Principal Solutions Specialist – Azure Sphere

The Consumer Devices and Sales is one of Microsoft’s largest business units, driving major impact to the overall revenue of the company. Among other things such as Windows and Consumer Channel Sales, the organization is responsible for driving all aspects of Microsoft’s Internet of Things sales business globally and helping to enable both customers and partners across our platforms and products as it relates to IoT. As part of this globally based mission we are looking to innovate and expand upon the generally excepted standard sales motions and operating principals for a new and special Microsoft product called Azure Sphere. Specifically we are implementing Microsoft’s vision of empowering every person and organization on the planet to achieve more by creating net new ways to engage and empower customers who are looking to ensure the security of their ever growing percentage of devices and services that are connected to the internet/cloud. The range of activities spreads across core business objectives and products like Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Big Data, and Modern Workplace. But more specifically, we are looking for a trusted advisor who can understand and communicate a specific product (comprised of silicon, OS and cloud services) while helping to scale global sales channels through advising global businesses on how to build a business around this product and deploy it in to various devices. We are seeking a Solution Specialist who will play a key role in developing and implementing these medium to long-term 2-5 year strategies across multiple internal business units, external partner, and customers.

The ideal person would be a self-starter, enthusiastic, well rounded between marketing, sales and technical capabilities with an emphasis on having a strong storytelling background with experience in dynamic and often ambiguous environments. The likely candidate will need to be able to understand and deliver a somewhat complex story through documentation, presentations and other means and turn it into business outcomes acting both as a sales professional, and trusted strategic advisor for both business models and 200 level technical guidance addressable by our partners, customers and field engagement leads. They will need to be able to deal with many different people from customers to partners to internal teams and act as a central point of aggregation for the Azure Sphere scale sales motion. Any experience in Software or Cloud Security, IoT, Big Data, cross organizational work, or work dealing with globally distributed initiatives is very helpful.

The role is visible and will need to deliver results in a relatively short time frame, delivering on high level strategy with focused operational motion building, running meetings and presentations to senior officials from both the internal Microsoft and external partner/customer perspective.

Responsibilities

Together we will

·       Develop a set of sales collaterals that will tell the story of the Azure Sphere business opportunity specifically for global scale providers and deliver business model clarity for our top partners.

·       Craft the broader global scale sales strategy that is presented to senior officials internally and externally to Microsoft

·       Carry out planned and developed strategies in established as well as several incubation areas.

·       Lead multiple, sales engagements with globally scalable businesses, developing business models, and working with engineers to integrate those business models and product development using Azure Sphere as the base.

·       Manage multiple v-teams internally and externally while driving commitment and impact out of groups that do not work directly for you and customers who you will need to help work through new initiatives and paradigms.

Identify growth opportunities which yield a sustainable advantage for our partners who utilize the Azure sphere product.
Work with Azure Sphere strategy leadership to develop strategic perspectives and memos and create strategy decks to share our strategic direction.

Work with our investment, field sales and community engagement teams to develop, plan, track and implement a range of long-term investments and drive long-term scale sustainability.

Qualifications

You are a great fit if you

·        Are an excellent storyteller.

·        Are able to work with a wide range of people.

·        Are able to manage many different activities at one time.

·        Have a background that displays comfort with selling and personal relationships regardless of actual role description.

·        Have significant experience with IoT, Silicon, AI or Big Data

·        Enjoy challenges in a new environment and are comfortable with ambiguity.

·        Are interested in helping people to live better lives by increasing the connectivity of our world and the security underpinnings that benefit all of our safety.

·        Like forward thinking about where the business could go vs where we are today.

Basic Qualifications

·        BA/BS degree with strong academic background.

·        A mixture of 7-12+ years in cloud, software or silicon sales; product marketing; investment banking, venture, PE or high finance;

BD or strategy roles

·        Significant experience specifically in technology sectors.

Helpful Qualifications

·        Self-directed with ability to work independently in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment.

·        Storytelling skills, specifically with PowerPoint and visual/in person presentation and speaking.

·        Demonstrated success in understanding and developing new business models.

·        Experience in IoT.

·        External customer experience in support of customer facing sales or engagement teams

·        Able to demonstrate critical thinking.

·        Able to influence others whom do not have direct accountability to you

·        Strong interpersonal skills as well as ability to interact and build relationships across all levels of the organization.

·        Ability to work as part of a team that is driven, motivated, and demands excellence.

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.