Senior Strategic Customer Account Manager – Public Sector & SLED (State, Local, Education) – Remote (US) – Driving Growth & Innovation in Mission‑Critical Connectivity

About brighthush

brighthush stands at the forefront of the connectivity revolution, delivering mission‑critical networking solutions that empower the world’s most transformative businesses and public institutions. With a sprawling 141,000‑mile network that spans North America and Europe, brighthush offers a full spectrum of services—including dark fiber, private data networks, wavelengths, Ethernet, and dedicated Internet access—to carriers, media, technology, finance, healthcare, and large enterprises. Our unwavering commitment to innovation, reliability, and customer success fuels the digital future of public‑sector organizations, from state and local governments to K‑12 schools and higher‑education institutions.

Why Join brighthush?

At brighthush, you’ll thrive in a culture that prizes curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning. We empower our people to tackle complex challenges, influence industry standards, and create lasting impact for the communities we serve. Whether you’re a seasoned account strategist or a rising star in the public‑sector arena, brighthush offers:

• Competitive compensation – Base salary ranging from $75,390 to $107,700 USD, complemented by discretionary incentive plans for both sales and non‑sales roles.
• Comprehensive benefits – Health, dental, vision, life insurance, disability coverage, and a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
• Generous paid time off – Including parental leave, and a flexible remote work model that supports work‑life balance.
• Professional development – Structured mentorship, learning programs, and a clear career ladder that rewards performance and innovation.
• Diversity & inclusion – A welcoming, supportive workplace where every voice is heard and every contribution matters.

Position Overview

As a Senior Strategic Customer Account Manager – Public Sector & SLED, you will be the trusted partner for brighthush’s largest and most complex public‑sector accounts. Your focus will be on post‑implementation relationship management, recurring‑revenue strategy, and customer continuity for state and local government agencies, K‑12 school districts, higher‑education institutions, and related public‑sector organizations. You will collaborate closely with Sales, Engineering, Finance, Legal, and Operations to align customer priorities, procurement requirements, funding cycles, and network needs with brighthush’s capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Executive Relationship Building – Cultivate and sustain executive, commercial, and operational relationships with public‑sector customers and their internal account teams.
• Strategic Account Planning – Design multi‑year account plans, renewal strategies, and network roadmaps that reflect customer priorities, service needs, contract positions, funding cycles, procurement timelines, competitive risk, and financial exposure.
• Revenue Protection & Growth – Own revenue protection, churn management, renewal execution, and expansion strategy for assigned accounts.
• Complex Renewal Leadership – Lead multi‑service, multi‑location, or multi‑year renewals, RFP/RFQ responses, and executive business reviews.
• Funding Alignment – Align customer strategies with E‑rate funding cycles, eligible service categories, RFP timelines, budget cycles, and procurement requirements.
• Opportunity Identification – Identify and advance growth opportunities in partnership with Sales by understanding customer infrastructure needs, funding availability, upcoming procurements, technology initiatives, and service expansion opportunities.
• Procurement Navigation – Navigate and leverage state contract vehicles, cooperative purchasing programs, education consortiums, and other public‑sector procurement mechanisms to support renewals and growth.
• Churn Forecasting & Mitigation – Manage churn forecasts and mitigation plans while balancing customer outcomes with pricing discipline, contract terms, margin, capital recovery, and long‑term account value.
• Contract Strategy Development – Develop and negotiate save, replacement, portability, migration, network‑redesign, relocation, decommission, and contract‑restructuring strategies appropriate to the customer and procurement environment.
• Commercial Judgment – Provide senior commercial judgment on credits, ETL, portability, contract exceptions, rate increases, renewal pricing, and appropriate revenue treatment.
• Cross‑Functional Coordination – Coordinate complex customer requirements and decisions across Sales, Sales Engineering, Finance, Billing, Legal, Deal Management, Service Assurance, Service Delivery, Product, and Operations.
• Subject‑Matter Expertise – Serve as a knowledgeable advisor on brighthush services and their alignment to public‑sector and education requirements, procurement processes, and funding programs.
• Market Intelligence – Monitor changes in relevant funding, procurement, and market conditions and translate those changes into actionable account strategies.
• Executive Engagement – Lead customer business reviews and executive engagements focused on service performance, business priorities, upcoming procurements, renewal readiness, funding opportunities, and future network requirements.
• Team Mentorship – Mentor less‑experienced CAMs and contribute to renewal playbooks, training, negotiation practices, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Essential Qualifications

