Manager - Cloud & AI Strategy

The Cloud + AI Corporate Strategy team is chartered with defining the strategy for Microsoft’s Cloud and Artificial Intelligence (AI) business. The team has built a track record of spotting trends early and using those insights to drive Microsoft’s strategy and direction.

The group broadly focuses on three sets of activities:

• Thought leadership on the major shifts in the technology industry Generative AI (e.g., this was the team that originally pushed for Microsoft’s strategy shift towards the cloud – ).
• Translating strategy into product reality across Azure, Artificial Intelligence, Copilots, Business Applications, Healthcare and Software as a Service (SaaS) including Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) (e.g., the team drove the GitHub and Nuance acquisitions).
• Partner with different product groups on their Generative AI strategy.
• Engaging with our top customers to help them formulate their Generative AI strategy.

For this particular role we’re looking for someone who is passionate about technology, and hungry to make an impact at such an interesting time in the industry, with a background either in strategy/consulting or product management/product architecture to enhance the team's depth.

The Manager - Cloud & AI Strategy will play a key role in not only the continuing transformation of one of the world’s largest software companies but also in transforming whole industries as we help customers charter their cloud and generative 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 Cloud + AI products and influences the direction of Microsoft’s current and future products.

• Contributes to one or multiple defined Strategy project(s), with guidance as needed with increasing independence.
• For relevant projects, researches and develops a position on Microsoft’s product portfolio, strategic priorities, competitive position, gaps, and potential opportunities. Investigates and provides an analysis of the merger and acquisition (M&A), venture funding and public market environment and trends.
• Synthesizes findings into insights within a project, including implications that inform business decisions; leverages insights to support strategic recommendations for Microsoft, with guidance from project leads.
• Communicates and advocates insights to business leaders and conveys viewpoints through written documents (e.g., memos, or short demos) and influence models (e.g., meetings, presentations). Delivers project findings, recommendations, and implications to business partners to facilitate senior discussions and decision making.
• Establishes and maintains key points of contact with internal teams (e.g., Finance, Marketing, Engineering). Builds working relationships with project stakeholders and business partners.
• Shares knowledge with business leaders on a particular area of expertise, leveraging and broadening deep technical/product knowledge and market awareness for a domain to inform strategic business decisions.