Launch Manager

Overview

If you love the pursuit of excellence and are inspired by the challenges that come through driving innovations that impact how the world lives, works and plays, then we invite you to learn more about Microsoft Operations - and the value we deliver across Microsoft and to our customers and partners. We offer unique opportunities to work on interesting global projects in an environment that appreciates diversity, focuses on talent development and recognizes and rewards great work.

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The Planning and Launch team is looking for a Launch Manager to manage launch initiatives. This position is responsible for leading across all facets of launch from the creation of project plans to the final execution. The experienced individual will build relationships with clients and counterparts and lead relevant discussions to operationalize the work that directly impact the business vision and strategy. Once impacts are assessed and plans are built, this role will lead a launch team leveraging the Operations Delivery Lifecycle (ODLC) to bring these changes to market, tracking risks/issues, and ultimately ensuring excellence in delivery. In addition to ensuring launch readiness execution, this role will be key in supporting the discipline of launch through artifact authoring and management, partnership with the broader launch community to identify and execute process improvements, documentation and roll-out to the broader organization.

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

• Represent Operations globally by deploying new & enhanced products, services and projects to successfully support Microsoft.
• Manage project launch teams, facilitating effective meetings and driving key decisions with stakeholders to ensure a solid Plan of Record
• Responsible for driving accountability across various work streams throughout the launch process.
• Identify requirements and document a working Plan of Record, driving change control, managing issues and escalation, triage, cross group coordination and milestone management.
• Identify and manage project risks to reduce escalations and poor experience due to gap in understanding or adherence to process.
• Be a trusted Advisor to business clients and other business stakeholders and: manage relationships and expectations with stakeholders; act as a single point of contact for queries and escalations around the project; create required ODLC artifacts and take active participation in all reporting requirements; providing global communications that touches the right levels of the organization.
• Competencies needed: Strategic Insight; Impact & Influence; Cross-Group Collaboration; Analytical Problem Solving; Interpersonal Awareness; Global Process Management; Project Management; Confidence; Global Insight.
• Embody our Culture & Values

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Operations, Finance or related field AND 4+ years work experience in program management, process management, process improvement
  • OR equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5 years minimum of Program Management, Project Management, or Operations experience
• Experience with Microsoft tools including Microsoft Project, Excel, Word, Teams
• Proven ability to collaborate at all levels across the organization is essential
• Experience in multinational environment
• Operations experience
• A desire for continuous improvement & delivery against agreed objectives
• Ability to work under and deliver to continual deadline constraints
• Negotiation skills with an ability to impact and influence at all levels
• Ability to manage short, medium, and long-term planning horizons concurrently
• MBA is a plus

Business Program Management IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $91,800 - $178,800 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 $117,900 - $195,000 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 May 20, 2024.

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.