Complex Program Activation Lead

Overview

Are you excited about working on the largest, most-complex consulting delivery engagements? Do you have what it takes to establish a foundation for complex, multimillion dollar global programs and, when engagements encounter headwinds, step in to drive program recovery? Success demands leveraging AI-powered solutions, innovation, and resilience at every turn.

As Microsoft’s largest customers digitally transform their business and operating models, they look to Microsoft Industry Solutions Delivery (ISD) to help achieve the change successfully and at pace. You will have the opportunity to enhance your program governance skills and experience as you build relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders, supporting some of the most complex and strategic customers across a number of industries, and collaborating with teams located in multiple locations and time zones.

In ISD you will be working in an environment that empowers you to bring your best each day. You will grow professionally and personally as part of a team that cares passionately for great customer outcomes, and who strive to improve the overall customer and partner experience.

Join our team of exceptional people who deliver world-class professional consulting services. Our team provides a supportive atmosphere with passion for growth, where you can earn customer confidence, trust, and loyalty by improving the overall customer and partner experience. At the same time, we put specific emphasis on work-life balance, wellbeing, and the opportunity to execute in diverse and inclusive environments.

We are looking for Complex Program Activation Lead with a passion for delivering desired customer outcomes, who can take responsibility for driving the successful initiation, recovery, and acceleration of large-scale, complex cloud programs. This role focuses on the governance infrastructure, tools, and processes needed to quickly and successfully launch or recover a multimillion-dollar program, setting up program governance, setting up operational cadence, and managing stakeholder relationships. The Complex Program Activation Lead will serve as a trusted advisor to both internal teams and clients, ensuring that every program starts proficiently, is positioned for long-term success, and can be rapidly brought back on track when challenges arise. Creative use of artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to enable program delivery, streamline program recovery, and achieve efficiency throughout the program lifecycle. This opportunity will allow you to accelerate your career growth, honing your industry and cloud expertise as well as deepening your contractual and commercial acumen.

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

• Champion AI-enabled Delivery Excellence: Incubate Agentic AI capabilities across the delivery lifecycle - from mobilization through lessons learned. Explore how intelligent automation and AI-augmented workflows can enhance execution on complex engagements, partnering across the organization to identify scalable patterns and shape ISD’s AI-enabled delivery roadmap.
• Program Governance Setup: Establish and implement robust governance framework, tools, and processes tailored to the needs of each program, leveraging AI-driven solutions to ensure alignment with organizational goals and compliance with industry standards and best practices.
• Operational Cadence Establishment: Develop and maintain a consistent rhythm of business for the program, including setting up key processes, meetings, and reporting structures to drive program progress. Utilize AI-powered tools to automate routine tasks, streamline workflows, and enhance overall program efficiency.
• Stakeholder Management: Function as the primary point of contact for stakeholders, facilitating clear communication, expectation management, and conflict resolution. Ensure that all stakeholders are aligned with program objectives and timelines.
• Resource Onboarding: Design and oversee the resource onboarding process to the customer environment, ensuring that all team members are equipped with the necessary tools, knowledge, and support to contribute effectively from day one. Leverage AI-driven onboarding platforms and generative AI for rapid knowledge transfer and documentation.
• Program Planning and Execution: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop detailed program plans, including timelines, milestones, and deliverables. Ensure that all program activities are executed on time and within scope.
• Risk Management: Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies to minimize their impact on the program. Use AI-powered predictive analytics to proactively detect and address risk factors throughout the program lifecycle, adjusting plans as needed.
• Continuous Improvement: Continuously assess and refine program activation processes, incorporating lessons learned, best practices, and AI-driven process optimization to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in future programs, aiming for 2x improvement in delivery outcomes.
• Reporting and Documentation: Provide regular status updates to leadership and stakeholders, including detailed reports on program progress, risks, and issues. Leverage AI automation and generative AI to accelerate reporting, maintain comprehensive documentation, and ensure timely stakeholder communication.
• Program Recovery: Lead program recovery where needed, starting from a rapid assessment of challenges, leveraging AI for diagnosing root cause, partnering with technical leaders and architects, and implementing targeted turnaround strategies. Drive efficient restoration of program health and performance, aiming for achieving target outcome for the customer and sustainable success.
• Leadership and Mentorship: Lead and mentor program directors, managers and other key personnel involved in the program activation process, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence.

Other

Embody our culture and values.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in related fields AND 7+ years of experience in program managementOR equivalent experience.

Additional Or Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in related field AND 15+ years' experience in project or program managementOR equivalent experience.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) and Program Management Professional (PgMP) certification.
• 8+ years financial management experience.
• Agile certification, Scrum Master, Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), or Professional Scrum Master One (PSM1) certification.
• Certification in relevant industry.
• Experience leveraging AI‑powered analytics, automation, and generative tools to improve program governance, accelerate delivery, enhance reporting, and drive data‑driven decision making.

Key skills/competency

• Program Management
• AI Integration
• Program Governance
• Stakeholder Management
• Risk Management
• Cloud Programs
• Delivery Excellence
• Operational Cadence
• Program Recovery
• Consulting Services