Strategic Alliance Operations Director

Databricks Databricks · Data AI · San Francisco, CA · Business Development

This role focuses on establishing and scaling the operating model for a strategic partnership between Databricks and Accenture, including governance, portfolio management, and a joint innovation investment program. It requires strong PMO and alliance operations leadership skills to ensure consistent execution and drive decisions across multiple stakeholders.

What you'd actually do

  1. Establish, operationalize, and programmatize the Accenture BG, including governance structures, operating cadence, and delivery standards for all joint Databricks–Accenture initiatives.
  2. Maintain an end-to-end, integrated portfolio view covering pipeline, active programs, dependencies, financial performance, delivery health, and risks.
  3. Lead executive and operational cadences (QBRs, steering committees, exec reviews) to drive decisions, resolve escalations, and ensure alignment across Databricks and Accenture stakeholders.
  4. Develop and maintain KPI dashboards and reporting that provide clear visibility into revenue, utilization, program status, delivery quality, and customer outcomes.
  5. Define and roll out standardized tools, templates, and best practices for planning, tracking, governance, and reporting, enabling consistent, scalable execution across regions and industries.

Skills

Required

  • PMO and portfolio management leadership
  • building and leading cross-functional virtual teams
  • design and orchestrate processes
  • drive consensus
  • resolve impasses
  • negotiator
  • structuring and closing binding partner agreements
  • strategic, analytical mindset
  • bias for action
  • 15+ years of experience in program/portfolio management, partner operations, or strategic investments
  • demonstrated success standing up and leading PMO or portfolio functions
  • proven track record forming and leading cross-functional v-teams
  • experience negotiating and closing binding contracts with partners
  • strong technical understanding of the Databricks product portfolio and modern cloud/data architectures

Nice to have

  • strategic builder
  • anchors on operational excellence
  • energized by shaping new, high-impact investment mechanisms
  • comfortable leading through influence
  • motivated by building a foundational, scalable operating engine

What the JD emphasized

  • strategic investment program
  • governance
  • operating model
  • portfolio management
  • strategic investment framework