Specialist Solutions Consultant at Hitachi Data Systems

Hitachi Data Systems provides information technologies, services and solutions that help companies improve IT costs and agility, and innovate with information to make a difference in the world. Our customers gain compelling return on investment (ROI), unmatched return on assets.

Mission: Society's need for advanced technologies is constantly evolving; in turn, so is Hitachi. With its determination to improve the quality of life for the global community, Hitachi decided to focus on the Social Innovation Business.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Specialist Solutions Consultant

Ref No: 016877
Location: Nigeria
Direct Reports: None

Role Purpose

• Provide in-depth pre-sales technical support for Sales (Direct and Indirect) and Channel Partners.
• Be a pre-sales centre of competence for specific HDS Services and Solutions and have a detailed knowledge of all the others.
• Collaborate with other support functions to drive HDS Product and Service revenues whilst maximising customer satisfaction.
• Develop relationships with customers to ensure an appreciation of current and potential benefits available from HDS products and services in their environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead project/virtual solutions bid teams as appropriate.
• Advise / educate HDS customers, staff and Partners on the technical advantages of the HDS solution with respect to the business need it satisfies.
• Be regarded internally and externally as pre-sales subject matter expert
• Understand a customer’s environment and support the account team to develop the customer’s storage strategy.
• Design HDS storage solutions to represent the optimum technical solution for a customer’s business applications.
• Identify sales opportunities for the HDS Product, Solutions and Services portfolio.
• Assist / enable Systems Assurance raising and progressing any necessary Interoperability Support Requests
• Deliver formal presentations and coordinate/deliver demonstrations of HDS Storage Solutions and Consultancy Services to Customers and Partners.
• Assist in the completion of proposals for HDS Storage Solutions
• When authorised, deliver roadmap and NDA presentations to customer / HDS staff
• Advise on industry-wide technologies, and directions.
• Provide competitive product / solution comparisons.
• Ensure that Services personnel are involved at the earliest opportunity within a sales cycle to facilitate a clean hand-over of the engagement to GSS and CS&S.
• Technically support GSS in their delivery and where necessary participate in project review meetings.
• Ensure HDS solution performs at the customer site to it’s full potential and that customer personnel are aware of the benefits (ROI) provided
• Liaise closely with GSS and be the glue that binds the value proposition to the technology.
• Develop pre-sales technical product and marketing relationships with EHQ and SC.

Qualifications
Key Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• At least five years experience within an area of like discipline within a similar competitor organisation, end user or IT consultancy services provider
• Ability to develop a detailed knowledge of all core HDS Products - Hardware, software, solutions and services
• Detailed knowledge of other 3rd party HDS Products - depth and breadth
• Complete ability to understand and exploit customer’s technical issues and align solution to business need.
• Conversant and comfortable with written and spoken business English
• Good personal presence, well-organised, adaptable and clear thinker.
• Ability to work in unstructured environments/situations and handle multiple demands with competing and changing priorities
• Ensure effective team work and communication in all engagements – with customer staff, HDS account teams and Services colleagues
• Take advantage of all types of available education material and methods to broaden skills and develop agreed areas of specialisation
• Willingness to accept responsibility and accountability.
• Innovative, actively looking for solutions to challenges.
• Comply with all published HDS policies and guidelines

"Soft" Skill:

• Appreciation and knowledge of IT industry challenges and related business issues
• Deliver detailed product / solution / strategy / exhibition / event presentations
• Deliver product announcement education to the direct / indirect and Partner workforces
• Detailed knowledge of application to spindle infrastructures with special regard to performance
• Knowledge of industry best practices for specific solution areas
• Co-ordinate / generate business solution proposals
• Excellent customer handling skills - respect and deliver on commitments

Key Competencies:

• Business Acumen
• Customer Focus
• Decision Making
• Relationship Management
• Managing for Results