Sales and Operations Strategy Director

Overview

Microsoft Marketplace is a strategic growth engine for Microsoft, connecting customers, partners, sellers, and software publishers through a modern commercial platform spanning cloud, AI, business applications, and ecosystem solutions.

We are seeking a Director, Marketplace Strategy & Operations to lead the business management system for Microsofts Marketplace organization. This leader will drive strategic planning, operational excellence, business insights, investment governance, and execution across a rapidly growing global business.

The role serves as a key advisor to Marketplace leadership and is responsible for translating strategy into action by establishing the operating rhythm, driving accountability across stakeholders, and ensuring alignment across Product, Engineering, Sales, Finance, Partner, Marketing, and Business Planning teams.

This leader will shape the future of Marketplace as Microsoft evolves from a transaction platform to a strategic commerce, distribution, and ecosystem growth platform.

Responsibilities

Business Strategy & Planning

• Lead annual and multi-year Marketplace strategic planning processes.

• Develop business strategies, growth frameworks, and investment priorities aligned with Microsofts commercial objectives.

• Partner with senior leadership to define long-term Marketplace priorities, growth opportunities, and transformation initiatives.

• Drive scenario planning, business modeling, and strategic recommendations for executive decision making.

Business Operations & Governance

• Own the Marketplace operating system, including business reviews, planning rhythms, scorecards, and executive reporting.

• Lead Monthly Business Reviews (MBRs), Executive Business Reviews (EBRs), QBRs, and annual planning processes.

• Establish governance mechanisms that improve cross-functional execution and organizational accountability.

• Identify operational risks, dependencies, and opportunities and drive mitigation plans.

Insights & Performance Management

• Develop executive-level KPIs and business performance frameworks across Marketplace customer, partner, and revenue motions.

• Synthesize complex business data into actionable insights and recommendations.

• Monitor growth trends, ecosystem health, customer adoption, partner engagement, and commercial performance.

• Drive data-informed decision making across leadership teams.

Cross-Company Leadership

• Partner closely with Sales, Finance, Engineering, Product, Marketing, Incentives, Partner, and Customer Success teams to drive business outcomes.

• Influence senior stakeholders across Microsoft to align priorities, investments, and execution plans.

• Lead strategic initiatives that span multiple organizations and require executive-level coordination.

Organizational Effectiveness

• Drive organizational planning, headcount strategy, investment prioritization, and resource allocation.

• Improve operational efficiency through process simplification, automation, and scalable business management practices.

• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and operational rigor.

Leadership

• Lead and develop a high-performing team of strategy, operations, business management, and program leaders.

• Coach and mentor talent while building a strong succession pipeline.

• Create an inclusive, high-performance culture aligned with Microsoft values.

Qualifications

Required/minimum qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Finance, Engineering, or related field AND 5+ years experience in business consulting, sales, sales operations, information technology (IT), account management, business development, marketing, IT field sales, or a related field

• OR equivalent experience.

• 6+ years experience in in Near Term Strategy (2 years out), Management Consulting, Sales, or Finance.

Additional or preferred qualifications

• Masters Degree in Business Administration or related field AND 5+ years of marketing, strategy, sales, sales leadership, program management, project management, business planning, consulting, banking, finance, economics, and/or partner organization experience OR Bachelors Degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Computer Science, or related field AND 7+ years of marketing, strategy, sales, sales leadership, program management, project management, business planning, consulting, finance, economics, and/or partner organization experience

• OR equivalent experience.

• Significant experience in Strategy, Business Operations, Consulting, Business Management, Finance, Product Strategy, or General Management.

• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional business initiatives at scale.

• Experience influencing senior executives and driving organizational change.

• Proven track record translating strategic priorities into measurable business outcomes.

• Experience in cloud platforms, marketplaces, partner ecosystems, SaaS, AI, or digital commerce businesses.

• Experience leading business planning and operational governance for a large-scale technology business.

• Strong analytical, financial, and strategic thinking capabilities.

• Experience managing managers and leading distributed global teams.

• Executive communication and storytelling skills, including preparation of leadership and board-level materials.

Sales Strategy Enablement IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $130,900 - $251,900 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 $165,600 - $272,300 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

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.