Overview

Around 15 years ago, the Microsoft Strategy team made the case for Microsoft’s cloud transformation (Economics of the Cloud). This had a profound impact on how we completely rethought our business. Our team engaged deeply in the subsequent years to realize our cloud ambition across every layer of the stack.

As part of the Office of the CEO, we are now doing it again with AI, which has emerged as the next big platform shift. In partnership with Microsoft leadership, we are focused on Microsoft’s AI strategy across the 3 key layers Infrastructure, Platform, Applications/Agents. Broadly speaking, this work falls into three categories:

Thought leadership on the major shifts in the technology industry
Rethink the ‘Economics of AI’ across all layers of AI
Translating AI strategy into product reality across our portfolio: Infrastructure, Platform, Applications, Copilots & Agents. This includes both organic product strategy and targeted M&A (the team wrote the business case for the GitHub and Nuance acquisitions)

This team has always valued questioning the status quo and truth-seeking. We’re looking for a Director - AI Strategy who shares that mindset, is passionate about technology, and brings deep curiosity and high IQ horsepower. Ideal candidates are eager to make an impact and come from strategy/consulting or product management/product architecture backgrounds.

You will play a key role in not only the transformation of one of the world’s largest software companies but also in transforming whole industries as we help customers chart their AI journey. You’ll contribute to the team’s projects with your expertise and experience while also being a strategic advisor who looks across the portfolio of Microsoft’s products and influences the direction of Microsoft’s current and future products.

This position requires relocation to the Seattle/Redmond area to co-locate with the team x3/week.

Responsibilities

Identifies compelling projects and positions the team to carry them out.
Leads strategy projects end-to-end, defining goals, deliverables, timelines, providing structure, guidance, and proactive problem-solving. Manages projects independently.
Develops deep understanding of customers, competitors, partners, business models, market sizing, and industry trends.
Dives deep into cloud and AI products and underlying tech in order to develop a position on Microsoft’s product portfolio, strategic priorities, competitive position, and potential opportunities.
Creates frameworks and methodologies to drive problem solving and insights.
Leads analysis of merger and acquisitions (M&A), venture funding, public market environment and trends.
Distills complex data and analysis into concise, concrete insights that inform business decisions and strategic recommendations.
Clearly communicates insights and recommendations to business leaders through written docs, demos, presentations, and meetings.
Leverages executive presence to influence decision making, identify overlooked opportunities, and provide thought leadership on trends, competitor moves, and strategic growth.
Builds end-to-end storylines and frameworks for problem-solving across multiple projects, supporting junior colleagues in leveraging these materials.
Cultivates and manages relationships with stakeholders and teams across the company sharing expertise, organizational context, and market awareness to guide teams and inform strategy.
Acts as an advisor to senior leadership (Directors, GM-level, CVP) and mentors junior colleagues, identifying strategic projects and positioning the team to execute them effectively.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications

Master's Degree in Business Administration or related field AND 4+ years marketing, strategy, business planning, consulting, banking, finance, economics, and/or partner organization experience
- OR Bachelor's Degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Liberal Arts, Computer Science, or related field AND 6+ years marketing, strategy, business planning, consulting, banking, finance, economics, and/or partner organization experience
  - OR equivalent experience.

Additional/Preferred Qualifications

12+ years of experience in Strategy, Management Consulting, and/or Finance, OR equivalent experience (e.g., scaling a business, incubation, driving change in a large company, entrepreneurship).

Business Strategy IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $130,900 - $251,900 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $165,600 - $272,300 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.