Cloud AI Platform Manager - Retail

Overview

The Cloud & AI Platform M1 role in Retail & Consumer Goods is a people‑manager, platform specialist leadership position responsible for driving Azure and AI consumption outcomes across Microsoft’s most strategic retail and consumer goods customers.

Unlike IC Solution Engineering roles that focus on individual opportunity execution, the M1 Cloud & AI Platform leader owns platform health, consumption strategy, and execution across a portfolio of accounts, often with large, committed MACCs and Unified Agreements.

This role sits within the Cloud & AI Commercial Solution Unit (CSU) and works in close partnership with:

• ATU / STU sellers
• CSAMs
• Specialists and Solution Engineers
• Industry leadership (RCG)

The role is not quota‑carrying in the traditional sense; instead, success is measured by Azure consumption, MACC health, Unified Health, and sustained platform adoption.

Responsibilities

1. Azure & AI Consumption Ownership (Primary Accountability)

• Own CSU accountability for Azure Health within assigned Retail & Consumer Goods accounts.
• Drive MACC consumption in committed and existing MACC + Unified accounts.
• Share responsibility with CSAMs for Unified Health, SBR outcomes, and consumption acceleration.
• Focus on land‑and‑expand motions that increase Azure, Data, and AI usage—not net‑new MACC creation.

2. Platform Strategy & Account Orchestration

• Partner with ATU/STU leadership to co‑own Azure horizon planning and platform roadmap alignment.
• Contribute to account planning and execution frameworks, especially where consumption is underperforming or complex.
• Help define coverage models, stakeholder maps, and execution plans across multiple “rooms of the house” in large enterprise retailers and CPGs.

3. Industry‑Specific Cloud & AI Leadership (Retail & CPG)

• Lead Cloud & AI conversations anchored in Retail & Consumer Goods industry priorities, including:
  • AI‑driven personalization and customer engagement
  • Data platform modernization and analytics
  • Secure AI and Copilot adoption at scale
• Align Microsoft Cloud & AI platforms with industry transformation initiatives, often involving ERP, data, AI, and security modernization.

4. Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Manage and develop Cloud & AI Platform specialists (ICs) aligned to Retail & Consumer Goods accounts.
• Coach teams on:
  • Technical depth (Azure, AI platforms, security, data)
  • Consultative selling and executive engagement
  • Platform‑first thinking vs. workload‑by‑workload execution
• Ensure team readiness through role immersion training, solution play execution, and continuous skilling. 

5. Executive Engagement & Influence

• Serve as a trusted Cloud & AI platform advisor to senior customer leaders (CIO, CDO, CISO, Digital & Transformation leaders).
• Lead executive‑level platform strategy discussions, positioning Microsoft as the long‑term AI and cloud foundation.
• Influence internal leadership by setting clear priorities and driving disciplined execution across extended virtual teams.

6. Governance, Security & Platform Trust

• Guide customers on cloud security, governance, compliance, and identity strategy across SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS.
• Ensure AI and data platform adoption aligns with enterprise security, regulatory, and data governance requirements—a critical focus in Retail & CPG

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, Information Security, or related field AND 6+ years experience in technology-related sales or account management OR