VP, WW Channels and Alliances

About the Role & Team

IDC is seeking a Vice President, Worldwide Channels, Partners, and Ecosystem Research to lead one of IDC’s most strategically vital global coverage areas. In this role, you will lead the team responsible for the research agenda and thought leadership for IDC’s worldwide channels, ecosystems and alliances program, spanning direct channel coverage,  partner ecosystems, Distribution, ISV and GSI partnerships, and broader go-to-market alliance strategies.

You will lead a globally distributed team of analysts, setting the intellectual direction of the practice while driving revenue growth across syndicated research, custom advisory, data products (Distribution Tracker) and executive events. Working at the intersection of technology industry dynamics and vendor strategy, you will serve as IDC’s primary voice on channel and ecosystem transformation, engaging with C-suite clients, shaping IDC’s public agenda, and ensuring the practice delivers measurable impact for customers and IDC alike.

The ideal candidate is a credible thought leader who combines deep domain expertise in technology vendor channels, partner ecosystems, or alliance strategy with proven commercial leadership and the organizational skills to manage and develop a high-performing global team.

What You’ll Do

Domain Expertise: The candidate must have substantive, practitioner-level knowledge of the IT channel and partner ecosystem landscape, including traditional resellers, distributors, managed service providers, systems integrators, technology vendor partner programs (e.g. Intel,AWS, Microsoft, Google), marketplace dynamics, and ISV alliances. Surface-level familiarity is insufficient for a role requiring intellectual credibility with senior technology vendor and partner executives.

Research and Analytical Leadership: Experience leading a research function, managing an analyst team, or directing a large-scale market intelligence practice is strongly preferred. The VP must be able to set a research agenda, ensure methodological rigor, translate complex market dynamics into clear client-facing narratives, and maintain IDC’s standard for accuracy and objectivity.

Commercial Acumen and Revenue Ownership: This role requires a genuine track record of revenue accountability — growing a portfolio of products, managing client relationships at the executive level, identifying and converting new opportunities, and collaborating with sales teams. Experience with subscription research models, advisory retainers, and custom engagements is important context.

Global Team Leadership: Managing geographically distributed teams across multiple time zones and cultures requires more than seniority — it demands intentionality around communication, inclusion, performance management, and talent development. Candidates should demonstrate experience leading global or regional teams, ideally in matrixed organizations.

Executive Communication and Public Presence: The VP will represent IDC at industry events, in media, and in executive briefings. Strong written and verbal communication skills are a baseline. Beyond that, the ideal candidate should be a confident public speaker, a compelling storyteller with data, and someone who can represent IDC’s point of view with authority and nuance across diverse audiences.

Strategic and Consultative Mindset: The best candidates will move fluidly between macro market trends and vendor-specific strategic questions. Experience advising technology vendors, distributors, or channel-focused organizations on go-to-market strategy would be a strong differentiator.

Collaborative and Cross-Functional Orientation: The channels and ecosystem space intersects with nearly every other technology coverage area, including but not limited to cloud, software, security, CMO Advisory, AI, and more. This VP will need to build strong working relationships across IDC’s research practices and with the broader commercial organization. Candidates who operate as integrators and collaborators, not siloed domain owners, will be most effective.

Adaptability and Innovation: The channel and ecosystem landscape is undergoing fundamental change driven by AI, platform economics, and shifting vendor go-to-market models. The VP should demonstrate curiosity, comfort with ambiguity, and a track record of evolving their coverage or thinking as markets shift, not just documenting change, but anticipating it.

What You Bring

Why This Role Stands Out

At IDC, your work helps shape how the world understands technology and where it goes next. You collaborate with curious, high-caliber colleagues who value rigor, integrity, and shared success. As the premier global provider of trusted technology intelligence, IDC equips business and technology leaders with the evidence they need to make confident decisions. Our insights inform strategy, investment, and innovation across industries and regions.

Recognized by IIAR as Analyst Firm of the Year for five consecutive years, IDC sets the standard for credibility and impact. With more than 1,000 analysts worldwide and a truly global perspective, we combine deep expertise with practical relevance. Here, your ideas matter, your voice is heard, and your contributions provide the insights leaders rely on every day. It is meaningful work, backed by a culture that supports growth, collaboration, and long-term career development with a globally respected brand.

What We Offer

• 15 vacation days (prorated based on start date)
• 12 company-paid holidays
• 6 paid sick days (prorated based on start date; may vary by state)
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 2 floating holidays (prorated based on start date)
• 1 volunteer day
• 401(k) company match (IDC matches 3% on the first 6% of employee contributions)
• Company-paid short-term disability
• Company-paid life insurance
  
• Company-paid parental leave
  

Compensation Transparency

At IDC, we are committed to fair and equitable pay practices. Employees are compensated equitably for their work, aligned with their skills and experience. Salary and incentive structures are determined through a rigorous process that considers experience, education, certifications, role-specific requirements, internal equity, and verified U.S. market data from an independent third-party partner.

The expected total annual compensation, depending on location and experience, is between $190,000 – $230,000, inclusive of base salary and variable compensation.

Equal Opportunity Employer

IDC is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. Employment eligibility verification required. We participate in E-Verify.

IDC is currently able to employ remote workers in the following states: Arizona (AZ), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Washington D.C. (DC), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Kansas (KS), Massachusetts (MA), Maryland (MD), Maine (ME), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Missouri (MO), Mississippi (MS), North Carolina (NC), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY), Ohio (OH), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Utah (UT), Virginia (VA), Vermont (VT), Washington (WA), and Wisconsin (WI).