At Microsoft, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is more than just a technology; it’s a pivotal growth bet that is rapidly transforming the industry and the world around us. Our commitment to AI is evident in our innovative solutions that are reshaping how we work, live, and solve some of society’s greatest challenges. AI at Microsoft is not just about the technology itself, but about the possibilities it unlocks when applied to real-world problems, empowering people and organizations to achieve more.

We are looking for a Senior Business Planner - AzureAI that will help drive the monetization strategy for Azure AI and come up with compelling new ways to continue to improve our business strategies, packaging, and pricing. The optimal candidate can expect to have opportunities to grow their functional experience in business planning and domain expertise in AI and cloud technologies while driving decisions that will contribute to the growth and success of new and impactful products.

The Azure, Windows, and Industry Monetization (“AWIM”) organization is a big picture team at our core that encourages a diverse and inclusive culture. We are respectful, collaborative, honest, accountable, and caring. Employees on the team can expect to have opportunities to grow their own experience and career while shaping the future of the Azure business with data-informed strategies. We are growth strategists who monetize product value and improve the buying experience for customers to drive business growth and profitability for Microsoft.

The AWIM team enables the Microsoft mission by creating durable profit growth through high-impact monetization strategies, packaging, and pricing. Enhancing our team culture and team experience is a top priority for our leadership, managers, and team more broadly. Our aspire-to team culture is one with cultural attributes encompassing transparency, growth and development, connection, and productivity and balance… all anchored on promoting diversity and inclusion.

We are a customer-focused team that takes an inclusive approach to problem solving. We collaborate with engineering, marketing and finance to define and execute business models and monetization strategies for Azure Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning products. The products you will work with include:

• Azure OpenAI

• Azure Model as a Service (MaaS – 3P Generative model service)

• Azure AI Search

• Azure AI Studio

• Azure AI Content Safety

• Azure Machine Learning

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

• Lead and evolve the monetization strategy for services within the Azure Artificial Intelligence (AI) product line.

• Solve complex problems and establish business models for an emerging AI industry.

• Bring a quantitative perspective to support your recommendations (i.e. bring data to bear)

• Develop business model strategies and establish product pricing & packaging for new AI models.

• Identify pricing and licensing optimization opportunities by interacting closely with partners, sellers, and customers.

• Create business model proposals, present them to senior leadership and drive cross-functional alignment.

• Collaborate with pricing operations (i.e. Commerce and Ops) to implement business models and pricing.

• Drive revenue growth of the Azure AI portfolio.

• Understand different cloud business models: Provisioned, Serverless, Reserved Instance, Pre-purchase plans.

• Embody our culture (https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/home.html) and values (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/about/corporate-values)

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years product management, strategy consulting, finance, business/corporate development, or related experience

• OR equivalent experience.

Additional or Preferred Qualifications

• 8+ years product management, strategy consulting, finance, business/corporate development, or related experience AND Bachelor's Degree in Engineering/Computer Science, Economics, Business, or related field

• OR 6+ years product management, strategy consulting, finance, business/corporate development, or related experience AND Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA), or related field

• OR equivalent experience

• A proven track record of working across diverse stakeholders to define and execute strategic initiatives with passion, precision, and excellence.

• Demonstrated analytical problem-solving skills and ability to synthesize data from multiple sources to drive data-driven decisions.

• Expert level business judgement leveraging effective strategic thinking complemented with a bias for action and execution/operational excellence.

• Proven communication and leadership skills to drive projects and build executive buy-in and support for key projects.

• 8+ years in business planning, product management, project management, or consulting or equivalent practical or functional experience.

Business Planning IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $103,800 - $200,300 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 $133,700 - $219,200 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

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until September 26, 2024.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, 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 and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations (https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/accessibility.html) .