Communications Director, AI Transformation Office (Microsoft Customer & Partner Solutions)

Job Description

The Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions (MCAPS) AI Transformation Office focuses on our own AI and Copilot adoption by identifying our most pervasive pain points that can be solved with AI design wins; codifying our learnings and best practices; and working directly with customer and partner executives to help them accelerate their own AI Transformation with credibility and trust built from our experience as Customer Zero. This will be achieved through Microsoft’s own products, services, and innovation which in turn will yield greater business value for Microsoft and our customers and partners.

We are looking for a seasoned Communications Director to lead the definition and execution of the AI Transformation Office’s communications strategy. From responsible AI to AI design wins and digital transformation, you'll work with MCAPS Chief AI Transformation Officer and team to not only shape the narrative of how Microsoft as Customer Zero is being transformed with AI; but also to establish the communication strategy and approach to ensure this narrative remains relevant to the Microsoft field and the customers they serve.

You’ll work closely with internal and external teams focused on AI, cloud computing, and emerging technologies, collaborating with experts in human rights, government affairs, and product innovation. You will also partner with global marketing, digital media, C-suite business leaders and government affairs teams to deliver compelling, real-world stories of AI deployments and customer success.

What Makes You Stand Out: You're a strategic storyteller with a knack for connecting the dots between technology and its real-world impact. You have experience in media relations at the highest level, and you know how to weave narratives that highlight both social good and commercial success. You’re not just about the big-picture vision - you know how to manage a crisis, prep executives for high-stakes communications, and adapt quickly to global market needs. Also, you will be a team player with experience of driving communication strategies across a global organization, harnessing lessons learned to create compelling communication assets, that can be reused by a high velocity sales organization and enrich the all up company change and thought leadership narrative.

Responsibilities

Communication Strategy Setting and Planning

You will:

• Drive communication planning and strategy, focusing on critical priority areas.
• Enhance thought leadership to strengthen Microsoft's position as a trusted partner; contributes to innovative campaigns while generating momentum for Microsoft’s offerings.
• Mentor others in the execution of tactics to support overall strategy, ensuring consistency of voice across messages and channels.
• Participate in business planning discussions as appropriate.
• Understand segments and targets audience needs and adapts communications strategies accordingly.
• Scale messages appropriately for a given effort, including expertise in the levers to use to achieve scale and planning for scale from the outset.
• Embed diversity and inclusion (D&I) throughout strategy and execution.
• Demonstrate thought leadership around mechanisms to achieve brand perception change.

External Communications

• Collaborate with executives by coaching and preparing them for external speaking opportunities or other outlets of communication. This includes partnering with the communications team for all external media, influencer, and analyst engagements.
• Share best practices and mentor others in networking and relationship building.
• Advise internal partners on press approach and builds trust through transparency and responsiveness
• Collaborate with communications colleagues to ensure consistency of One Microsoft messaging of executives.

Executive Communications Materials

• Lead efforts with others to agree executive communication strategy and platform.
• Work with the team to develop materials (e.g., briefing documents, talk tracks, video scripts, PowerPoint slides).
• Use storytelling framework and methodology to land key narratives.
• Conceptualize and develop guidance, education and advice to internal stakeholders, customers, and partners on communications strategy and tactics.
• Lead the development and sets best practices for current and relevant templates and materials, building on effectiveness of previously used materials.

Storytelling and Messaging

• Support the leader in leading stories across local, area, and corporate teams in fresh ways that generate positive perceptions towards Microsoft’s AI transformation.
• Collaborates across teams to develop and drive storytelling opportunities by using data and insights.
• Guide others to determine the format of stories; leverages expertise to determine what format is most appropriate and meaningful for a story and target audience(s).
• Attend to cadence of storytelling (e.g., duration, evolution), including content development and curation to land a story.
• Use trends and forecasting to develop and land stories that may take time to manifest.

Execution of Communication Strategy

• Take responsibility for the bill of materials for both internal and external communications and ensures alignment to the strategy and adherence to business objectives.
• Create ideas for and develops collateral materials (e.g., decks, posts, talking points) for use in a range of communications initiatives and events.
• Make cause and effect connections to ensure content is consistent across the channels with which Microsoft is connected to a given audience.
• Recommend and develops frameworks and commensurate collateral
• Modify narratives in real time based on reaction/response; tests effectiveness of messaging.
• Ensure work is complementary and not duplicative or conflicting with others' efforts.

Develop and Maintain Executive Platform/ Voice

• Coach the leader and manages the overall comms strategy for the leader’s internal and external communications aligned to team, business, and organizational objectives, ensuring consistency of voice across messages, channels and the AI Transformation Office leadership team.
• Coach the leader and manages internal and external event strategy including participation, narratives, and production.
• Identify opportunities to enhance reputation and perception and develops content accordingly.
• Oversee a coordinated organizational approach to managing exec social strategy for the MCAPS Chief AI Transformation Officer and across the full leadership team where needed.
• Act as a strategic advisor for leaders to select strategies and channels, and coaches them for development.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Finance, or related field. Related work experience may be substituted for education.
• Extensive Communications, Marketing Operations, Field Operations, Program Management, Project Management, or related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive, demonstrated experience in managing external and internal communications.
• Successful track record of working with external agencies to drive communication strategy and execution
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a team and across organizational boundaries.
• Proven track record for new, innovative approaches and smart risk taking.
• Strategic thinking and counsel
• Audience understanding
• Executive presence and ability to work with highly confidential information.

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Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, 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 and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.