Director - AI Strategy

Overview of the Director - AI Strategy Role at Microsoft

Around 15 years ago, the Microsoft Strategy team spearheaded the company's cloud transformation, a move that profoundly reshaped the business. Our team was deeply involved in realizing this cloud ambition across every layer of the technology stack.

AI: The Next Platform Shift

As part of the Office of the CEO, Microsoft is now leading the charge in Artificial Intelligence, which has emerged as the next major platform shift. In partnership with Microsoft leadership, our focus is on Microsoft’s AI Strategy across three key layers: Infrastructure, Platform, and Applications/Agents. This critical work generally falls into three main categories:

• Thought leadership on the significant shifts occurring within the technology industry.
• Rethinking the ‘Economics of AI’ across all layers of AI.
• Translating AI strategy into tangible product reality across our portfolio, including Infrastructure, Platform, Applications, Copilots & Agents. This encompasses both organic product strategy and targeted M&A initiatives (the team was instrumental in the business cases for the GitHub and Nuance acquisitions).

This team values questioning the status quo and truth-seeking. We are seeking a Director - AI Strategy who embodies this mindset, possesses a passion for technology, and brings deep curiosity alongside high intellectual horsepower. Ideal candidates are driven to make a significant impact and typically come from strategy/consulting or product management/product architecture backgrounds.

You will play a pivotal role not only in the transformation of one of the world’s largest software companies but also in revolutionizing entire industries by guiding customers through their AI journey. Your expertise and experience will be crucial to team projects, and you will act as a strategic advisor, influencing the direction of Microsoft’s current and future products across its portfolio.

This position requires relocation to the Seattle/Redmond area to co-locate with the team three times a week.

Responsibilities

• Identifies compelling projects and strategically positions the team to execute them effectively.
• Leads strategy projects from inception to completion, defining clear goals, deliverables, and timelines, while providing structure, guidance, and proactive problem-solving. Manages projects with a high degree of independence.
• Develops a profound understanding of customers, competitors, partners, business models, market sizing, and industry trends within the AI and cloud landscape.
• Dives deep into cloud and AI products and their underlying technologies to formulate positions on Microsoft’s product portfolio, strategic priorities, competitive standing, and potential opportunities.
• Creates innovative frameworks and methodologies to drive effective problem-solving and generate actionable insights. Leads comprehensive analysis of merger and acquisitions (M&A), venture funding, public market environment, and relevant trends.
• Distills complex data and analysis into concise, concrete insights that directly inform critical business decisions and strategic recommendations.
• Communicates insights and recommendations clearly and persuasively to business leaders through well-crafted written documents, compelling demos, professional presentations, and productive meetings.
• Leverages executive presence to influence key decision-making, identify overlooked opportunities, and provide thought leadership on emerging trends, competitor movements, and strategic growth avenues.
• Constructs end-to-end storylines and problem-solving frameworks across multiple projects, offering support and guidance to junior colleagues in utilizing these materials.
• Cultivates and manages strong relationships with stakeholders and teams across the company, sharing expertise, organizational context, and market awareness to guide teams and inform overall strategy.
• Acts as a trusted advisor to senior leadership (Directors, GM-level, CVP) and mentors junior colleagues, identifying strategic projects and ensuring the team is well-positioned for their successful execution.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Business Administration or a related field AND 4+ years of experience in marketing, strategy, business planning, consulting, banking, finance, economics, and/or partner organization; OR
• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Liberal Arts, Computer Science, or a related field AND 6+ years of experience in marketing, strategy, business planning, consulting, banking, finance, economics, and/or partner organization; OR
• Equivalent experience.

Additional/Preferred Qualifications:

• 12+ years of experience in Strategy, Management Consulting, and/or Finance, OR equivalent experience (e.g., scaling a business, incubation, driving change in a large company, entrepreneurship).

Key skills/competency

• AI Strategy
• Cloud Transformation
• Market Analysis
• Strategic Planning
• Product Portfolio Management
• Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
• Thought Leadership
• Executive Communication
• Problem Solving
• Stakeholder Management