Principal Business Manager

Microsoft • Mountain View, CA

4d

About The Position

Drives strategy initiatives and helps facilitate for rhythm of business (ROB), creating clarity in ambiguous situations to facilitate and drive prioritization and decision making for leaders across the organization. As appropriate, executes business plans in coordination with program managers to ensure continuation of business operations at all times, including in adverse conditions, in accordance with corporate governance. Leads strategy execution across internal stakeholders and the organization in partnership with the leadership team. Leverages deep knowledge of the organizational strategy and planned deliverables for the upcoming year(s) to design complex budgets. Leads in conjunction with stakeholders and the leadership team on multiple workstreams. Shares goals, objectives, vision, and best practices across the Business Management community at Microsoft. Ensures a healthy scorecard for the team/organization, champions and influences culture initiatives aligned to defined People Strategy, connecting leaders and teams to One Microsoft Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) plan resources and guidance. Drives cross-team projects as needed to meet the changing business environment and to manage complex business needs. May lead executive-level communication with a variety of internal audiences.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in relevant field (e.g., Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Management, Computer Science) AND 8+ years experience in financial management, business planning, operations management, strategy, project management, human resources, or business-related roles OR equivalent experience.

Nice To Haves

• Master's Degree in relevant field (e.g., Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Management, Computer Science) AND 12+ years experience in financial management, business planning, operations management, strategy, project management, human resources, or business-related roles OR Bachelor's Degree in relevant field (e.g., Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Management, Computer Science) AND 15+ years experience in financial management, business planning, operations management, strategy, project management, human resources, or business-related roles OR equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Business OperationsDrives strategy initiatives and helps facilitate for rhythm of business (ROB), creating clarity in ambiguous situations to facilitate and drive prioritization and decision making for leaders across the organization. Drives the architecture, development, and execution of the rhythm of business (ROB) aligned to the scope and complexity of the business. Drives business review cadence. Uses strategy plans to inform structure and business insights to predict business outcomes. Informs direction for processes related to adherence to privacy and compliance, and drives accountability for the team and organization in executing core business activities. Partners with and influences senior leaders to propose and define expectations for and evolve content that enables realization of business outcomes. Serves as a point of contact while understanding the business status and industry trends. Collaborates with internal and/or external partners, leaders, and key stakeholders to develop plans and articulate potential benefits of partnerships and how they provide mutual value.As appropriate, executes business plans in coordination with program managers to ensure continuation of business operations at all times, including in adverse conditions, in accordance with corporate governance. When needed, ensures checks and balances are in place for the team to ensure Microsoft's best interest with regard to strategic partnerships necessary for continuity of business. May coordinate with program managers to strategize and develop business continuity plans with Microsoft corporate Crisis Management and Business Continuity teams.Leads strategy execution across internal stakeholders and the organization in partnership with the leadership team. Shares priorities with leaders to negotiate appropriate level of involvement on initiatives to drive execution of top priorities. Leads and oversees processes to ensure alignment across stakeholders, and reviews process execution and performance to ensure results align with business priorities, mutual commitments, and scorecard needs. Leverages knowledge of the business to drive the execution of leader's and business's strategic goals. Sets effective practices for long-term strategy within existing businesses, advocating for and presenting clear and compelling business cases to senior leadership and partners. Contributes to organizational design conversation and drives successful implementation of organizational plans and strategies (e.g., translates high-level strategic plans into concrete execution). Establishes key indicators of success in alignment with strategy to streamline business strategy execution. Works across the organization to report against and adjust targets if necessary. Oversees corporate governance and performance management by providing insight and guidance into prioritizing and monitoring indicators, communicating progress to senior leadership, and evangelizing effective practices from the top levels of the company.Leverages deep knowledge of the organizational strategy and planned deliverables for the upcoming year(s) to design complex budgets. Works in partnership with Finance to approve the budgets and develops long-term forecasting plans in partnership with the leadership team. Tracks financial progress against budget and may manage complex budgets with significant negotiation. Facilitates the development of principles and/or guidelines for budgeting and forecasting. Identifies actions that can be taken to course-correct and drive performance improvement. Anticipates business challenges based on forecasts and larger organizational circumstances and develops plans accordingly. Contributes knowledge to strategic investment decisions. Works with Procurement team to coordinate future resources. Advises leaders on resource management planning. Ensures that spend remains within budget and that the leader is aligned on the headcount strategy, and participates in or leads the organizational design for headcount and budget allocation.
• Executive Leader and Team CommunicationsMay lead executive-level communication with a variety of internal audiences. Ensures alignment with business priorities. Develops content and messaging related to the team's mission and key projects, organizational/company strategy and vision. Articulates this strategy for the leader. Proactively seeks out relevant content (e.g., security requirements, priorities, and/or updates) to communicate to the organization. Guides tactical response to crisis situations. Optimizes the leader's time by structuring the communication strategy for the business and organizing the daily communications of the leader. Performs triage and ghostwriting on behalf of the leader to expedite leader's time. May perform executive-level communication with a variety of audiences.
• Maximizing/ Extending the LeaderShares goals, objectives, vision, and best practices across the Business Management community at Microsoft. Serves as a thought leader and trusted advisor to the leader in multiple areas (e.g., setting key goals, priorities, and definitions; culture and health; industry/business knowledge). Synthesizes insights and leverages expertise to influence the leader, leadership team, and organization. Oversees content creation within the organization and, at times within the industry. Drives audits of Teams and SharePoint memberships, shareable and expiring links, and documentation storage practices and ensures appropriate confidentiality and sensitivity parameters are met.Leads in conjunction with stakeholders and the leadership team on multiple workstreams (e.g., workforce planning, culture, business health). Advises senior leaders and key external stakeholders on industry and company insights as a key partner. Builds and cultivates relationships with senior leaders and executives at scale for the business while using understanding of audience needs to ensure the optimal use of leaders' time. Leverages key partnerships to drive the agenda for the leadership team and ensures follow up. Provides direction for criteria used to break down complex information into actionable steps for audience. Creates alignment within partnerships by providing an objective point of view, ensuring all voices are heard, synthesizing ideas, and creating an action plan. Acts as a proxy for the leader. Carries out related reporting and exception management as required. Organizes executive visits, including global events with customers.
• Organizational HealthEnsures a healthy scorecard for the team/organization, champions and influences culture initiatives aligned to defined People Strategy, connecting leaders and teams to One Microsoft Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) plan resources and guidance. Partners with Human Resources (HR), leader, and business management community on best ways to apply company guidance, accelerate progress related to culture and inclusion, and define communications and action plans for the organization in response to employee signals. Capitalizes on team strengths and identifies development areas, strategizing, planning, and directing execution of trainings. Tracks the use of role-based compliance trainings and new trainings (e.g., security). As needed, drives training completion rates and/or program execution.
• Special Project/Programs and InitiativesDrives cross-team projects as needed to meet the changing business environment and to manage complex business needs. Leads project/program management to ensure organization-wide implementation of strategic efforts that require hands-on coordination across multiple disciplines and business organizations. Leads strategic innovation and experimentation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level