Principal APN Programs Lead, Scalable GTM and Funding Programs

This position is part of the AWS Specialist and Partner (ASP) Organization within the WW Scalable GTM and Funding Programs team. As a Senior Technical Business Development leader for Specialization and APN Programs you will define and drive the worldwide strategy for how AWS validates develops and scales partner capacity and capabilityensuring the right partners are equipped to deliver the right outcomes for customers across every workload and industry.

You will own the strategic direction of the AWS Specialization Programa multi-billion-dollar revenue-generating segment of the AWS Partner Network encompassing thousands of partners across the full portfolio of designationsand lead its transformation from a manually-operated validation framework into an agentic AI-powered partner development platform. Your charter is to dramatically increase the number of partners who have proven capacity and capability to serve customers while reducing the friction and cost of validation at scale. You will architect the next generation of programmatic partner key performance indicators that feed AWS recommendation engines (Marketplace Solution Matching Engine Field Advisor) directly shaping how customers discover and select partners.

This is a strategy-defining role. You will set the multi-year vision for how specialization drives AWS Partner Network growth you will work across the team to define key partner performance metrics and index and influence investment priorities make trade-off decisions across competing stakeholder demands and influence senior leadership on program direction. You will create entirely new mechanismsincluding agentic program that use AI to automate partner assessment launch readiness and cohort management at scale. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in AWS Partner Network strategy technical business development at enterprise scale and the ability to drive organizational alignment around a bold forward-looking vision in ambiguous environments.


Key job responsibilities
Specialization & APN Strategy
- Define and own the strategy for AWS Specialization Program setting the vision for how partner validation drives AWS Partner Network growth and customer outcomes
- Architect the strategic shift from designation-as-gate to designation-as-growth-accelerator increasing the number of partners with proven capacity and capability to serve customers
- You develop customer intake signals of what is needed from partners to drive business transformation across different partner types (ISVs SIs Startups)
- Develop the partner performance index that drives AWS Specialization Program achievement and renewals
- Set priorities and make trade-off decisions across the specialization and partner portfolio balancing stakeholder demand against resource constraints and strategic impact
- Influence AWS senior leadership on program direction securing alignment on business value resource investment and acceptable trade-offs

Agentic APN Program Design
- Create and drive the vision for an Agentic APN Program that partner performance data and AI to automate partner assessment validation renewal and development at unprecedented scale
- Design autonomous program operations that significantly reduce human-in-the-loop processing enabling the team to manage exponential partner growth without linear headcount scaling
- Architect AI-powered launch readiness frameworks that compress designation launch cycles from months to weeks
- Define how agentic systems generate partner development recommendations automatically routing partners to enablement resources based on capability gaps and customer demand

AWS Partner Network Growth & Partner Capability
- Own the strategy for increasing the total addressable partner base with validated customer-ready capabilities across priority workloads. This includes understanding the needs of customers across Geos and market trends.
- Work across Core Programs and Delivery team to influence incentive structures and program mechanisms that motivate partners to invest in capability development and maintain excellence post-designation
- Create scalable pathways for emerging partners (Startups ISVs SIs) to achieve specialization and APN tier growth expanding the AWS Partner Network.
- You create the Core messaging for APN in the market and an enablement strategy that fuels this growth to meet customer demand. This includes working with the Enablement Shared Services Team to restructure the enablement programs to meet the needs of the business
- Define how specialization signals integrate into AWS recommendation algorithms (Marketplace SME Field Advisor Alchemy) to drive measurable customer adoption of validated partners

Cross-Functional Influence & Execution
- Operate as the strategic connective tissue between Engineering Solution Architects WWSO and Field teamsaligning resources and roadmaps to program priorities
- Own executive-level operating mechanisms (WBRs QBRs leadership reviews) that communicate program health partner growth metrics and strategic decisions


A day in the life
You measure key partner performance metrics across the AWS Partner Network. You review customer signals and market trends on what they need from partners. You meet with Specialist and Geo teams to understand the needs of the business. From this you understand how to drive growth of the AWS Partner Network and drive strategy and changes. You build process tools and agents that leverage data and create recommendations of what an AI Partner Program can do to fuel their growth. You develop the mechanisms that need to be in place to drive a success AI Partner Program. This includes shaping the Partner Performance Index and aligning the performance of partners to different benefits across AWS Partner Network and tiers. You drive launch strategy including messaging enablement and success of adoption.

About the team
Diverse Experiences

AWS values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications and skills listed in the job description we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting hasnt followed a traditional path or includes alternative experiences dont let it stop you from applying.

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Work/Life Balance

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- 7 years of working with Core Cloud Technology Services including but not limited to Compute Edge Hybrid Security and/or Networking experience
- 7 years of Go-To-Market Business Development Sales or Consulting experience
- 7 years of working with Data & AI related technologies including but not limited to AI/ML GenAI Analytics Database and/or Storage experience
- Bachelors degree
- Experience developing strategies that influence leadership decisions at the organizational level
- Experience influencing innovation through a partner ecosystem with either solutions or programs that have demonstrated success at enterprise customers

- Experience as a founder or executive focused on related segments or as a practice leader or business unit owner
- Experience selling to Fortune 1000 or Global 2000 organizations
- MBA
- Experience developing leading negotiating and executing corporate and/or business transactions
- Experience in developing negotiating and executing business agreements
- Experience influencing internal and external stakeholders

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status disability or other legally protected status.

Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees supervisors and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees supervisors and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal state and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct adverse and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies exercise sound judgment effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism and safeguard business operations and the Companys reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process including support for the interview or onboarding process please visit for more information. If the country/region youre applying in isnt listed please contact your Recruiting Partner.

The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience qualifications and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical dental vision prescription Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans EAP Mental Health Support Medical Advice Line Flexible Spending Accounts Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage) 401(k) matching paid time off and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at TX Austin - 176100.00 - 238200.00 USD annually
USA VA Arlington - 176100.00 - 238200.00 USD annually