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

As the Head of Sales for APAC, you will be the primary architect of growth for the region. You will provide strategic leadership to a multidisciplinary team to drive new business acquisition, ensure technical excellence through presales, and guarantee long-term value realization via customer success. Your mission is to expand the company’s footprint in high-profile named accounts and specific market segments while maintaining a balanced focus on long-term profitability and customer satisfaction

The Main Responsibilities

Integrated GTM Leadership

Build & Scale Teams: Hire, develop, and retain top-tier talent across Sales, Presales, and Customer Success. Foster a culture of accountability, empowerment, and continuous professional development.
Cross-Functional Synergy: Facilitate seamless collaboration between Sales (hunters/farmers), Presales (technical architects), and Customer Success (retention/expansion) to ensure a unified customer experience.
Regional Strategy: Define and execute comprehensive sales strategies tailored for the unique dynamics of the Japan and Australia markets, as well as the broader Asian region.

Sales Strategy & Business Development

Market Penetration: Identify and penetrate new market opportunities, leveraging an expert understanding of the IT industry, including Networking, Cloud, Managed Services, and Cybersecurity.
Executive Relationship Management: Strong executive presence and ability to operate consistently at senior customer and internal leadership levels
Deal Execution: Direct strategic, customer-specific initiatives and execute account development plans that deliver high-value, complex solutions.

Financial and Operational Discipline

Strong understanding of enterprise sales economics, deal governance, pricing discipline, profitability, and total cost of ownership.
Demonstrated ability to drive operational discipline across CRM, forecasting, business reviews, pipeline governance, and account planning.
Able to balance short-term revenue execution with long-term customer and business value.

Presales & Technical Validation

Solution Alignment: Oversee the Presales team to ensure technical solutions are perfectly aligned with customer business objectives and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) models.
Knowledge Leadership: Lead high-impact presentations for key prospects, showcasing a deep mastery of how the company’s global platform advances the way customers live and work.

Customer Success & Growth

Retention & Profitability: Accountable for the growth and increased profitability of the existing customer base, ensuring that "value-added" services result in long-term account stability.
Voice of the Customer: Use insights from the Customer Success team to influence product roadmaps and service delivery to better meet regional needs.

Operational Excellence

Forecasting & Reporting: Deliver accurate weekly forecasts to regional leadership. Maintain rigorous standards for Salesforce (SFDC) reporting, ensuring data integrity regarding revenue and billing.
Matrix Management: Work productively within a matrixed global environment, aligning regional goals with corporate values and initiatives

What We Look For in a Candidate

Experience: At least 15 years of relevant industry experience with a minimum of 7 years in senior people management roles.
Leadership Capability: Proven record of building and leading high-performing regional sales organizations.
Technical Breadth: Extensive knowledge of the IT landscape, with a strong preference for candidates with deep roots in Cloud Services, Managed Services, or Cybersecurity.
Strategic Success: A proven track record of managing large, complex accounts and a history of not just navigating change but actively driving it.
Communication & Influence: Highly effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to operate consistently at the executive level and exert influence across a matrixed organization.
Financial Acumen: A solid understanding of financial models, particularly Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), to articulate value to sophisticated enterprise buyers.
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Business or Marketing is required; an MBA is preferred.
Ability to lead through ambiguity, change and regional complexity
Travel: Must be flexible and open to frequent business travel across the APAC region

Key Success Measurements

Achievement of APAC revenue, bookings, margin, and growth targets.
Improved pipeline quality, forecast accuracy, and sales execution discipline.
Growth in strategic enterprise accounts and expansion of customer relationships.
Stronger alignment between Sales, Presales, and Customer Success.
Improved customer retention, satisfaction, renewal, and expansion outcomes.
Development and retention of high-performing regional sales leaders and teams.
Strong executive customer engagement and regional market presence.
Effective collaboration across matrix stakeholders and global business functions.

Requisition #: 342880

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

SR Dir Sales - Enterprise

About the Job

Requirements

Responsibilities

Desired Qualifications

The Role

The Main Responsibilities

What We Look For in a Candidate

About the Company

CenturyLink

Recently Posted Jobs