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 Microsoft's 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 Microsoft's 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
- Bachelor's 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.
- Master's 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 Bachelor's 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.
Microsoft Mountain View, California, USA Office
1065 La Avenida, Mountain View, CA 94043, Mountain View, United States, 94043
Microsoft Palo Alto, California, USA Office
Palo Alto, United States
Microsoft San Francisco, California, USA Office
835 Market Street, Suite 700, San Francisco, CA 94103, San Francisco, United States, 94103
Microsoft San Jose, California, USA Office
San Jose, United States
Microsoft Sunnyvale, California, USA Office
Sunnyvale, United States
Similar Jobs
What you need to know about the San Francisco Tech Scene
Key Facts About San Francisco Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 365,500; 13.9% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Google, Apple, Salesforce, Meta
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, fintech, consumer technology, software
- Funding Landscape: $50.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Bessemer Venture Partners, Greylock Partners, Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins
- Research Centers and Universities: Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; University of San Francisco; Santa Clara University; Ames Research Center; Center for AI Safety; California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
