Principal Retail Strategist

Description

The Principal Industry Advisor will guide senior customer leaders in helping them to improve the customer experience, increase store productivity, and remove risk from their business. This role will provide the voice of the customer within CDW and ensure that our teams understand and can effectively communicate the benefits, challenges, and impact of technology in the retail setting.

What You Will Do

• Provide ideation, customer access, strategic vision, thought leadership, subject matter expertise, and demonstrate relevance to the customer base and market in general.
• Drive strategic Go-to-Market plans for the retail industry.
• Grow revenue and profit for the retail industry.
• Develop innovative solutions to drive thought leadership inside the retail industry.
• Maintain and continue to develop partner ecosystem to support initiatives and go-to-market strategies.
• Sit on key industry boards, present at conferences, and help ensure our teams can deliver true ROI for our customers.

What We Expect Of You

• Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent experience.
• 12+ years technology or line of business leadership in the Retail industry.
• Deep understanding of the vertical environment including knowledge of funding, investments, and use of information technology in the Retail industry.
• Knowledge of current publications, events, and organizations relevant to the vertical market.
• Credibility with vertical specific GTM landscape demonstrated through professional networks and understanding of the Retail industry.
• Strategic planning capabilities.
• Extensive presentation experience.
• Ability to travel at least 25% of the time.
• Proven leadership skills.
• Cognitive coaching and meeting facilitation experience.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Passion for vertical and ongoing personal learning.
• Extensive use of technology in the vertical markets served.
• Strong consultative, solution-based selling experience.
• Effective negotiation and closing skills.
• Strong conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Adaptability and ability to lead through change.
• Able to utilize strategic thinking to fulfill long-term company goals.
• Excellent time management skills to manage multiple projects and initiatives simultaneously.
• Exceptional attention to detail and follow-up skills.
• Able to share in-depth knowledge of CDW capabilities with customers.
• Strong internal and external customer acumen with high ethics and integrity.

Pay Range

Pay range: $157,500 - $210,000 depending on experience and skill set. Annual bonus target of 43% subject to terms and conditions of plan. Benefits overview: https://cdw.benefit-info.com/

About Us

CDW is a Fortune 500 technology solutions provider that helps businesses, government, education, and healthcare organizations achieve what's possible through technology. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an equitable, transparent, and respectful hiring process for all applicants. We are an AI-fluent organization looking for individuals who bring curiosity, a learner's mindset, and a willingness to engage with ever-evolving technology and tools. We value adopting AI as a partner, openness to experimentation, and a shared interest in learning together on AI. Our goal is to create a culture where AI enhances—not replaces—human creativity and decision-making. We are committed to being an AI-fluent organization and looking for candidates who embrace an AI mindset, one that’s curious, adaptive, and ready to explore what’s possible. We believe meaningful work happens when people feel supported, heard, and empowered to contribute. That’s why we think of ourselves as coworkers, not just employees—working together to solve complex challenges and deliver real impact for our customers and communities. As a full-stack, full-lifecycle technology partner, CDW brings deep expertise, strong relationships, and broad industry knowledge to help turn ideas into outcomes. When you join CDW, you become part of a collaborative environment where your work matters, your growth is supported, and your contributions help shape what’s next. Together, we deliver the full promise of what technology can do. Together, we Make Amazing Happen.