Partner Account Executive - Windows & Surface Sales

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Are you a visionary, passionate, and collaborative Sales professional who can drive the growth of Windows PCs with our Distribution Partners and Retailers? Do you have a deep understanding of the consumer, the market, and Retailer's needs and opportunities? Do you have solid communication, presentation, and project management skills and eager to learn? If yes, then this is the role for you.

As a Partner Account Executive - Windows & Surface Sales, you will be responsible in working with Distributors and retailers to develop and execute business strategies and joint sales plans to drive sales and increase PC share. You will work closely with internal and external partners, including the OEMs and Silicon partners to ensure that the Windows products have the best assortment and strategy to help set us up to win. You will also manage the forecasting, reporting, and analysis of sales and performance. You will be a key contributor to the overall revenue, profit, and customer satisfaction goals for Microsoft.

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.

Required/minimum qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Engineering or related field AND 2+ years partner management, sales, business development, platform ecosystem/network, or partner channel development in the technology industry OR 5+ years partner management, sales, business development, platform ecosystem/network, or partner channel development in the technology industry OR equivalent experience.
• Understanding of consumer channels and retail landscape.

Additional or preferred qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Engineering or related field AND 6+ years partner management, sales, business development, platform ecosystem/network, or partner channel development in the technology industry OR 9+ years partner management, sales, business development, platform ecosystem/network, or partner channel development in the technology industry OR equivalent experience.
• 3+ years experience with planning, budgeting, and other project management activities.
• Work experience in Consumer Electronics/IT ecosystem experience with a focus on devices and services sales across consumer segments.
• Building strategic relationships and partnering with account executives.
• Track record of sales delivery and execution.
• Distribution channel management with proven business operational excellence and sales results through joint business planning, landing channel strategies, account management, and performance monitoring.
• Driving long-term sustainable sales growth with partners.
• Delivery on Quarterly and Annual Account Budgeted Revenue.

Partner Account Management IC3 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $87,000 - $148,700 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 $113,400 - $164,000 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 July 13, 2025.

Distribution Partner Engagement

• Proactively creates, nurtures, and influences the distribution partner to drive larger impact for the business and Microsoft.
• Understands and lands Microsoft’s consumer strategy with distribution partners including seasonal and key beats plans. Works to enable Distributor to deliver related strategy and plans to retailers.
• Supports retail distribution partner in developing winning strategies for selling through a portfolio of distributor-managed retailers. Works to ensure that retailer prioritization by Distributor is aligned with Microsoft strategy including a focus on channel hygiene.
• Drives a focus on growth with distribution partners through reach/frequency/yield rigor and proactively aligning growth transformation initiatives such as digital.
• Build trusted relationships with the partner to deliver mutual growth and ensure alignment of strategic priorities.

Channel and Account Management

• Develops and executes joint partner account plans to ensure Microsoft and Distributor sales goals are aligned and on target. Coordinates with key stakeholders on plan execution.
• Plans category SKU prioritization based on Distributor’s retailer coverage (class of trade, specialization, etc.) to align appropriate assortment across the retailer portfolio.
• Lands, negotiates, and executes programs and promotions with Distributor and ensures that proof of execution and claims are provided in compliance with guidelines.
• Aligns Marketing resource and related support to enable Distributor marketing efforts with retailers.
• Facilitates Distributor relationship with Microsoft Supply Chain and Operations, ensuring ongoing order book quality and focus on inventory and forecasting. Works to resolve issues and escalations with orders, billing, and payments.
• Tracks appropriate reporting and performance reviews to ensure revenue targets and other metrics are met. Provides sales insights and forecasts in accordance with internal business review cycles.
• Leads partner business reviews (MBR/QBR) including all relevant stakeholders to assess joint performance and address sales blockers.
• Considers company rules and regulations when executing plans. Holds self and the partner(s) accountable for executing on plans in a compliant manner.

Impact

• Build a clear action plan to improve partner satisfaction scores using partner feedback.
• Develops deep understanding of the distribution channel for Gaming or Devices & Creativity
• Is the internal voice of partners using insights from partner engagements, QBRs, partner surveys, etc., to raise visibility and work to solve key blockers in the distribution-led channel.
• Applies internal resources as well as programmatic investment options to maximize growth and ROI for the distribution-led channel.
• Adheres to a performance focused view of planning by defining a clear success plan (quantitative + qualitative) with the partner and applying relevant distributor metrics.
• Works to foster a culture of testing and piloting with new motions to deliver incremental growth opportunities. Identifies opportunities for partners to upgrade business capabilities based on evolution of the distribution-led channel.

Collaboration

• Leads internal cross-team collaboration (e.g., category, sales, marketing, operations) to support the distribution partner. Shares overall business plans with relevant stakeholders. Influences and drives actions with internal teams.
• Articulates the impact and opportunity with distribution-led channels by product for region and WW teams.