Kelly Telecom — powered by NextGen®, GTA and Motion Telco — is an award-winning end-to-end telecommunications workforce and solutions partner with 40+ years of Tier-1 carrier delivery, spanning RF and fiber through wireline transformation, AI, cloud, and data services. Our Motion Telco practice brings 20+ years of wireline and digital transformation expertise serving the nation’s largest carriers.
Position Overview
Kelly Telecom is seeking a high-impact, results-driven Account Executive — Digital Services with deep Verizon insider knowledge to lead and expand our strategic relationship with Verizon. This role is laser-focused on growing Kelly Telecom’s footprint within Verizon’s wireline and digital transformation organizations, with particular emphasis on edge and core network planning, 5GC/MEC infrastructure, network modernization, and the expansion of AI-driven automation, cloud, and data services. Candidates with direct Verizon engineering or operations leadership experience are strongly preferred — you already speak the language, know the programs, and understand the people.
The ideal candidate has spent years inside Verizon’s engineering and operations organization — managing teams, overseeing CAPEX portfolios, and leading large-scale deployments — and is ready to apply that expertise in a strategic client-facing capacity. You will serve as a trusted advisor, translating Verizon’s most pressing strategic challenges into tailored Kelly Telecom solutions that drive measurable cost savings, operational efficiency, and network evolution.
This is a Remote role, with regular travel expected to Verizon locations in New Jersey and Texas.
Why This Role Matters Now
Verizon is in the midst of its most significant network and operational transformation in decades: accelerating TDM switch decommissioning, pursuing $5B in cost savings including legacy copper network decommissioning and IT stack consolidation, and scaling AI-driven automation across network operations. Kelly Telecom’s Motion Telco practice is uniquely positioned to deliver solutions across every one of these initiatives — and this AE will be the tip of the spear.
Verizon’s Top Strategic Initiatives — Your Selling Landscape
The Account Executive must develop deep fluency in Verizon’s strategic priorities and consistently connect Kelly Telecom capabilities to each. Current and forward-looking initiatives include:
1. Legacy TDM Decommissioning & Wireline Modernization
Verizon is accelerating the retirement of its TDM switching infrastructure in favor of cloud-based voice and IP platforms. This program is driven by power reduction, cost elimination, regulatory compliance, and technical space recovery across central offices nationwide. Kelly Telecom’s Motion Telco practice has delivered optimization and decommissioning programs, legacy retirement, POP decom acceleration, equipment recovery, and ATM/LEC unwind for Tier-1 carriers for over two decades.
2. Core Network Planning & Transformation
Verizon’s network transformation encompasses 5G core expansion, data center consolidation, IP/MPLS and optical network optimization, SS7/SIGTRAN engineering, and automation of service-order workflows. Kelly Telecom brings capacity planning, NEO planning & evolution, LNS/IPAG circuit migration, and microservices development to support these programs.
3. AI-Driven Cost Savings & Automation
Verizon’s $5B cost transformation program includes reducing manual operations through AI, improving network data quality, and automating circuit validation, billing reconciliation, and ghost-worker detection. Motion Telco’s agentic AI and data engineering practice has delivered $10–20M in estimated savings on circuit validation automation, 38% cloud compute cost reduction through AI-driven query optimization, and 3–5x acceleration in circuit validation through agentic AI workflows.
4. Cloud & Data Modernization
Verizon is modernizing its IT stack through cloud migration (IaaS to PaaS), application refactoring, Kubernetes/AKS adoption, and database consolidation. Motion Telco delivers cloud transformation, assisted migrations, cloud-native development, and AI data readiness with a track record of 40% analytics performance improvements for Tier-1 operators.
