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
Drives communication planning and strategy, focusing on critical priority areas. Enhances thought leadership to strengthen Microsoft's position as a trusted partner; contributes to innovative campaigns while generating momentum for Microsoft’s offerings. Mentors others in the execution of tactics to support overall strategy, ensuring consistency of voice across messages and channels. Participates in business planning discussions as appropriate. Translates value proposition into effective communications strategies and storytelling that resonate with target audience(s). Understands, segments, and targets audience needs and adapts communications strategies accordingly. Scales messages appropriately for a given effort, including expertise in the levers to use to achieve scale and planning for scale from the outset. Embeds diversity and inclusion (D&I) throughout strategy and execution. Demonstrates thought leadership around mechanisms to achieve brand perception change.
External Communications
Collaborates 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. Shares best practices and mentors others in networking and relationship building. Advises internal partners on press approach and builds trust through transparency and responsiveness that positively impacts relationships with press and influencers. Collaborates with communications colleagues to ensure consistency of One Microsoft messaging of executives.
Executive Communications Materials
Leads efforts with others to agree executive communication strategy and platform. Works with the team to develop materials (e.g., briefing documents, talk tracks, video scripts, PowerPoint slides). Uses storytelling framework and methodology to land key narratives. Conceptualizes and develops guidance, education and advice to internal stakeholders, customers, and partners on communications strategy and tactics. Leads the development and sets best practices for current and relevant templates and materials, building on effectiveness of previously used materials. Identifying needs for new executive materials or contents, translating a vision to create a message and frame it appropriately into net-new materials.
Storytelling and Messaging
Supports 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. Guides 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). Attends to cadence of storytelling (e.g., duration, evolution), including content development and curation to land a story. Ensures confluence of content and audience across stories. Creates narratives based on messaging frameworks that drives content development and deployment. Uses trends and forecasting to develop and land stories that may take time to manifest.
Execution of Communication Strategy
Takes responsibility for the bill of materials for both internal and external communications and ensures alignment to the strategy and adherence to business objectives. Creates ideas for and develops collateral materials (e.g., decks, posts, talking points) for use in a range of communications initiatives and events. Makes cause and effect connections to ensure content is consistent across the channels with which Microsoft is connected to a given audience. Understands how audience is being addressed by others and the appropriateness of formats (e.g., Webinars, podcasts, posts, core materials for field) for one-to-one (1:1) and one-to-many (1:many) engagements. Takes responsibility for whole bill of materials and experiences; recommends and develops frameworks and commensurate collateral; solicits feedback and iterates as appropriate. Modifies narratives in real time based on reaction/response; tests effectiveness of messaging. Demonstrates expertise in available channels, which channels to leverage, and what to advocate for in terms of messaging. Ensures work is complementary and not duplicative or conflicting with others' efforts. Understands standardized tools and templates available and uses them appropriately.
Develop and Maintain Executive Platform/Voice
Coaches 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. Coaches the leader and manages internal and external event strategy including participation, narratives, and production. Identifies opportunities to enhance reputation and perception and develops content accordingly. Oversees a coordinated organizational approach to managing exec social strategy for the MCAPS Chief AI Transformation Officer and across the full leadership team where needed. Mentors others and may lead a community of comms leads within an organization, providing leadership and coordination for organizational or regional executive comms where needed. May help to oversee communications activity for messaging around varied industries, transformations, and other changes as they arise in partnership with internal and external partners (e.g., CELA, government, and other regulatory parties). Acts as a strategic advisor for leaders to select strategies and channels, and coaches them for development. Acts as a consultative voice for developing messaging for leadership teams (LTs) and acts as a liaison to executive leaders to provide guidance on messaging.
Other: Embody our Culture and Values
Qualifications
Required/Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Business, Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Finance, or related field AND 6+ years Communications, Marketing Operations, Field Operations, Program Management, Project Management, or related experience
- OR equivalent experience.
Additional or Preferred Qualifications
- 7-10 years of 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.
- Ability to work effectively with multiple business partners, including cross-group teams, virtual and global teams, vendors and agency partners.
- Proven track record for new, innovative approaches and smart risk taking.
- Strategic thinking and counsel: Ability to understand business trends, stay on top of developments and corporate strategy, and advise on communication opportunities (both planned and impromptu). This includes continuing to drive the development of strategic “thought leadership” for the org and leader.
- Communication skills: Ability to create clear and concise communications in the right “voice” that results in compelling presentations/emails and in meetings with employees, partners, customers, developers, and others.
- Audience understanding: Ability to understand the needs of each audience (e.g., employees, key partners, customers, etc.) and create effective communications to reach those audiences.
- Executive presence and ability to work with highly confidential information.
Communications IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $129,200 - $248,800 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 $162,000 - $268,900 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
Microsoft will accept applications for the role until October 29, 2024.
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
Microsoft will accept applications for the role until October 29, 2024.
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