Solution Area Specialists Manager at Microsoft

, , United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

28 Mar, 26

Salary

267000.0

Posted On

28 Dec, 25

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Sales Strategy, Customer Engagement, People Management, Sales Pipeline Management, AI Technologies, Cloud Services, Market Analysis, Collaboration, Forecasting, Account Management, Business Development, Strategic Planning, Innovation, Risk Mitigation, Data Analytics, Partnership Development

Industry

Software Development

Description

Overview Join the Retail and Consumer Goods Organization as a Solution Area Specialist Manager who provides direction and guidance across cross-functional teams in leading strategic discussions with executive stakeholders and decision makers for high-value customers to deepen relationships and identify, qualify, and accelerate sales opportunities. Defines overarching strategy for regional teams on whitespace analysis and proactively uncovers business opportunities and market gaps within the assigned territory, utilizing AI-driven market intelligence tools to assess trends and insights. Provides strategic oversight for regional territory analysis and guides sales initiatives that address complex customer business priorities and outcomes, incorporating AI-driven predictive analytics to forecast future market needs. Strategically directs multiple teams across regions in the innovation and deployment of solutions to advance artificial intelligence (AI)- and cloud-driven transformations for a broad customer base, emphasizing the integration of cutting-edge AI technologies and cloud services. Empowers team to drive comprehensive sales pipeline reviews across the territory with internal executive stakeholders to drive forecasting accuracy and exceed sales targets, ensuring the use of AI-powered analytics and forecasting tools to enhance precision. Oversees team on directing and implementing sales strategy tailored to each customer's security priorities, showcasing Microsoft's dedication to secure, AI-powered transformation and addressing their specific needs within the customer success plan, fostering long-term partnerships through AI-driven insights. In addition, this role has people management responsibilities including driving employee growth and development, executing projects, and managing performance. Responsibilities Customer Engagement Champions adhering to sales frameworks and guidelines to assess and qualify sales opportunities, ensuring alignment with AI-enhanced sales methodologies and best practices. Serves as an escalation point and advisor for teams in securing highly complex, high-value strategic deals. Fosters a culture of collaboration across organizations (e.g., Account Team Unit [ATU], CSU, ISD, GPS), ensuring a comprehensive approach to deal orchestration and seamless transitions throughout the deal lifecycle. Drives advocating for and institutionalizing best practices that secure customer engagement and deal closure, and proactively mitigate risks that impact overall sales effectiveness and growth across the territory. Oversees team on directing and implementing sales strategy tailored to each customer's security priorities, showcasing Microsoft's dedication to secure, AI-powered transformation and addressing their specific needs within the customer success plan, fostering long-term partnerships through AI-driven insights. Champions partner team interaction, expertly navigates resources and fosters lasting relationships that activate co-selling strategies that drive partner attach to each opportunity through every stage in the sales lifecycle. Champions partner organization connections (i.e. GPS) that foster enduring relationships, share gains, partner health and alignment with execution plans to accelerate customer value realization at scale. People Management Managers deliver success through empowerment and accountability by modeling, coaching, and caring. Model: Live our culture. Embody our values. Practice our leadership principles. Coach: Define team objectives and outcomes. Enable success across boundaries. Help the team adapt and learn. Care: Attract and retain great people. Know each individual’s capabilities and aspirations. Invest in the growth of others. Sales & Pipeline Management Architects the strategic framework for business analysis and identification of emerging opportunities to refine the customer portfolio and drive customer-driven innovation. Champions the integration of technologies (e.g., AI sales agents, automation, Power Platforms) to drive growth and market share across the territory. Provides expertise and vision across the territory on integrating propensity, renewal, consumption, and usage data to prioritize sales strategy. Steers teams in optimizing partner collaboration for each account and/or opportunity, ensuring seamless handoffs with other teams (e.g., Global Partner Solutions [GPS], Customer Success Unit [CSU], Industry Solutions Delivery [ISD], Partner) throughout the deal lifecycle. Empowers team to drive comprehensive sales pipeline reviews across the territory with internal executive stakeholders to drive forecasting accuracy and exceed sales targets, ensuring the use of AI-powered analytics and forecasting tools to enhance precision. Holds team accountable for maintaining sales and/or consumption pipeline hygiene on all opportunities and milestones using all available tools and processes. Hold teams accountable for maintaining usage and/or consumption pipeline hygiene to actively monitor adoption trends, identify opportunities for intervention, enabling customers to realize the value of solutions purchased, drive expansion, and ensure healthier, more predictable renewals. Sales Strategy Provides strategic oversight for regional territory analysis and guides sales initiatives that address complex customer business priorities and outcomes, incorporating AI-driven predictive analytics to forecast future market needs. Steers teams toward developing and advocating for innovative solutions and strategies that advance customer business objectives. Champions the identification and strategic resolution of gaps, enhancing market engagement and maximizing overall sales performance. Provides direction and guidance across cross-functional teams in leading strategic discussions with executive stakeholders and decision makers for high-value customers to deepen relationships and identify, qualify, and accelerate sales opportunities. Acts as a principal point of contact and ensures comprehensive strategic collaboration with internal executive stakeholders within and across organizations to optimize customer success on a broad scale. Champions strategic partnerships with account teams and customers to leverage technological advancements for market influence and competitive advantage. Advocates for and drives adoption of security principles in customer interactions, opportunity, and pursuits to ensure highest levels of trust and compliance standards. Champions a consumption/usage strategy with the team, and champions driving seller behaviors that include support solutions in every solution sale in collaboration cross organizationally as part of rhythms and scrums. Strategically directs multiple teams across regions in the innovation and deployment of solutions to advance artificial intelligence (AI)- and cloud-driven transformations for a broad customer base, emphasizing the integration of cutting-edge AI technologies and cloud services. Develops and communicates a cohesive strategic vision that differentiates Microsoft’s offerings and establishes market leadership in the competitive landscape. Oversees team on acting as a subject matter expert and trusted advisor for key strategic customers (up to the executive level), and leads the strategic integration of technologies and solutions that are in line with their goals that align and advance their strategic goals and drive digital transformation. Defines overarching strategy for regional teams on whitespace analysis and proactively uncovers business opportunities and market gaps within the assigned territory, utilizing AI-driven market intelligence tools to assess trends and insights. Acts as a subject matter expert for, and oversees team on systematically synthesizing and forecasting market intelligence, trends, and insights and drive sales outcomes. Develops and champions innovative market analysis methodologies to ensure strategic alignment with corporate objectives and anticipation of market evolutions. Qualifications Required Qualifications Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, Information Security, or related field AND 8+ years experience in technology-related sales or account management OR equivalent experience. Other Requirements: Microsoft is unable to sponsor a work visa for this role due to the nature of the role's job duties. Preferred Qualifications Master's Degree in Business Administration (i.e., MBA), Information Technology, or related field AND 12+ years experience in technology-related sales or account management OR Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, Information Security, or related field AND 15+ years experience in technology-related sales or account management OR equivalent experience. 10+ years services sales or account management experience. 5+ years people management experience. 2+ years manager of managers experience. Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form. Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work. Solution Area Specialists M6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $158,400 - $243,000 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 $202,000 - $267,000 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.

Responsibilities

The Solution Area Specialists Manager provides strategic direction across teams to deepen customer relationships and identify sales opportunities. They oversee the implementation of sales strategies tailored to customer needs, ensuring alignment with AI-driven insights and market trends.