Category Manager

Job description

Our purpose is to earn fans and drive growth by building emotional connections to delight and empower everyone. We engage with consumers globally throughout their shopping journeys, navigating both physical storefronts and digital visits across Partner Channels. Together with our ecosystem partners, we strategize and implement plans for customer engagement and economic growth.

As a member of our team, you’ll be part of growing a multi-billion-dollar business, charting new areas of innovation, and impacting billions of lives around the world. You also will be a part of a culture centered on embracing a growth mindset, a theme of inspiring excellence, and encouraging teams and leaders to bring their best each day.

In this role, you will manage business operations within a category or a subset of a category/region, serving as a subject matter expert on a line of business. Manages reporting and fiscal forecasting for top-line and bottom-line profit and loss for a line of business. Serves as the primary liaison between the category region teams and the business group. As a part of the rhythm of the business, develops go-to-market (GTM) strategy and key performance indicators (KPIs) to deliver upon the priorities and initiatives cascaded from Worldwide Category. Lands and supports execution of category plans and investments with internal and external partners. In collaboration with internal partners. Contributes to category performance through identifying areas to increase audience size or value obtained from the audience.

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.

RESPONSIBILITIES

This role will focus on Windows business.

Business Operations

In collaboration with internal partners (e.g., Finance, Marketing, MNA Accounts, Sales), defines what key performance indicators (KPIs) should be used to measure the success of the business. Demonstrates an advanced understanding of the qualitative and quantitative research methodologies used. Analyzes defined KPIs and scorecard metrics for a product or service area, and fosters alignment of investments and monitoring of growth opportunities across partners. Hypothesizes rationale for observed trends, and takes a deeper look to better understand the data. Identifies and leverages insights to actively impact marketing and business planning decision-making, as well as go-to-market (GTM) execution. Examines monthly performance, making insights based on data and recommendations for corrective actions and optimization.

Serves as the primary liaison between the category region teams and the business group. May also liaise with financial, product marketing, global marketing and operations (M&O), and/or other sales organizations (e.g., One Commercial Partner [OCP], global sales marketing organization [GSMO]) as required. Supports and contributes to key decisions in the development of global priorities and initiatives, and disseminates global guidance and prioritizations within one or more categories. Champions the voice of the region to the business group, and collaborates with corporate sales, channel, and marketing teams to develop and implement plans. Coordinates on a regular cadence with the business group to consolidate information being reported from regions and gather cross-product insights to share feedback and make recommendations to the Business Group. Triages and guides in response to regional trends, concerns, and requests. May manage and/or support the category management community in the field using information sharing techniques.

Lands and supports execution of category plans and investments with internal and external partners. Contributes to defining leading indicators for successful execution (e.g., launch, promotion). Leverages financial performance data and models to assess alignment with expected outcomes and recommend adjustments as needed. Collaborates and may lead cross-functional teams and optimizes energy/growth of team members to pursue optimal outcomes. Serves as a key stakeholder for channel sales teams and supports the development of partner materials. Contributes to engagements with the Worldwide Category team to support program and promotion execution (e.g., approvals). Leverages and disseminates global best practices as cascaded from the Worldwide Category team.

As a part of the rhythm of the business, develops go-to-market (GTM) strategy and key performance indicators (KPIs) to deliver upon the priorities and initiatives cascaded from Worldwide Category. In partnership with key stakeholders (e.g., Sales, Marketing, Finance, Sales Excellence), defines product-specific channel execution plans. May partner with business operations, legal, and finance to develop incentive programs as needed. Leverages consistent engagement rhythm to support internal alignment (e.g., communications and knowledge-sharing). Produces a regular cadence of reports and rhythms as required to track overall performance and identify trends. Conducts plan reviews and leads review meetings as a part of the rhythm of business (ROB) cadence and provides data-driven insights on business and campaign performance for a product or service area to support the planning process. Begins to leverage feedback (e.g., voice of the customer [VOC] insights) to develop plans that maximize local performance.

Business Steward

Manages business operations within a category or a subset of a category/region, serving as a subject matter expert on a line of business (e.g., product/service knowledge to support partner and/or consumer needs), and may provide expertise on the broader category and industry. Manages category priorities and strategies in line with the One Microsoft approach within the region. Partners with sales to represent category strategy and/or drive outcomes with external partners (e.g., portfolio agenda, strategic agenda). Orchestrates across different lines of business and/or different sales organizations to enable impact and support execution of intelligent edge strategy. Reports data-driven insights from partners (e.g., voice of the customer [VOC] data) to the Category Management Lead, or directly to the Worldwide Category team, to support maximizing revenue.

Manages reporting and fiscal forecasting for top-line and bottom-line profit and loss for a line of business. Manages budget and the reporting of budget, investments, allocation, and funds to key stakeholders and finance teams. Oversees supply forecast and inventory management (internal and/or partner inventory) as required. Ensures alignment with financial compliance requirements.

Growth Opportunity Development

Contributes to category performance through identifying areas to increase audience size or value obtained from the audience. Supports rhythm of business (ROB) processes (e.g., Finance, Sales, Product Marketing, Partner, Field) as required to foster insight generation and business planning. Leverages performance data (e.g., first-party, third-party, market trends) and voice of the customer [VOC] information to support creation and integration of new strategies within the line of business/product category, and recommends short/near-term growth opportunities. Supports the partner planning process by sharing knowledge of category plans.

Required/Minimum Qualifications

4+ years 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.

Preferred Qualifications

6+ years 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.

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

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.