• Minimum of 7–10 years of experience in strategic account management within the public‑sector or technology services industry.
• Proven track record of managing multi‑million‑dollar accounts, driving renewals, and expanding revenue streams.
• Deep understanding of public‑sector procurement processes, including E‑rate, state contract vehicles, cooperative purchasing, and education consortiums.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to develop multi‑year financial models, forecast revenue, and assess margin impact.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, capable of engaging C‑suite executives, procurement officials, and technical stakeholders.
• Experience negotiating complex contracts, managing churn, and implementing renewal strategies.
• Proficiency with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce), Microsoft Office Suite, and data analytics tools.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across cross‑functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in telecommunications, networking, or cloud services, with a focus on dark fiber, Ethernet, or dedicated Internet access.
• Experience working with state and local government agencies, K‑12 school districts, or higher‑education institutions.
• Knowledge of federal and state funding mechanisms, including E‑rate, TIGER, and other grant programs.
• Prior experience in a senior account management role within a high‑growth technology company.
• Advanced negotiation and contract management certifications (e.g., Certified Professional Contracts Manager).

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strategic Thinking – Ability to envision long‑term account growth and align it with organizational objectives.
• Relationship Management – Building trust and rapport with diverse stakeholders across multiple levels.
• Financial Acumen – Understanding of revenue models, margin analysis, and pricing strategy.
• Negotiation & Influence – Skilled in securing favorable terms while maintaining strong customer relationships.
• Project Management – Managing complex, multi‑disciplinary initiatives with tight deadlines.
• Adaptability – Thriving in a fast‑paced, evolving environment with shifting priorities.
• Data‑Driven Decision Making – Leveraging analytics to inform strategy and measure success.
• Leadership & Mentorship – Guiding junior team members and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Career Growth & Learning Opportunities

At brighthush, your career trajectory is designed to accelerate. As a Senior Strategic Customer Account Manager, you will:

• Progress to Director or VP of Public‑Sector Account Management, overseeing a portfolio of high‑value accounts.
• Lead cross‑functional initiatives that shape product strategy, service delivery, and customer experience.
• Participate in executive leadership forums, influencing company direction and industry standards.
• Access to ongoing training programs, certifications, and industry conferences to keep you at the cutting edge of connectivity and public‑sector trends.
• Mentor and develop the next generation of account managers, building a legacy of excellence within brighthush.

Work Environment & Company Culture

brighthush thrives on a culture of innovation, transparency, and empowerment. Our remote‑first model means you can work from anywhere in the United States while staying connected to a vibrant, collaborative community. We celebrate diversity, encourage open dialogue, and reward creative problem‑solving. Our teams are cross‑functional, agile, and focused on delivering tangible value to our customers.

Compensation, Perks & Benefits

While the exact compensation will depend on experience and qualifications, you can expect:

• Competitive base salary – $75,390 to $107,700 USD.
• Performance incentives – Discretionary incentive plans tied to sales and account performance.
• Health & Wellness – Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage.
• Retirement – 401(k) plan with company match.
• Paid time off – Generous PTO, sick leave, and parental leave.
• Remote flexibility – Work from home with a flexible schedule.
• Professional development – Tuition reimbursement, mentorship, and learning resources.
• Community impact – Opportunities to contribute to public‑sector initiatives and community projects.

How to Apply

Ready to take the next step in your career and help shape the future of public‑sector connectivity? Submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your experience and why you’re the ideal fit for this role. We look forward to exploring how you can contribute to brighthush’s mission of delivering reliable, innovative connectivity solutions to the world’s most critical institutions.