Business Manager

Business Manager at Microsoft AI

Come join the Office of the CEO for Microsoft AI! Our organization is in the forefront of Microsoft’s AI ambition and we are looking to expand the CEO office that provides critical support to enable the leaders to focus on building great products! We’re looking for a Business Manager to support the Microsoft Superintelligence team!

If you’re an entrepreneurial, grounded, and hard-working, you’ll fit right in—come and join us as we work on our next generation of AI models! Each day will be different and will require agility, teamwork, and a commitment to operate with integrity, inclusivity, trust, and our learn-it-all culture.

At Microsoft AI (MAI) we are pushing the boundaries of technology. We are creating unique, beautiful and powerful products that will change lives. A small, friendly, fast-moving team, we support each other to do the best work of our lives, always looking to break new ground, fast. We are proud of what we build, how we build it and that our products will define the AI era. We run lean, obsess about users, and always make our decisions based on the evidence. We ship regularly, so your work will have real and immediate impact. It’s a time of huge change in the AI landscape, and this role will put you right in the heart of it.

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

• Own and manage the organization's budget planning and forecasting processes, partnering with finance to ensure accuracy and alignment with business goals.
• Monitor budget performance on an ongoing basis, tracking actuals vs. plan and flagging variances with actionable recommendations.
• Lead headcount tracking and reporting, maintaining up-to-date records of current and planned headcount across teams.
• Partner with HR, finance, and department heads to manage headcount changes, including new hires, backfills, and attrition, ensuring alignment with approved budgets.
• Oversee procurement processes, including vendor evaluation, contract management, and managing purchase orders.
• Ensure compliance with internal procurement policies and drive efficiencies in sourcing and vendor management.
• Serve as a key point of contact for cross-functional teams on procurement requests and approvals.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in relevant field (e.g., Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Management, Computer Science) AND 3+ years experience in financial management, business planning, operations management, strategy, project management, human resources, or business-related roles OR equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in relevant field (e.g., Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Management, Computer Science) AND 3+ years experience in financial management, business planning, operations management, strategy, project management, human resources, or business-related roles OR Bachelor's Degree in relevant field (e.g., Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Management, Computer Science) AND 5+ years experience in financial management, business planning, operations management, strategy, project management, human resources, or business-related roles OR equivalent experience OR equivalent experience.
• Strong attention to detail, prioritization and time management skills with the ability to manage sensitive information responsibly.
• Demonstrated ability to operate in a fast paced, changing environment.
• 3+ years of experience working in a program manager, finance, or business manager role.
• Demonstrated ability to operate in a fast paced, changing environment.

Key skills/competency

• Budget Management
• Financial Forecasting
• Headcount Planning
• Procurement
• Vendor Management
• Contract Management
• Operations Management
• Strategic Planning
• Project Management
• Cross-functional Collaboration