Global Partner Enablement Manager

Are you ready to power the World's connections? If you don’t think you meet all of the criteria below but are still interested in the job, please apply. Nobody checks every box - we’re looking for candidates that are particularly strong in a few areas, and have some interest and capabilities in others. About the role: Kong is looking for a Global Partner EnablementManager to design, implement, and scale our partner enablement programs worldwide. In this role, you’ll work cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Product, Customer Success, and our global partner ecosystem (including Systems Integrators, MSPs, and Technology Alliances) to ensure our partners are equipped with the knowledge, tools, and best practices to drive adoption of Kong’s industry-leading connectivity and API management solutions. You will own the end-to-end strategy for partner enablement—from designing certification frameworks and training materials to rolling out scalable programs that align with Kong’s hyper-growth objectives. The ideal candidate is both a strategic thinker and a hands-on operator, someone who excels at cultivating relationships and delivering measurable business impact. Location: US Remote

Global Partner Enablement Strategy:

• Develop a comprehensive enablement strategy that aligns with Kong’s revenue goals, focusing on partner onboarding, sales training, technical certification, and ongoing development.
• Collaborate with GTM leadership to define success metrics and design programs that empower partners to effectively position and implement Kong’s connectivity solutions.

Program Development & Delivery:

• Create and deliver engaging training and certification programs (in-person, virtual, on-demand) that address diverse partner needs—sales, technical, and customer success.
• Own the continuous improvement cycle for enablement content, leveraging feedback and performance data to optimize partner readiness and productivity.

Performance Monitoring & Analytics:

• Track partner performance against key metrics (e.g., deal registration, pipeline contribution, certification completion) to identify gaps and drive data-driven enablement enhancements.
• Provide regular reports and insights to GTM leadership on partner readiness, pipeline health, and revenue impact.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Partner with Product Marketing, Field Operations, and Solutions Engineering to ensure partners receive timely updates on new products, features, and best practices.
• Work closely with the Revenue Operations team to align enablement activities with forecasting, pipeline management, and overall sales strategy.

Partner Engagement & Advocacy:

• Serve as an internal advocate for partner needs, influencing product roadmaps and marketing programs with partner feedback.
• Build and nurture strong relationships with partner stakeholders, creating a community of engaged, knowledgeable “Kong Champions.”

Thought Leadership:

• Represent Kong at partner events, webinars, and industry conferences.
• Drive thought leadership around API management, connectivity, and best practices for partner success.

Experience & Leadership:

• 7–10+ years in partner enablement, sales enablement, or a related GTM leadership role, ideally within enterprise software or SaaS.
• Proven success designing and scaling enablement programs that result in measurable revenue growth and partner satisfaction.

Strategic & Hands-On:

• Ability to develop high-level strategies while also diving into details—crafting enablement content, delivering trainings, and managing day-to-day operations.
• Comfortable navigating fast-paced, data-driven environments; adaptable to changing priorities.

Technical Acumen:

• Familiarity with API management, cloud infrastructure, or related technology; able to speak confidently about Kong’s suite of products and the broader connectivity space.
• Experience working with Sales Enablement tools (e.g., SFDC, LMS platforms) and BI applications to track and measure partner performance.

Collaboration & Communication:

• Exceptional written/verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels—both internal and external.
• Demonstrated success driving cross-functional alignment among Sales, Marketing, Product, and Customer Success teams.

Data-Driven Mindset:

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to derive actionable insights from partner performance metrics, pipeline data, and market trends.
• Familiarity with common sales methodologies (e.g., MEDDPICC) is a plus.

Education:

• BA/BS degree required; advanced degree in business or a related field is a plus.

Kong has different base pay ranges for different work locations within the United States, which allows us to pay employees competitively and consistently in different geographic markets. Compensation varies depending on a wide array of factors, including but not limited to specific candidate location, role, skill set and level of experience. Certain roles are eligible for additional rewards including sales incentives depending on the terms of the applicable plan and role. Benefits may vary depending on location. US based employees are typically offered access to healthcare benefits, a 401(k) plan, short and long term disability benefits, basic life and AD&D insurance, among others. The typical base pay range for this role in the US is $150-$180k. About Kong: Kong is THE cloud native API platform with the fastest, most adopted API gateway in the world (over 300m downloads!). As the innovation leader of cloud API technologies, Kong is on a mission to enable companies around the world to become "API-first" and securely accelerate AI adoption. Kong helps organizations globally - from startups to Fortune 500 enterprises - unleash developer productivity, build securely and accelerate to market. 83% of web traffic today is API calls! APIs are the connective tissue of the cloud and the underlying technology that allows software to talk and interact with one another. Therefore, we believe that APIs act as the nervous system of the cloud. Our audacious mission is to build the nervous system that will safely and reliably connect all of humankind! For more information about Kong, please visit konghq.com or follow @thekonginc on Twitter. We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. #LI-DNI