Senior Business Manager

We are looking for a dynamic, highly motivated, personable, and experienced Senior Business Manager to join the legal team supporting Microsoft’s Cloud + AI business (C+AI).  C+AI is responsible for Microsoft’s cloud computing fabric, artificial intelligence platform, and the company’s industry cloud solutions.   

Responsibilities

Business Operations & Rhythm of Business  

• Executes business plans to ensure continuation of business operations at all times, including in adverse conditions, in accordance with corporate governance. 

• Drives business direction and responsibility for leadership team to manage the planning process ensuring coordination with corporate planning processes as well as planning integration across the broader organization.  

• Drives the architecting, developing, and executing the rhythm of business (ROB). Works with senior leaders to drive outcomes. Provides direction for identifying and determining objectives to execute which are in alignment with the goals of the organization. Drives business review cadence. Ensures adherence to privacy and compliance. 

• Leverages knowledge of organizational strategy and planned deliverables for the upcoming year(s) to design budgets. Works in partnership with Finance to approve budgets. Develops forecasting plans in partnership with the leadership team. Oversees the development of metrics for budgeting and forecasting; identifies actions that can be taken to course-correct and drive performance improvement; anticipates business challenges based on forecasts. Collaborates with leaders regarding resource management planning. Ensures that the leader is aligned on the headcount strategy. 

• Collaborates with internal stakeholders and Microsoft teams to oversee the creation and implementation of execution plans.  

• Drives accountability for the team and organization in executing core business activities.  Creates clarity in ambiguous situations to facilitate and drive prioritization and decision making for leaders across the organization. 

Strategy Execution & Activation  

• Monitors team/organization health and supports the leader in responding to team culture issues, as well as promoting cultural and D&I initiatives. 

• Leverages knowledge of the leader's goals and business approach to ensure business activities are aligned with the leader's objectives. Supports the leader in one or more key business management areas (e.g., setting key goals, priorities, and definitions; team culture and health; communications; budget/finance; industry/specific business knowledge). Synthesizes information into insights that inform business decisions, leveraging expertise to influence the leader and leadership team. Leverages people management/influence expertise to assist leader with people management as needed. Lands organizational changes (e.g., employee data management, skilling plans). 

• Leverages relationships to influence and advise on strategic decisions, content, and/or expertise. Leverages key partnerships to drive the agenda for the leadership team and ensure follow up. Manages and builds relationships with senior leaders and executive internal leaders. May interact with a broader array of high-level partners. Creates alignment within partnerships by providing an objective point of view, ensuring all voices are heard, synthesizing ideas, and creating an action plan. 

Special Projects & Programs 

• Drives cross-team projects as needed to meet the changing business environment and manage complex business needs. Engages in project management or may act as a project/program manager to ensure organization-wide implementation of strategic efforts that require hands-on coordination across multiple functional disciplines and business organizations. 

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in relevant field (e.g., Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Management, Computer Science) and 8+ years’ experience in