Global Innovation and Industry Research Lead for GCP

About Accenture Cloud First

Accenture is a leading partner to the world’s major cloud providers, including AWS, Azure, and Google. With a $3 billion investment over three years, Accenture Cloud First demonstrates a strong commitment to delivering significant value to clients, offering immense growth opportunities for professionals. Our Cloud First group comprises over 70,000 cloud professionals who deliver a comprehensive suite of integrated cloud capabilities. This includes expertise across data, edge, integrated infrastructure, applications, deep ecosystem skills, and a culture of change, coupled with profound industry expertise to shape, move, build, and operate clients’ businesses in the cloud. To accelerate customer transformation leveraging cloud, we combine world-class learning and talent development; extensive experience in cloud change management; and cloud-ready operating models. Accenture is committed to responsible business by design, integrating security, data privacy, responsible AI use, sustainability, ethics, and compliance into fundamental changes for companies.

About The Accenture Google Cloud Business Group (AGBG)

We are the Accenture Google Business Group (AGBG), a team of innovators and builders dedicated to transforming the world with the most advanced cloud-native solutions. As a key part of Accenture’s $3B Cloud First investment, the AGBG delivers on the promise of technology and human ingenuity, guiding clients through their most impactful transformations. If you are passionate about solving complex problems and actively shaping the future of technology, we encourage you to connect with us.

Your Role as Global Innovation and Industry Research Lead for GCP

You will serve as the strategic intelligence and response nerve center for the Accenture Google Business Group (AGBG). This leadership role is crucial for shaping the market's perception of our partnership and empowering our leadership and sales teams with the critical insights needed to outperform competitors.

The Work

You will manage relationships with the industry analyst community and serve as the primary engine for competitive intelligence, ensuring the AGBG's narrative is not only recognized but also seen as an industry leader. Your mission involves connecting market perception, competitive threats, and our unique value proposition, with the goal of establishing the AGBG as the undisputed leader in Google Cloud transformation.

Key Responsibilities

• Industry Analyst Relations & Strategic Positioning: Own and orchestrate the AGBG's global relationship with the industry analyst community (e.g., Gartner, Forrester, IDC, Everest Group). Develop and execute a proactive, year-round briefing strategy to ensure analysts deeply understand the AGBG's vision, joint offerings, and customer successes. Secure and improve leadership positions for the Accenture-Google partnership in key analyst reports, such as Magic Quadrants and Waves, providing critical third-party validation for sales teams.
• Competitive Intelligence & Rapid Response: Build and operate a world-class competitive intelligence function focused on the cloud services market. Systematically track and analyze strategies, partnerships, and go-to-market motions of other Global System Integrators (GSIs) across major cloud platforms. Synthesize this intelligence into actionable insights, create competitive "battlecards," and develop rapid-response messaging to counter competitor claims. Serve as the go-to expert for AGBG leadership and client teams to win head-to-head situations.
• Strategic Messaging and Narrative Development: Act as a principal architect of the AGBG's core narrative. Work closely with executive leadership, marketing, and solution leads to translate strategy and capabilities into clear, compelling, evidence-based messaging. Weave together customer proof points, analyst validation, and competitive differentiation into a powerful story that resonates with clients, partners, and internal stakeholders. Craft foundational messaging for key offerings and develop strategic content for high-stakes presentations and executive briefings.
• Internal Strategic Advisory: Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic counsel to the AGBG executive leadership team. Provide regular, candid briefings on market perception, competitive landscape shifts, and potential strategic blind spots. Synthesize intelligence from analysts, win/loss reports, and market research to provide an objective, outside-in perspective, ensuring the partnership's strategy is grounded in market reality and positioned for maximum impact and growth.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Communications (or a related field) or equivalent (minimum 12 years) work experience. (If Associate’s Degree, must have minimum 6 years work experience)
• Minimum of 12 years of experience in a senior role within competitive intelligence, analyst relations, product marketing, or corporate strategy at a large enterprise technology company or global system integrator.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience and deep familiarity with the cloud computing ecosystem (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) and the IT services market.

Professional Skills

• Proven experience managing relationships with top-tier industry analyst firms and a demonstrable track record of influencing analyst research and reports.
• Exceptional writing, communication, and presentation skills, with a talent for simplifying complex topics into powerful, persuasive messages.

Bonus Points

• MBA or Master's degree.
• Pre-existing, strong relationships with key industry analysts at firms like Gartner, Forrester, and IDC covering cloud services and digital transformation.
• Direct experience working within or for a major cloud provider (Google Cloud, AWS, Azure) or a global system integrator in a strategic alliance or partnership role.
• Experience in a "war room" or rapid-response function, with a proven ability to quickly analyze competitive moves and formulate effective counter-strategies.
• A reputation as a highly collaborative leader, with the ability to influence and align cross-functional teams around a common narrative and strategy.

Key skills/competency

• Industry Analyst Relations
• Competitive Intelligence
• Strategic Positioning
• Market Perception
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
• Cloud Computing Ecosystem
• Strategic Messaging
• Executive Advisory
• Go-to-Market Strategy
• Digital Transformation