Senior Category Manager Surface - Korea
Microsoft
Senior Category Manager Surface - Korea
Seoul, Korea
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Overview
The Windows & Device Sales (WDS) organization leads the global sales and go-to-market strategy for Windows devices, delivering AI-powered devices and Microsoft cloud experiences through a robust partner ecosystem. WDS spans Surface and OEM devices, and integrates the full Microsoft services stack—including M365, GamePass, Copilot, Windows 365, Azure Local, and more.
WDS is uniquely positioned to serve all device brands, partner channels, and customer segments, combining build and sell motions to delight both commercial and consumer customers worldwide. This team is chartered to accelerate innovation, reclaim performance leadership in the PC market, and drive adoption of Copilot+ PC activations, Windows refreshes, and M365 growth
We are seeking a Senior Category Manager Surface - Korea.
Surface represents the Best of Microsoft and is responsible for evolving existing and creating new categories across Consumer Devices. Surface’s mission is to build products that create complete magical experiences to empower every person and organization to achieve more. The role of Surface is to be the leading innovator in the Windows ecosystem, raising the bar for customer expectations of what PCs can be, setting the standard for product design of computing devices, and inspiring Microsoft's Windows ecosystem partners to new heights.
In Surface, our business goal is clear: Profitably Grow Surface Volume & Share. We accomplish this goal in two ways:
- Selling TO our retail partners: Use consumer insights, market data, store level analysis, and device sales information to evaluate our business performance and develop seasonal, launch & sustain plans to improve our partners business, win share, sell units, and drive revenue/ GM.
- Selling THRU our retail partners: Plan and execute thoughtful and impactful promotions and full-funnel-marketing plans, focused on driving purchase intent, conversion & post purchase advocacy & consumer lifetime value for Surface devices & accessories.
This role is flexible in that you can work up to 40% from home.
Qualifications
Required/minimum qualifications
- 6+ years category management, product management, marketing strategy, business planning, product planning, or related work experience AND Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Economics, Public Relations, Engineering, or related field
- OR equivalent experience.
Additional or preferred qualifications
- 8+ years category management, product management, marketing strategy, business planning, product planning, or related work experience AND Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Economics, Public Relations, Engineering, or related field
- OR equivalent experience.
English Language Proficiency
The ability to speak and understand English when giving instructions and directions, and when talking with colleagues, managers, and others for work matters.
Responsibilities
Business Operations
- Lands and supports execution of category plans and investments with internal and external partners. Defines leading indicators for successful execution (e.g., launch, promotion), ensuring tracking mechanisms are in place. Leverages financial performance data and models to assess alignment with expected outcomes and recommend adjustments as needed. Makes recommendations for adjustments of programs and investments and supports alignment of execution plans as needed using guidance from corporate and performance data.
- Works collaboratively with internal partners to understand goals and metrics, and develop and track the appropriate key performance indicators (KPIs) and scorecard metrics to understand performance. Actively recommends KPIs to improve category insights and progress tracking. Analyzes KPIs and success metrics for a product or service area. Aligns and monitors investment impact and growth opportunities across partners. Identifies key insights from data and develops robust plans to test hypotheses and learn from results. Drives insights and formulates strategies based on data findings, leveraging the voice of the customer (VOC)/partner to drive business and/or product strategy. Collaborates across teams to better understand where findings can be applied and implemented. Identifies opportunities to perform additional in-depth analyses on specific business questions.
- Leverages local market trends to determine go-to-market (GTM) strategy and key performance indicators (KPIs) to deliver upon the priorities and initiatives cascaded from Worldwide Category. In partnership with key stakeholders (e.g., Sales, Marketing, Finance, Sales Excellence), defines product specific channel strategy and execution plans. Partners with legal and finance to develop incentive programs as needed. Facilitates internal alignment through consistent engagement rhythm and driving the appropriate level of conversation and decision making. Leverages feedback (e.g., voice of the customer [VOC] insights) to adjust plans, land strategy, and maximize local performance. Collaborates across functions, partners, and teams to drive execution. At the operational level, serves as an active participant in sales motions to support and articulate product/service vision in conversation with partners.
Business Steward
- Manages top-line and bottom-line profit and loss for one or more lines of business. Manages budget and the reporting of budget, investments, allocation, and funds to key stakeholders and finance teams, and oversees supply forecast and inventory management as required. Leverages return on investment (ROI) analyses to support investment recommendations.
- Manages business operations within a category, serving as a subject matter expert and may provide expertise on the broader category and industry. Manages category priorities and strategies in line with the One Microsoft approach within the market. Serves as a primary orchestrator with external partners to drive consistent messaging and partner enablement. Fosters structure for generating and sharing insights with business groups for business planning. Reports data-driven insights from partners (e.g., voice of the customer [VOC] data) to the Category Management Lead, to support product strategy and maximize revenue. In-region, may act as the face of public relations and Product Marketing expert for the category.
Growth Opportunity Development
- Supports category leadership by contributing to the definition (e.g., Total Available Market [TAM], audience, product) and implementation (e.g. target setting, investments) of solutions that provide added value to both Microsoft and partners. Contributes to rhythm of business (ROB) processes (e.g., Finance, Sales, Product Marketing, Partner, Field) as required to drive insight generation and business planning. Presents developed business cases to identify and execute on new and/or existing business opportunities to drive strategic impact for Microsoft. Leverages performance data (e.g., first-party, third-party, market trends) and voice of the customer (VOC) information to create and integrate new strategies. Contributes to the partner planning process by coordinating with key stakeholders (e.g., partner account managers) to drive agendas and support partner execution goals.