Windows & M365 Category Manager - Consumer Market

Job Description

Come and land the latest innovations of Windows, Microsoft 365 and Copilot (AI) to empower our consumers. You will partner with our ecosystem and internal stakeholders to drive growth together in this innovating space.

The Consumer Sales Organization (CSO) is a global team responsible for Microsoft’s Consumers products across Devices & Creativity (Windows, Microsoft 365, and Surface) and Gaming. CSO puts the consumer at the center, helping them discover, learn, and buy through direct and partner channels in over 120 countries around the world. Our team works with ecosystem partners and internal business groups to drive digital excellence and e-commerce capability, as well as accelerating cloud and subscription adoption. Together, we win by delivering compelling at-home and on-the-go experiences combining intelligent edge devices and services that create Microsoft fans for life.

Within CSO the Windows & Microsoft 365 Category Team for Northern Europe (UK, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway & Finland), are responsible in defining and execute our consumer product and/solution go-to-market strategy; influence product roadmap, business models and strategy; and manage long term health of the business through actionable customer insights to and from partners and across our ecosystem.

We are looking for a Windows & Microsoft 365 Category Manager for Northern Europe. Who will have a focus on delivering our Entry and Lower mainstream (Sub £500) Device strategy and Microsoft 365 attach. This includes partnering and driving our strategy across the external ecosystem with OEMs, Retailers, Silicon and our internal stakeholders.

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.

Please note that we can only consider candidates that currently live in, and a tax resident in the United Kingdom.

Responsibilities

Plan

• Leverage industry knowledge, channel insights, and customer understanding to drive strategic alignment, digital transformation, and land joint business objectives with partners.
• Define & own implementation of product specific channel strategy and investments, with a focus on retail sales channel.
• Design of product strategic programs, incentives, promotions, and upper funnel activities partnering with Business & Sales Operations (BSO) team and the product marketing teams
• Influence long range product and Go To Market (GTM) planning
• Drive product/solutions consumer channel GTM partnering across internal stakeholders like Finance, Operations, Sales, Product, OEM and Microsoft Stores.

Execute

• Be the internal and external voice of the product/solution with our partners in region
• Manage portfolio of investments, channels, motions to maximize short term results (activations, revenue, scorecard) and lifetime value.
• Create field/local enablement to execute the priorities:
  • Tools, process, stakeholder management and alignment across functions
  • includes creation and localisation of partner pitch deck/storytelling
  • WW and regional seasonal guidance
  • Retail GTM readiness
• Pilot new GTM & Sales motions to future proof our business
• Execute plans across a virtual team, driving accountability and impact.

Manage & Monitor

• Contribute to Rhythm of Business (ROB) orchestration and deliverables thru performance and planning cycles. Partner closely with finance to ensure planning across revenue and investments is harmonized for budget and forecast cycles.
• Monitor success metrics, strategic indicators and investment effectiveness across accounts and channels.
• Accountable for product revenue, P&L and compensable metric results including forecasting.
• Ensure Ecosystem investment alignment to core priorities
• Contribute to strategic and agile tactical communication process of business performance.
• Generate business and competitive insights thru data analysis & visualization, from product and partner perspectives.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• Category management, product management, marketing strategy, business planning, product planning, or related work experience AND Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Economics, Public Relations, Engineering, or related field.
  • OR equivalent experience.

Additional or Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing and expanding a category and attaining sales and profitability targets within a complex (e.g., multinational or matrixed) organization.
  • OR equivalent experience.

Relevant Skills:

• Knowledge of the Consumer needs, buying practices, sales goals, and the retail environment related to the Consumer PC Category
• Experience with Consumer product purchasing and inventory control
• Ability to analyze sales data, draw relevant conclusions, develop accurate business plans and forecasts, and drive execution
• Understanding of budget, profit & loss, margin, investment, and operating expense accountability
• Growth Mindset and innovative thinking to identifying and executing business opportunities
• Ability to influence multiple stakeholder groups and connect with diverse audiences
• Thought leader, risk taker, and lifelong learner; Digital and social influencer in the market
• Have experience planning and executing marketing strategies and activities that drive business results while remaining true to the brand.
• Have experience translating Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) into actionable plans to accelerate or capitalize on growth opportunities.

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.