Business Development Executive

About IBM

IBM has been a significant presence in India since 1992, offering solutions and services across major industries including financial services, healthcare, government, automotive, telecommunications, and education. As a trusted partner with extensive service capabilities, IBM assists clients in navigating and succeeding in challenging environments. The company has expanded its reach in India, operating in over 200 cities and towns through direct presence or its robust business partner network. IBM India is recognized as a leader in the Indian IT industry and continuously adapts to global markets to maintain this position. It is widely regarded as an employer of choice, holding numerous awards for its leading employment practices.

IBM's comprehensive portfolio, encompassing research, consulting, solutions, services, systems, and software, uniquely sets it apart in the industry.

Job Overview

IBM Global Sales seeks innovative, collaborative, and expert individuals to help clients overcome their most complex business challenges. This role involves working across various industries and geographies, partnering with colleagues, clients, and external partners to co-create solutions that drive digital transformation and deliver lasting impact. Success in this global sales role is founded on curiosity, empathy, and collaboration. The position requires connecting technical understanding with strong interpersonal skills to build trusted relationships and shape solutions that benefit both business and society. IBM provides world-class onboarding, continuous learning opportunities, and a supportive culture to foster career growth.

Role and Responsibilities

As a Business Development Leader, you will spearhead strategic opportunities that demand long-term engagement and creative approaches to structuring unconventional business models and partnerships. Your objective will be to position IBM as a premier partner in advancing AI and digital transformation, generating both tangible and intangible value through innovative structuring and alliances. Key responsibilities include:

• Developing strategic partnerships by integrating IBM Technology, Consulting, and Research to devise novel business models and alliances that foster growth and progress in AI and digital transformation.
• Establishing IBM as a trusted partner by leveraging creative structuring and alliances to create value, thereby solidifying its market position.
• Identifying patterns and opportunities to scale business models and partnerships across diverse markets and industries to drive expansion and growth.
• Leading long-term engagement initiatives to drive strategic opportunities and revenue growth through innovative business models and partnerships.
• Fostering collaboration among internal stakeholders to harness IBM's capabilities and expertise, thereby promoting business growth and advancement in AI and digital transformation.

In this role, you will be an integral part of a high-performing team focused on business development and client engagement for strategic initiatives. You will work closely with senior management, technical experts, and cross-functional teams to translate opportunities into measurable business outcomes for IBM. You will also lead early market shaping activities by identifying emerging opportunities and positioning IBM as a strategic partner before formal deal cycles commence.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement transformative initiatives to ensure IBM's differentiation in emerging categories like Sovereign AI, securing long-term market relevance.
• Transform bespoke pilots and innovation-led partnerships into scalable, repeatable growth engines that can be integrated into the regional go-to-market strategy.
• Execute with precision and accountability, collaborating across leadership, sales, consulting, and technology teams to advance opportunities from strategy to successful outcomes.

Additional Information

This role requires a proven background in business development, strategic alliances, management consulting, investment banking, or the tech venture ecosystem, with a specific emphasis on AI, data, and automation. You will collaborate with IBM technical teams to position AI, Data, Automation, and Hybrid Cloud solutions within partnership frameworks. A deep understanding of engaging with C-suite executives and cross-functional collaboration across all management levels is essential for overseeing complex agreements and partnerships. The ability to lead multifaceted, cross-functional programs and influence global stakeholders and C-level executives within matrixed corporate structures is crucial. Experience in architecting scaled partnership models, negotiating unique, first-of-its-kind deals, and scaling business development initiatives from pilot to maturity is expected. You will also orchestrate ecosystem partnerships involving enterprises, startups, and industry stakeholders to accelerate market adoption of IBM solutions.

Preferred qualifications include an advanced degree, such as an MBA or equivalent. Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional teams, fostering internal cohesion, and managing relationships with country-level leadership and diverse external stakeholders is advantageous. Specialized expertise in key technology verticals, particularly Enterprise AI and Cloud, combined with a thorough understanding of the Indian venture capital and digital native ecosystem, is highly desirable. Exceptional communication skills, the capacity to navigate ambiguity, manage shifting priorities, and drive organizational change across all functions and seniority levels are also preferred. Experience in converting innovation-led pilots into scalable programs and repeatable growth frameworks is a plus.