Overview

If you're a seasoned talent acquisition professional specializing in executive search, this is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of Microsoft. As a Senior Executive Recruiter, Client Aligned, you'll lead efforts to attract, assess, and secure top executive talent from across industries and around the globe. With a focus on Data Center and Engineering leadership, you’ll play a critical role in identifying and engaging senior leaders who will drive innovation, scale, and transformation at Microsoft. You’ll partner directly with senior executives, technical stakeholders, and cross-functional teams to influence hiring strategies, deliver market insights, and ensure white-glove candidate experience. This is a high-impact strategic role where you’ll serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, helping to define and build the executive leadership that drives Microsoft’s long-term growth and success.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees, we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

Responsibilities

Executive Talent Strategy
- Lead full-cycle executive search efforts for senior Engineering leaders—including Partner, VP, and CVP roles—with a focus on AI-first talent and Data Center across Engineering groups and related technical domains.
- Build and manage talent pipelines through strategic sourcing, market mapping, and deep engagement within the global tech ecosystem.
- Partner with senior technical leaders to define talent needs and deliver targeted recruiting strategies that align with innovation goals.
Candidate Engagement & Assessment
- Drive candidate engagement from initial outreach through close, delivering a high-touch, premium executive experience.
- Design and lead structured candidate evaluations aligned to Microsoft’s leadership principles and technical needs.
- Guide hiring teams through feedback, decision-making, and offer strategy to ensure alignment and velocity.
AI & Technical Market Expertise
- Leverage deep market knowledge in AI/ML and engineering to shape search strategies and influence hiring decisions.
- Stay current on industry trends, talent movements, organizational structures, and compensation benchmarks.
- Help leaders expand the definition of talent by advocating for nontraditional, and high-potential candidates.
Stakeholder Engagement & Influence
- Serve as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders across Engineering and Product.
- Tailor communication and insights to both technical and non-technical audiences to build alignment and drive decisions.
- Operate effectively in a matrixed, global environment to balance competing priorities and secure buy-in.
Candidate Experience
- Champion a world-class executive candidate experience by anticipating needs, resolving issues, and ensuring every interaction reflects Microsoft's values and mission.
- Collaborate with internal teams to deliver consistent and thoughtful touchpoints across the hiring journey.
Presentation Skills & Reporting
- Create and deliver compelling executive-level presentations and briefings, including candidate profiles, market maps, and strategic recommendations.
- Translate complex recruiting data into clear, actionable insights that support strategic hiring decisions.
- Prepare persuasive written content for internal stakeholders and leadership updates.
Operational Excellence & Compliance
- Ensure processes follow internal recruiting standards and legal requirements while maintaining data integrity and documentation accuracy.
- Continuously identify process improvements to enhance efficiency, speed, and candidate experience.
Other
- Embody our culture and values

Qualifications

Required/minimum qualifications

Bachelor's Degree AND 6+ years talent acquisition experience (e.g., recruiting, sourcing), HR experience, or industry experience related to role OR equivalent experience.

Additional or preferred qualifications

Bachelor's Degree AND 12+ years talent acquisition experience (e.g., recruiting, sourcing), HR experience, or industry experience related to role
- OR Master's Degree AND 8+ years talent acquisition experience (e.g., recruiting, sourcing), HR experience, or industry experience related to role
- OR equivalent experience.

2+ years executive recruiting experience, preferably supporting data center executive search
External executive search or agency experience
Proven program management skills with a bias for action and accountability
Demonstrated success delivering executive hiring outcomes at scale in dynamic, matrixed organizations, with a track record of game-changing leadership placements
Experience leveraging AI-driven tools and technologies in executive recruiting workflows, with a willingness to help others adopt and evolve their practices
Ability to operate independently in ambiguous, fast-paced environments with shifting priorities
Sense of urgency, sound judgment, and adaptability in the face of change or incomplete information
Ability to deliver results while fostering a collaborative environment that supports the growth and success of others

Talent Acquisition IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $106,400 - $203,600 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 $137,600 - $222,600 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.

Candidate Engagement & Assessment

AI & Technical Market Expertise

Stakeholder Engagement & Influence

Candidate Experience

Presentation Skills & Reporting

Operational Excellence & Compliance