Overview

The Gaming Marketing & Sales organization (GMS) is at the core of the Microsoft Gaming division, consisting of a passionate team of marketers, sales professionals, and innovators who are committed to advancing storytelling, partner excellence, and marketing technology. GMS connects and engages with players and partners at scale across our diverse portfolio of experiences, games, and screens through a wide variety of marketing and sales channels.

As a member of our team, you will be part of a multi-billion-dollar business, focused on delivering value throughout the entire player journey and collaborating with team members in over 20 markets. You will also be part of a culture that embraces a growth mindset, inspires excellence, and encourages teams to bring their best each day. GMS is the destination for experienced, collaborative, and passionate professionals seeking a rewarding career and the opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in the gaming industry. If that appeals to you, it’s an exciting time to join GMS.

The Worldwide Games Category Lead will be responsible for driving the global retail strategy and performance of the Games & Content category across the Americas, APAC, and EMEA regions. This role requires a strategic leader with an ability to manage high-performing teams, optimize business processes, and align cross-functional stakeholders. The successful candidate will support global planning, go-to-market execution, and investment optimization for both physical games content at retail, ensuring alignment with Xbox’s broader ecosystem and business objectives.

Within Gaming, we accomplish Microsoft’s mission in two ways

1. Drive consumer engagement and revenue at retail: Use consumer insights, market data, store level analysis, and 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.
2. Amplify the Xbox brand through our retail partners: Plan and execute thoughtful and impactful through-line-full-funnel-marketing, focused on driving purchase intent, conversion & post purchase advocacy and consumer lifetime value for Gaming devices, content, accessories, and services.

What our team offers

At the core, we are a customer-focused team that encourages a diverse & inclusive culture. We are respectful, collaborative, accountable and approach work with a fun, positive attitude. The right candidate can expect to have opportunities for career growth and development while shaping our strategic approach to the rapidly changing transactional video and advertising environments.

What I will do for you

• Champion your successes at every level of our leadership.
• Empower you with the opportunity to gain new experiences and improve upon your strengths.
• Support who you are as your authentic self.
• Make career development a consistent priority.

How you can make an impact

As a Worldwide Gaming Category Manager for Xbox, you will co-create the Worldwide Retail Strategy for Xbox Games & Content, whilst enabling the field by defining the category story, delivering regional insights, creating programs aligned to the business priorities, and setting/striving to achieve success metrics.

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

Team management

• Lead a high-performing, globally distributed team responsible for managing the Games & Content category across the retail channel in the Americas, APAC, and EMEA regions.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and excellence by clearly defining regional roles and responsibilities.
• Influence rhythm of business (ROB) that streamlines internal processes and enables agile decision-making.
• Structure the team to minimize duplication of effort and ensure efficient communication flow across stakeholders.

Global Games & Content Planning

• Support the annual Games & Content budgeting process, optimise regional target setting and alignment.
• Co-develop and execute global Games & Content priorities in partnership with regional teams.
• Consolidate, influence, and approve regional forecasts and Initial Planning Quantities (IPQs) to ensure alignment with global objectives.

Performance Management

• Oversee quarterly forecast updates, drive monthly business discussions/reviews, and weekly performance reporting to track progress and identify opportunities.
• Partner with WW Studio Category leads to implement go-to-market (GTM) strategy. Ensure WW execution excellence for Multiplatform (Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo) FPP (Fully Packaged Product) titles from Activision, Blizzard, Bethesda, and Xbox Game Studios.
• Drive regional accountability for Games & Content forecasting accuracy
• Ensure Regional alignment with WW demand planning methodologies

Investment Optimization

• Maximize retail opportunities while balancing Xbox P&L requirements and strategic priorities.
• Monitor performance metrics and implement course corrections as needed to optimize outcomes.
• Oversee retail marketing investments to maximize return on investment (ROI).

• Embody our culture and values.

Qualifications

• 9+ 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 8+ years category management, product management, marketing strategy, business planning, product planning, or related work experience AND MBA/Master's Degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Economics, Public Relations, or related field
  • OR equivalent experience.
• 4+ years experience managing and expanding a category, attaining sales and profitability targets, and leading complex projects (e.g., large-scale or multi-year projects for multi-national or matrixed organizations) with internal stakeholders (e.g., sales management, finance)
  • OR equivalent experience.
• 1+ years people management experience.

If you are a dedicated gaming enthusiast with a passion for marketing and business management, and you have a track record of creating engaging content and staying ahead in the gaming industry, we encourage you to apply for the WW Games lead role. Join us in shaping the future of gaming and delivering exceptional experiences to players worldwide!

Category Management M4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $106,400 - $203,600 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 $137,600 - $222,600 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

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

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Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.