage strategies.
Strong organizational, prioritization, communication, and cross-functional leadership capabilities.

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

$139,166 - $185,552 in these states: WI
$146,128 - $194,837 in these states: MN

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

#projectvelocity

What to Expect Next

Requisition #: 344370

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:
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

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:
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 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.

CenturyLink

Director Sales - Large Enterprise

About the Job

Requirements

Responsibilities

Desired Qualifications