Principal Roaming & Partnerships Strategist

PURPOSE OF POSITION: 

Own and drive GCI’s end-to-end wholesale wireless roaming and strategic partnership strategy,  with enterprise accountability for commercial performance, partner ecosystem development, and long-term market positioning. Serve as the company’s most senior subject matter expert (SME) for wholesale wireless partnerships, leading strategy across inbound and outbound roaming, carrier relationships, and emerging partnership models. 

Operate with significant autonomy and executive visibility, influencing priorities across Product, Network, Finance, and Executive Leadership to optimize revenue, margin, network utilization and customer experience outcomes

Primary customers include international, nationwide, regional and Alaska-based wireless communications providers and roaming partners. This role serves as the primary strategic and commercial point of contact for all wholesale roaming accounts and carrier partnership relationships.

Internally, the position partners closely with Wholesale, Product, Network Operations, Engineering, Consumer, Business, Finance, and Executive Leadership teams to ensure alignment, operational execution, service excellence, and achievement of enterprise business objectives. 

Key Accountabilities Include:

• Defining and evolving GCI’s enterprise wireless roaming and strategic partnership strategy in alignment with product, consumer, business  and network priorities.
• Managing the full portfolio of inbound and outbound roaming agreements and wholesale wireless partnerships.
• Leading commercial performance, revenue optimization, and profitability of inbound roaming services. 
• Coordinating outbound roaming services and carrier relationships for GCI subscribers in alignment with operational, technical and financial objectives. 
• Developing and maintaining strong internal and external relationships  to support service delivery, issue resolution, and long-term partnership growth. 
• Ensuring compliance with company policies, contractual obligations, regulatory requirements, and applicable industry standards.

• ACCOUNTABILITY- Takes ownership for actions, decisions, and results; openly accepts feedback and demonstrates a willingness to improve.
  • A strong desire to succeed and a willingness to take ownership, initiative, and leadership of tasks and projects is expected.
• BASIC PRINCIPLES - Interacts with people in a way that builds mutual trust, confidence, and respect; adheres to GCI’s Code of Conduct for Employees – the Basic Principles.
• COLLABORATION - Works effectively with others to accomplish common goals and objectives; maintains positive relationships even under difficult circumstances.
  • Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with executive-level decision makers, carrier partners, and cross-functional operational teams. 
  • Demonstrated success leading collaborative initiatives across technical, operational, and commercial organizations. 
• COMMUNICATION- Conveys thoughts and expresses ideas appropriately and professionally.
  • Ability to create and deliver strategic account plans, executive presentations, business cases, and complex customer proposals. 
  • Strong negotiation, influencing, and public speaking skills required. 
• COMPLIANCE - Follows internal controls; protects confidential information; abides by GCI’s Code of Business Conduct & Ethics.
  • Demonstrated ability to keep confidential information secure.
• CUSTOMER FOCUS - Demonstrates commitment to service excellence gives high priority to customer satisfaction.
• RELIABILITY - Consistently follows through on assigned tasks as expected; demonstrates timely attendance at meetings, training, and other work obligations.
• RESULTS - Uses a combination of job knowledge, initiative, sound decision making, innovation, adaptability, and problem solving.
  • Proven success developing and managing strategic partnerships and senior-level account management initiatives. 
  • Demonstrated experience leading complex negotiations and presenting business cases to internal and external executive audiences. 
  • Strong analytical, financial modeling, and commercial evaluation skills. 
• SAFETY & SECURITY - Supports a safe work environment by following all workplace safety rules and guidelines; complies with applicable Security policies and procedures.
• TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY - Proficient computer skills and MS Office knowledge (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel) to complete job duties effectively, such as using the company intranet and to accurately retrieve and input information into databases or equivalent.
• Demonstrates strong technical and operational understanding of wireless technologies, roaming systems, and telecommunications infrastructure.
  • Experience with wireless technologies including GSM, UMTS, LTE, and CDMA. 
  • Knowledge of systems, technologies, and operational processes required to deliver roaming services to external wireless providers. 
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 
• CHANGE MANAGEMENT: champions and supports department and company change.
  • Ability to adjust to a rapidly changing environment and multi-task with minimal supervision.
• DECISION MAKING: uses sound, logical judgment based on data, research, and experience to choose an appropriate course of action.
  • Demonstrated ability to prioritize competing priorities and execute within established timelines and business objectives. 

Minimum Qualifications: 

Required: *A combination of relevant work experience and/or education sufficient to perform the duties of the job may substitute to meet the total years required on a year-for-year basis

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Economics, Telecommunications,  or relevant field. *
• Minimum of fifteen        (15) years of progressively responsible experience in wireless and data communications, including significant experience in wholesale wireless roaming and carrier partnerships.* Demonstrated experience leading complex contract negotiations, strategic partnership management, and enterprise-level account relationships. 
• Experience must include: 
  • Multi-tiered strategic account management. 
  • Business planning and financial analysis. 
  • Commercial pricing and settlement negotiations. 
  • Development and presentation of complex customer proposals and executive business cases. 
  • Cross-functional leadership and enterprise stakeholder management. 

Preferred:  

• Direct experience with Tier 1 wireless roaming and backhaul negotiations and contracts.
• Experience shaping product and/or network strategy based on wholesale opportunities.
• Experience in working with wholesale markets and accounts.
• Experience in reciprocal sell/buy partnership structures and roaming economics.
• Other relevant telecom industry or job specific certifications. 

DRIVING REQUIREMENTS: 

• This position may require access to reliable transportation for occasional travel between retail store locations, offices, worksites, or other locations as needed.

• Work is primarily sedentary, requiring daily routine computer usage.
• Ability to work shifts as assigned, work in standard office/home office setting, and operate standard office equipment.
• Ability to accurately communicate information and ideas to others effectively.
• Physical agility and effort sufficiently to perform job duties safely and effectively.
• Ability to make valid judgments and decisions. 
• Available to work additional time on weekends, holidays, before or after normal work hours when necessary. 
• Must work well in a team environment and be able to work with a diverse group of people and customers.
• Virtual workers must comply with remote work policies and agreements.