Partner Coordinator

Company Description

Who We Are 

Burwood Group is not your average technology consulting firm. We are an innovative, culture-driven industry leader, that helps companies use and manage technology to transform business and improve outcomes. Founded in 1997, headquartered in Chicago, we've grown to be a 200+ employee firm with team members and offices spread from Southern California to North Carolina. 

Burwood fosters a culture that applauds both teamwork and personal growth. We’ve cultivated an incredible team of people who are dedicated to their craft and passionate about using their skills to impact the success of the company. Join our team and build a career as unique as you are. 

Job Description

What You'll Do

The Partner Coordinator plays a vital administrative and operational role within our Partner Alliance team. This position is crucial for maintaining the health, compliance, and operational efficiency of our strategic partnerships with key technology vendors like Cisco, HPE, Palo Alto Networks, Microsoft, and Google Cloud. The Partner Coordinator will provide essential support to our Partner Relations Managers by handling critical tasks related to partner program requirements, onboarding processes, financial incentives (rebates/MDF), CRM maintenance, and overall partner ecosystem administration, ensuring our partnership commitments are met and benefits are maximized.

Key Responsibilities:

• Partner Certification & Compliance Management:
  • Track and manage company-level and individual employee certifications required by key partner programs (e.g., Cisco Gold status requirements, specific Cisco specializations, Microsoft Solutions Partner designations & specializations, HPE certifications, and PANW partner levels).
  • Proactively monitor certification/specialization expiration dates and coordinate with technical staff, training coordinators, and Partner Relations Managers to ensure timely renewals and training completion.
  • Maintain accurate, up-to-date records of all certifications and compliance statuses within internal systems (CRM, spreadsheets) and relevant partner portals.
  • Assist in gathering documentation needed for program compliance audits or reviews.
• New Partner Onboarding Support:
  • Support Partner Relations Managers with the administrative tasks involved in onboarding new strategic or ecosystem partners.
  • Gather necessary agreements and documentation, facilitate partner portal access requests for relevant team members, and track onboarding checklist completion.
  • Help maintain internal documentation and resources related to new partner processes and requirements.
• Rebate & Incentive Management:
  • Enter and report incoming Market Development Funds (MDF), co-op funds, and other financial incentives offered by Cisco, HPE, PANW, Microsoft, Google Cloud, and other strategic vendors.
  • Collect and organize necessary proof-of-performance documentation (sales data, training records, marketing activities) required for claim submissions as needed and directed by Partner and Marketing leadership.
  • Submit claims accurately through vendor portals or specified processes within program deadlines as needed and directed.
  • Liaise with internal Finance/Accounting teams to reconcile rebate payments and track fund usage.
  • Maintain reports on program status, claim submissions, payments received, and overall incentive attainment.
• Partner Portal Administration :
  • Maintain company profiles, user access permissions, and contact information across various primary partner portals (e.g., Cisco Partner Central, Microsoft Partner Center, HPE Partner Ready Portal, Palo Alto Networks Partner Portal, Google Cloud Partner Advantage).
  • Ensure company specializations, competencies, awards, and compliance status are accurately reflected and updated in vendor systems.
• Administrative, CRM & Team Support:
  • Provide administrative support to Partner Relations Managers, including scheduling partner meetings, preparing agendas or materials for Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), and assisting with partner event logistics (virtual or in-person).
  • Maintain and update partner-related information within the company CRM system (Microsoft Dynamics), ensuring accuracy of contacts, partner levels, associated activities, and communication logs.
  • Manage partner contact lists within the CRM system.
  • Assist in compiling data and generating reports related to partner performance metrics, compliance dashboards, CRM data, and incentive program results.
  • Help maintain internal knowledge base articles or documentation related to partner programs, processes, and key contacts.
  • Handle ad-hoc administrative requests to support the smooth functioning of the Partner Alliance team.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  • Work collaboratively with Sales Operations, Marketing, Services Delivery, Finance, and technical teams to gather information, facilitate processes, and ensure alignment on partner-related activities.

Qualifications

Who You Are

• Associate’s degree in business administration, Marketing, Communications, or a related field, OR equivalent relevant work experience.  
• 1-3 years of experience in an administrative, coordination, sales operations, or program support role, ideally within the IT industry or for a company involved in technology channel partnerships.
• Exceptional organizational skills and a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail – crucial for compliance, financial tracking, and CRM data integrity.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel (for tracking/reporting), Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Strong written and verbal presentation skills for interacting with internal teams and potentially external partner contacts.
• Proven ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.  
• Proactive, self-motivated work ethic with the ability to work independently with appropriate guidance.
• Comfortable learning and navigating various web-based portals and internal software systems, including CRM platforms.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience working with IT vendor partner programs and portals, specifically for Cisco, HPE, Palo Alto Networks, Microsoft, or Google Cloud, is highly desirable.
• Experience using CRM systems for data entry, contact management, and reporting.
• Specific experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 is preferred.
• Basic understanding of IT channel concepts like partner tiers, specializations, certifications, rebates, MDF, deal registration.
• Experience with basic financial tracking or reporting.

Additional Information

The PERKS

Our benefits are thoughtfully tailored to align with local standards and regulations, ensuring you feel supported—no matter where you're located.

Benefits may include:

• Health & Wellness – Access to healthcare options based on your region.

• Remote Work Support – Tools, equipment, and resources to create a productive home office setup.

Specific benefits may vary depending on your location and employment arrangement.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

We are not intent on being the largest company, but rather, the best. These are the words we live by. This means we welcome all the best talent, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, and age. 

Being open to all cultural backgrounds, life experiences, thoughts, and ideas not only strengthens company culture but also encourages different-in-kind thinking and promotes economic success.