Application deadline: Sep 27, 2026

The Principal Strategist for the WWPS Global Defense Partners team owns the strategic direction, operational execution, and performance accountability of the Global Defense Partners team. This is a high-autonomy role making real-time resource and prioritization decisions, driving cross-organizational alignment, and translating long-range vision into sequenced, executable plans over 1 to 3 years. The ideal candidate builds frameworks that enable the sales organization to scale, identify and clear bottlenecks across multi-owner environments, and hold the bar on strategic rigor across planning, measurement, and execution. This role requires someone who can move fluidly between C-suite engagement, operational detail, and data-driven decision-making and who thrives when the problem is ambiguous and the stakeholders are many. This role is a strategic and trusted advisor to senior management, operational leadership, program management, and key stakeholders across the organization.

Key job responsibilities
Strategic Planning & Execution

• Define and own the multi-year strategic roadmap for the Global Defense Partners organization, translating leadership vision into sequenced, measurable execution plans
• Make real-time resource and prioritization decisions to clear bottlenecks and unblock revenue growth across the portfolio
• Author narratives and strategic planning documents that set the direction for the org.
• Drive alignment across partner sales, vertical business units, product teams, and regional stakeholders with independent roadmaps and competing priorities
• Represent the GDP organization in cross-WWPS planning forums, ensuring defense partner priorities are reflected in broader public sector strategy

Mission-Critical Initiatives

• Stand up new programs and frameworks from scratch where no playbook exists, defining the approach, building cross-functional buy-in, and driving to measurable outcomes
• Evaluate and prioritize competing initiative requests against organizational capacity and strategic impact

A day in the life

About the team
Diverse Experiences
AWS values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasn’t followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don’t let it stop you from applying.

Why AWS?
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. We pioneered cloud computing and never stopped innovating — that’s why customers from the most successful startups to Global 500 companies trust our robust suite of products and services to power their businesses.

Inclusive Team Culture
AWS values curiosity and connection. Our employee-led and company-sponsored affinity groups promote inclusion and empower our people to take pride in what makes us unique. Our inclusion events foster stronger, more collaborative teams. Our continual innovation is fueled by the bold ideas, fresh perspectives, and passionate voices our teams bring to everything we do.

Mentorship & Career Growth
We’re continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth’s Best Employer. That’s why you’ll find endless knowledge-sharing, mentorship and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.

Work/Life Balance
We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why we strive for flexibility as part of our working culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.

Basic qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• 10+ years of Go-To-Market, Business Development, Sales, or Consulting experience
• 10+ years of developing, negotiating and executing business agreements experience

Preferred qualifications

• MBA, or Master's degree
• Active Top Secret/SCI security clearance, or the ability to obtain one
• Experience in sales, business development, or program management within the defense or public sector market
• Understanding of the Defense Industrial Base ecosystem, including key partners, contracting vehicles, and acquisition processes
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to analyze business performance, model resource allocation trade-offs, and articulate cost-benefit analyses

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.

USA, VA, Arlington - 176,100.00 - 238,200.00 USD annually
USA, VA, Herndon - 176,100.00 - 238,200.00 USD annually