Microsoft

Senior Business Manager

Microsoft • $116K — $203K *
Redmond, WA 98052In-Person
Business Services
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
Be an Early Applicant
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Business, Operations, Finance, or a related field with 6+ years of relevant experience or equivalent.
  • Master's Degree and 8+ years of relevant experience preferred.
  • 6+ years experience in executive communications supporting senior executives.
  • 4+ years experience in technology fields such as AI, cloud, or operations.
  • Demonstrated ability in storytelling and narrative-building for complex organizations.

Responsibilities

  • Shape and communicate MBO's strategic narrative to drive alignment and understanding.
  • Collaborate with MBO leadership to craft impactful and clear communications across various formats.
  • Orchestrate culture activation programs that promote engagement and reinforce MBO's values.
  • Lead the operational cadence for MBO's leadership to ensure effective decision-making and accountability.
  • Drive strategic initiatives to enhance organizational effectiveness and influence key decisions across the leadership team.
  • Identify AI opportunities and lead change management programs to transition to AI-driven operating models.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health coverage including medical, dental, and vision.
  • Retirement savings plan with company match.
  • Generous paid time off and flexible work arrangements.
  • Ongoing professional development and training opportunities.
  • Employee recognition and rewards programs.
Full Job Description
Overview

We are hiring an individual contributor Communications Leader for the Office of Microsoft Business Operations (MBO). This role will shape and advance MBO's mid- and long-term strategic narrative, translating the organization's business priorities, operational impact, and transformation agenda into clear, compelling communications that build understanding, alignment, and momentum. The leader will develop and orchestrate an integrated communications strategy that connects executive communications, employee engagement, leadership forums, global events, culture programs, and digital channels into a cohesive, high-impact storytelling engine. Working closely with MBO leadership and cross-functional partners, this individual will ensure consistency of message while tailoring communications to distinct audiences, helping employees and stakeholders understand MBO's role in enabling Microsoft to transact, scale, innovate, and deliver with speed, trust, and compliance. Success requires strategic thinking, exceptional storytelling, strong editorial judgment, and the ability to lead through influence across a complex, global organization.

Responsibilities

Key Accountabilities

  • Strategic Narrative Leadership: This role requires a strategic communications leader who can shape and communicate MBO's key priorities and initiatives, translating complex business strategy into clear, compelling, and differentiated narratives that connect workstreams and drive alignment. The leader will understand and segment audience needs, adapting communications for executive messaging, employee and cross-functional engagement, partner communications, and external storytelling.
  • Executive & Leadership Communications: Partner with MBO leadership to shape clear, compelling messages, presentations, and communications that translate MBO's priorities into aligned action across the organization. Ensure leadership meetings, global events, major announcements, and other key forums are connected through a consistent narrative that reinforces MBO's business outcomes, operating priorities, and transformation agenda.
  • Culture Activation: Lead MBO-wide culture activation by orchestrating an integrated portfolio of people programs, including employee recognition, learning and career development, onboarding, and other moments that strengthen connection, capability, and belonging. Partner across MBO leadership, HR, and key stakeholders to align program priorities, sequencing, communications, and delivery-creating a cohesive employee experience that reinforces MBO's values and business priorities, accelerates engagement and growth, and helps new team members contribute quickly and effectively.
  • Rhythm of business: Lead the Leadership Team's rhythm of business by driving an effective operating cadence across leadership, HR, finance, and cross-functional forums, ensuring agendas, reviews, priorities, scorecards, and follow-through are aligned to business goals and enable clear decision-making, accountability, and execution.
  • Leadership Effectiveness: Drive strategic initiatives, process improvement and thought leadership to enhance organizational effectiveness. Synthesize complex information from various sources to tell clear and compelling stories. Create and own leadership & extended leadership team processes and agendas, including follow-through and related communications to enable successful leadership of the organization. Participate as a valued leadership team member and offer perspectives to influence key strategic decisions. Maximize the effectiveness of the leadership team by helping balance priorities, communicate effectively, understand performance-to-value drivers, and connect with the team.
  • AI Transformation Strategy & Leadership: Identify AI opportunities, define future-state role evolution, and guide the organization's shift to AI-powered operating models. Lead change management programs that prepare teams for AI-driven transformation, leveraging lessons from internal change management panels and cross-functional best practices. Accelerate AI fluency and skills development across roles, define guardrails and enterprise-wide standards for AI usage, integration, and workforce impact. Shape the narrative around AI transformation, telling compelling stories about role evolution, productivity gains, and cultural shifts. Provide executive-ready insights into market trends in AI transformation roles and the ROI of AI adoption.


Competencies
  • Executive Communication & Storytelling: Synthesizes complex inputs into clear, compelling narratives to enable leadership clarity and decision-making.
  • Strategic Clarity & Enterprise Thinking: Connects long-range strategy to execution; translates ambiguous priorities into clear direction, plans, and outcomes across the organization.
  • Execution Excellence & Operational Rigor: Drives disciplined execution through operating rhythms (ROB), clear accountability, and measurable outcomes; removes blockers and ensures follow-through.
  • Influence & Cross-Org Leadership: Leads without authority across stakeholders; builds trust, aligns priorities, and drives decisions in complex, matrixed environments.
  • Business Acumen: Applies data, insights, and financial understanding to drive decisions, trade-offs, and performance improvement.
  • Transformation & Change Leadership: Drives adoption of new ways of working (e.g., AI, processes, operating models); leads structured change across teams and stakeholders.
  • Organizational Effectiveness & Systems Thinking: Improves how the organization operates at scale-processes, governance, and cadence-to increase efficiency and impact.
  • Trusted Advisor Mindset: Acts as a strategic partner to leadership, providing independent, data-driven perspective and exercising sound judgment and discretion.


