Strategic Account Director, Defence

Job Description

Overview

The Microsoft UK Public Safety and National Security (PS&NS) business focuses on partnering with our Government customers and industry partners to achieve strategic goals. PS&NS sites within the UK Public Sector business, and covers our Defence, Policing, Justice & National Security customers. This team is responsible for providing a differentiated Customer experience for these unique customers, delivering solutions that result in strategic business outcomes and driving revenue growth for Microsoft.

As a Strategic Account Director, you will be accountable for driving transformation in partnership with the UK Ministry of Defence, one of the largest and most complex customers in our UK business. You will lead our engagements across AI, Copilot and Security, to achieve both Microsoft and customer business outcomes. Leveraging your large, multi-functional team across the breadth of the Microsoft solutions portfolio, you will engage at the most senior levels across the UK Ministry of Defence and bring industry-relevant solutions to accelerate adoption and embrace digital technologies at scale.

With a proven history of leading teams (in a matrix organisation), achieving sales targets, customer obsession, and partner collaboration, this role will give the opportunity to leverage your leadership skills and sales experience to refresh and execute against our strategic partnership with UK Ministry of Defence.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realise 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

• Customer Advocate: You will be a charismatic and emotionally intelligent leader, acting as the key advocate for UK Ministry of Defence within Microsoft, and driving effective account governance to deliver a mutually successful strategic relationship.
• Relationship Builder: You will cultivate relationships and use effective sales strategies across all parts of the UK Ministry of Defence (e.g., Front Line Commands, Enabling Organisations, etc) to accelerate digital transformation, AI exploitation and cyber resilience.
• Outcome Focussed: Lead the refresh and execution of a clear and compelling account strategy for Microsoft’s engagement with UK Ministry of Defence focused on its strategic priorities and Microsoft’s business growth objectives.
• Industry Relevant: You will demonstrate gravitas in this sector to drive customer satisfaction and lead influential engagements with the most senior business decision makers across all customer functions (Digital, Commercial, Finance, etc).
• Sales Excellence: An accomplished sales professional, you will meet or exceed revenue growth targets through leading and empowering solution sales specialists and industry partners.
• Customer Lifecycle: You will partner with our Customer Success and Industry Solutions teams to ensure we are driving the UK Ministry of Defence to maximise business value and demonstrable ROI.
• Compelling Communicator: As an expert communicator, you will develop and present compelling value propositions that showcase Microsoft's portfolio, generate business and energise the customer, the account team and partners.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience of delivering digital solutions in the Defence (or similarly regulated) industry
• Demonstrable experience in making recommendations to and/or collaborating with senior level executives
• Clear track record of success in leading business development and closing large and complex agreements
• Proven success in leading virtual teams in matrix organisations
• This role requires a UK citizen who is able to attain SC and/or DV security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with delivery / governance of Digital Transformation programmes
• Relevant experience working with highly federated customer organisations
• Demonstrable experience in driving cloud migrations, AI adoption and/or cyber security solutions

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.