Microsoft Surface Category Manager

In Consumer Sales Organization (CSO) we are a global team at Microsoft responsible for sales across
**Devices & Creativity** (Windows, Microsoft 365, and Surface) and
**Gaming**. CSO puts the consumer at the center, helping them discover, learn, and buy through direct and partner channels in over 120 countries around the world. Our team works with ecosystem partners and internal business groups to drive digital excellence and e-commerce capability, as well as accelerate cloud and subscription adoption. Together, we win by delivering compelling at-home and on-the-go experiences combining intelligent edge devices and services that create Microsoft fans for life.

In the Modern Life Category, the priority is to help people make the most of their time within 4 focus areas: organize your life, protect what’s important, connect with others, and bring out your best. The focus is on the Modern Life products - M365, Windows Consumer, Surface, and Accessories. The key priorities are to define and execute our consumer product and/solution go-to-market strategy; influence product roadmap, business models and strategy; and manage long term health of the business through actionable customer insights to and from partners.

We are seeking a
**Surface Category Manager across Australia & New Zealand** (ANZ).

The Surface’s mission is to build products that create complete magical experiences to empower every person and organization to achieve more. The role of Surface is to be the leading innovator in the Windows ecosystem, raising the bar for customer expectations of what PCs can be, setting the standard for product design of computing devices, and inspiring Microsoft's Windows ecosystem partners to new heights.

The Surface Category Management team is responsible to manage both Surface and PCA products, and works on tactics to elevate Surface brand awareness and consideration among consumers and to partner with third-party retailers on great offers to drive conversion at key sales beats.

Your passion for our products and our partners will guide the team to execution excellence, a strong focus on ROI and accountability to sell-out and sell-through. You will have a proven track record of leading innovation in marketing tactics across all consumer touch-points in onmi-channel environments.

Reporting to the Surface Category ANZ Lead based in Sydney, you will be a part of a culture centered on embracing a growth mindset, a theme of inspiring excellence, and encouraging teams and leaders to bring their best each day. If that appeals to you, it’s an exciting time to be here in CSO.

**Responsibilities**:

- **Financial acumen**: Understanding of budget, P&L, margin, investment, and OPEX accountability
- Have experience translating Key Performance Indicators **(KPIs)** into actionable plans to accelerate or capitalize on growth opportunities.
- ** Insight Driven Mindset**: Demonstrate the ability to turn insights into action and leverage the Voice of the customer/partner to drive business and product strategy
- **Change agent**: The creation & Integration of new categories & services, bringing key stakeholders along through skilled influence, developing product channel, new business model & GTM strategies while adjusting programs & investments
- **Collaborative Leadership**: Ability to influence and work across functions, partners, teams to drive growth and transformation
- **Entrepreneurial mindset** and innovative thinking to identifying and executing business opportunities

**Qualifications**:
Experiences Required: Education, Key Experiences, Skills and Knowledge:

- **6+ years category experience in category management**, product management, marketing strategy, business planning, product planning, or related work experience AND Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Economics, Public Relations, Engineering, or related field OR equivalent experience.
- Adept at creating & orchestrating consistent and **compelling Story Telling**:

- Strong delivery on Quarterly and Annual Account Budgeted Revenue and key scorecard metrics
- **Portfolio Management.** Marketed product categories; demonstrated experience of consumer and/or Commercial/SMB channels. Operating as brand stewards, driving brand consistent execution. Marketing physical, cloud and/or subscription products & services
- **Partner Management.** Direct experience interfacing with Partners and a proven track record delivering growth/performance metrics. Demonstrated ability to build integrated partner marketing plans/campaigns with ownership of multiple marketing disciplines
- **Execution Excellence.** Operations-savvy, cross-functional project management, budgeting, creative design and direction. Focus on ROI-driven marketing and data-driven insights to develop marketing programs & drive readiness
- **Managing Change.** Ability to manage ambiguity and rapid change. An agile executor with a discipline around testing, quick iteration and risk-taki