Qualifications

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree in Business, Operations, Finance, or related field AND 6+ years experience in program management, process management, or process improvement OR equivalent experience.


Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master's Degree in Business, Operations, Finance, or related field AND 8+ years experience in program management, process management, or process improvement OR Bachelor's Degree in Business, Operations, Finance, or related field AND 12+ years experience in program management, process management, or process improvement OR equivalent experience.
  • 6+ years experience supporting senior executives in an executive communications role
  • 4+ years experience in technology, AI, cloud, operations or partner ecosystems
  • Effective storytelling and narrative-building capabilities with the ability to influence across complex, matrixed organizations
    Experience working with or advising senior executives


Business Program Management IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $116,900 - $203,600 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 $148,400 - $222,600 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.

About Microsoft

Microsoft is an American multinational corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells a range of software products and services. Microsoft’s devices and consumer (D&C) licensing segment licenses the Windows operating system and related software, Microsoft Office for consumers, and the Windows Phone operating system. The company’s computing and gaming hardware segment provides Xbox gaming and entertainment consoles and accessories, second-party and third-party video games, and Xbox Live subscriptions; surface devices and accessories; and Microsoft PC accessories. Its phone hardware segment offers Lumia smartphones and other non-Lumia phones. Its D&C segment provides Windows Store, Xbox Live transactions, and Windows phone store; search advertising; display advertising; Office 365 Home and Office 365 Personal; first-party video games; and other consumer products and services as well as operating retail stores. Microsoft’s commercial licensing segments license server products, including Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Visual Studio, System Center, and related Client Access Licenses (CALs); Windows Embedded; Windows operating system; Microsoft Office for business, including Office, Exchange, SharePoint, Lync, and related CALs; Microsoft Dynamics business solutions; and Skype. Its commercial segment offers enterprise services, including premier support services and Microsoft consulting services; commercial cloud comprising Office 365 Commercial, other Microsoft Office online offerings, Dynamics CRM Online, and Microsoft Azure; and other commercial products and online services. The company markets and distributes its products through original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and resellers, as well as online.

Microsoft Careers

Join Microsoft today and be part of a company that values innovation, leadership, and diversity in its workforce. As a global leader in technology and digital transformation, Microsoft offers unparalleled job opportunities that propel your career to new heights.

Explore Career Opportunities at Microsoft

Whether you're a seasoned professional looking for your next challenge or a recent graduate eager to start your career, Microsoft has a position that suits your skills and ambitions. We are committed to fostering a culture of growth and learning, where every team member is supported in expanding their horizons.

Internship Programs

Kickstart your career with a Microsoft internship. Our internships provide invaluable workplace experience and networking opportunities in a supportive and dynamic environment. You'll work on real projects, learn from industry leaders, and gain the skills necessary for a successful career in technology.

Employment Benefits

Choosing a career at Microsoft means more than just a job. Our employees enjoy a range of benefits designed to empower them both professionally and personally. These include comprehensive health benefits, flexible working conditions, and opportunities for career advancement through professional development and diversity training.

Inclusive Culture and Diversity

At Microsoft, we believe that innovation comes from diversity of thought and inclusion. We are committed to a workplace where everyone feels valued and inspired. Our leadership is dedicated to fostering an environment where diverse perspectives lead to breakthrough innovations and a competitive edge.

Grow with Us

Career growth at Microsoft is about more than climbing the corporate ladder; it's about continuous learning, expanding your skills, and improving your capabilities. With access to various leadership and training programs, you can evolve as a professional and make a significant impact within the company and on the global stage.

Hiring Process

Our hiring process is designed to identify true potential. Starting with a review of your resume, followed by interviews that assess your problem-solving abilities and cultural fit, we ensure that all candidates have a fair chance to demonstrate their strengths and potential to contribute to our team.

Networking and Professional Development

Microsoft is a place where you can build a professional network that spans the globe. Our employees benefit from connections with top-tier professionals and industry leaders, which opens doors to innovative projects and collaborative opportunities that are second to none.

Join Our Team

If you're ready to take on exciting challenges and make a difference in the world of technology, explore the job opportunities at Microsoft. Search for open positions that match your skills and interests, and prepare to embark on a rewarding career path filled with innovation and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

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At Microsoft, your future is limitless. Join us in our mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Your journey with Microsoft starts here.
Learn more about Microsoft
Size
181,000 employees
Market Cap
$1,762.4 billion
Industry
Enterprise Technology
Net Income
$51.3 billion
Founded
1975
5 Year Trend
+15.5%
Revenue
$153.2 billion
NASDAQ
MSFT
* Ladders Estimates

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