5. E911, Public Safety & Regulatory Compliance
Verizon continues to invest in NG911 readiness, ESINet engineering, E911 diversity remediation, and network reliability following recent 5G Standalone core disruptions that drew FCC scrutiny. Kelly Telecom’s experience in E911/NG911 engineering, ESINet ASR coordination, and compliance testing provides a differentiated value proposition.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Account Development
- Own the full Verizon Digital Services account relationship, including HQ-level engineering, network planning, transformation program offices, and procurement stakeholders
- Develop and execute a comprehensive account growth plan aligned to Verizon’s published strategic initiatives: TDM decom, core network transformation, AI automation, and cloud modernization
- Build and maintain a deep multi-threaded executive relationship map across Verizon’s wireline, digital transformation, and technology organizations
- Identify, qualify, and develop new opportunities within Verizon’s broader organization — expanding from existing programs into new practice areas across Digital Services
Solution Development & Consultative Selling
- Develop complex, custom solution proposals that tie Verizon’s strategic priorities to specific Kelly Telecom / Motion Telco capabilities — with clear ROI, cost savings, or acceleration narratives
- Lead discovery sessions with Verizon technical and program leadership to surface latent needs in central office decom, core network planning, AI automation, and cloud transformation
- Collaborate with Kelly Telecom’s subject matter experts (AI engineers, wireline transformation architects, OSP planners) to architect solutions and build winning proposals and statements of work
- Present to senior and executive Verizon stakeholders with fluency in network economics, CapEx/OpEx tradeoffs, and transformation ROI
Pipeline & Revenue Management
- Build and maintain a robust, accurately forecasted sales pipeline with sufficient coverage against quota
- Own the full sales cycle from opportunity identification through contract execution and program launch
- Achieve or exceed annual revenue targets for Verizon Digital Services engagements
- Track and report pipeline, bookings, and account health metrics to sales leadership on a regular cadence
Market Intelligence & Strategic Alignment
- Monitor Verizon’s investor relations communications, earnings calls, regulatory filings, and public statements to continuously update your understanding of evolving priorities
- Maintain awareness of competitive vendors and partners serving Verizon in the Digital Services space
- Provide intelligence to Kelly Telecom’s product and practice leadership to inform service development and capability investments
- Represent Kelly Telecom at industry events, telecom conferences, and Verizon-hosted forums relevant to wireline transformation and digital services
Required Qualifications
Experience
- 8+ years of experience in telecom — in technical, operational leadership, or sales roles — with the ability to engage Verizon stakeholders as a knowledgeable peer; prior Verizon or Tier-1 carrier experience is a significant plus
- Proven ability to engage and influence Verizon engineering and operations leadership, whether through direct sales experience or through prior roles as a trusted internal leader with cross-functional relationships across Verizon’s wireline, edge, and transformation organizations
- Demonstrated success driving or overseeing high-value, multi-year programs ($2M+ scope) in telecom — whether as a solutions seller, program lead, or engineering director managing CAPEX portfolios and vendor relationships
- Direct experience in or selling into one or more of the following domains: edge routing and switching, 5GC/MEC deployment, IP/MPLS network transformation, core network planning, vRAN/virtualized infrastructure, or AI/automation in network operations
Technical Fluency
- Deep working knowledge of carrier network architecture: IP/MPLS (BGP, IS-IS, OSPF, Segment Routing, VXLAN), edge routing and switching platforms (Cisco Nexus, Cisco XR/NCS/ASR, Nokia Service Routers), 5G core, MEC, and virtualized network functions
- Familiarity with cloud platforms, AI/ML applications in network operations, and automation tooling (e.g., Itential IAP, JIRA-driven engineering workflows); exposure to NVIDIA AI infrastructure concepts is a plus
- Proven ability to speak credibly to network economics, CapEx/OpEx drivers, and cost-savings methodologies with Verizon engineering and finance stakeholders — ideally grounded in direct experience managing $20M+ CAPEX portfolios and overseeing high-risk change governance programs
- Understanding of Verizon’s organizational structure and procurement processes for network transformation and digital services engagements
Sales Skills & Attributes
- Consultative, insight-led selling approach — you lead with Verizon’s problems and strategic priorities, not product pitches
- Proven ability to develop complex, multi-workstream solutions in partnership with technical SMEs and delivery teams
- Strong executive presence and communication skills; comfortable presenting to VP and C-suite level Verizon stakeholders
- Self-starter with high accountability: you own your pipeline, your forecast, and your results
- Willingness to travel to Verizon HQ (Basking Ridge, NJ) and other Verizon locations as needed
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior experience as a senior engineering or operations leader at a Tier-1 carrier, transitioning that expertise into a client-facing solutions or business development capacity
- Existing VP+ level relationships within Verizon’s wireline, edge, or digital transformation organizations, whether developed through sales or through prior tenure inside Verizon
- Experience selling AI/agentic workflow, cloud FinOps, or data engineering solutions to network operators
- Familiarity with Verizon’s wireline network consolidation initiatives and broader transformation roadmap
- Experience with statement of work (SOW) development for technical professional services engagements
- Background in large-scale engineering team leadership (10+ FTEs), operational governance, or program delivery; PMP certification or in-progress training is a plus
Compensation:
Base Salary - $110,000-$135,000 DOE
Uncapped Commission Plan
Benefits:
- Base Salary + Uncapped Commission
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits
- 3 weeks PTO
- 5 Sick/Mental Health/Well Being Days/year
- Paid Holidays + 4 Floating Holidays/year
- Company Discount Program
- 401k with Company Match
