Business Development Manager
Microsoft
The Business Development and Ventures organization at Microsoft is responsible for driving growth across all Microsoft products by setting corporate strategy and identifying and executing high impact strategic partnerships, corporate venture investments, and acquisitions.
Windows powers over 1.4 billion monthly active devices globally, making it the world’s most widely used desktop operating system with scale and enduring relevance across consumers, enterprises, and developers. Windows sits at the center of Microsoft’s strategy and ambitions across AI, productivity, creativity, search, gaming, and devices.
The Windows & Devices Business Development team leads strategic partnerships that drive growth and device share, working across ISVs, silicon partners, OEMs, MSPs, and emerging device categories. Partnering closely with product, engineering, and go to market leaders, the team enhances product value, unlocks new business models, accelerates partner-led innovation, and helps position Windows as the platform of choice for new, AI-first experiences.
We are seeking a Business Development Manager to drive partnerships and strategic initiatives across Windows + Devices. This role partners closely with stakeholders and team members to define and execute strategies that advance the W+D business, while sourcing, structuring, and closing partnerships. The role will also monitor industry trends to identify, develop, and scale high‑impact partnership opportunities.
This role reports to the GM of Business Development for Windows + Devices and partners closely with leaders across Product, Engineering, Finance, Business Planning, Corporate Development, Legal, and Product Marketing.
Our team is deeply collaborative, embraces experimentation, highly motivated, and learns from every outcome. Success in this role means navigating ambiguity, building trusted relationships, and driving strategic impact across a dynamic, cross functional environment.
Responsibilities
Deal Management/ Governance
Develops post-deal governance and execution plans and develops Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to demonstrate achieved business value. Ensures design, communication, and alignment in the creation of governance. Troubleshoots simple issues.
Assists with execution and deal management by communicating and reporting with Microsoft stakeholders. Tracks blocking issues and works with deal stakeholders to drive resolutions.
Microsoft Strategy Alignment (Product Insights and Innovative Projects/Pilots)
Collaborates with team to help create practices that enable partners to influence the product.
Progresses product improvement with engineering by collecting partner feedback that identifies potential gaps and areas of opportunity within products.
Begins to improve operations of existing programs by applying industry methodology and innovation, defining program issues, assessing various scenarios, and selecting the optimal scenario to resolve issues.
Identifies internal opportunities to develop new programs and improve current ones, with some oversight and guidance, learns about methods for identifying process improvement areas.
Collaborates with others to identify root problems (e.g., root-cause analysis), define the program strategy, gather program requirements, identify resource needs, create the project plan and targets, and work across teams to align on the plan of record.
Microsoft Strategy Alignment (Stakeholder Engagement and Deal Diligence)
Collaborates with internal teams and business units to build relationships and build knowledge of internal resources.
Builds working relationships with Microsoft and business partners, and executive relationships (e.g., Sr. Directors).
Identifies repeatable opportunities to share signal on Microsoft products and services to benefit internal stakeholders.
Contributes new ideas as a member of the deal team and assesses opportunity to engage with Microsoft during investment diligence process and contributes to the creation and maintenance of existing thesis areas over time, learning to build relationships with stakeholders.
Negotiation
Identifies actions to lead deal opportunities across deal stages (e.g., Strategic Approval (SA), Approval to Negotiate (A2N), Final Go-no-go (FGNG)), take examples from the left) to closure and closes prescribed business opportunities. Identifies negotiation scenarios and escalates as appropriate.
Closes opportunities using predefined program frameworks or templates, as appropriate.
Partner & Customer Focus
Develops internal and external relationships to establish a network of business and technical decision makers for assigned accounts.
Develops an understanding of customers, partners business, strategy, and relevant industry trends through research (e.g., reading industry research reports, attending internal/external conferences, SME/mentor feedback, leveraging internal resources, talking with partner directly, gathering third party resources).
Articulates the Microsoft point-of-view and product road map regarding relevant industry trends and impact to customers and partners.
Partnership Strategy
Researches technology, industry, and competitive trends, and works internally to understand how Microsoft is positioned. Shares research and insights with team and identifies actions based on insights.
Utilizes processes to lead development and maintenance of the pipeline. Prepares information for reporting to key stakeholders.
Works with stakeholders to develop target customer/partner list to close high-priority gaps across technology, product, business, and/or geography. Identifies opportunities and strategy and maps target customers/partners. Utilizes quantitative data (e.g., usage, revenue) to inform internal and external decisions. Provides input into recommendations on partners.
Articulates opportunities for Microsoft to create a business value proposition. Supports senior colleagues in execution of business value proposition. Engages customers and partners to highlight the value of Microsoft opportunities, leveraging internal stakeholders and escalating to senior colleagues as needed.
Qualifications
Required/minimum qualifications
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Bachelor's Degree in Business, Liberal Arts, Sciences, or related field AND 3+ years relevant work experience (e.g., investment banking, consulting, finance, marketing, corporate strategy, sales, venture capital, legal, business development, product management, project management, software development, or related field)
OR equivalent experience.
Additional or preferred qualifications
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Bachelor's Degree in Business, Liberal Arts, Sciences, or related field AND 5+ years relevant work experience (e.g., investment banking, consulting, finance, marketing, corporate strategy, sales, venture capital, legal, business development, product management, project management, software development, or related field)
OR Master's/Advanced Degree in Business, Sciences, or related field AND 2+ years relevant work experience (e.g., investment banking, consulting, finance, marketing, corporate strategy, sales, venture capital, legal, business development, product management, project management, software development, or related field)
OR equivalent experience.
4+ years experience in the technology industry OR in a technical role (e.g., IT, Engineering).
Business Development IC3 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $85,100 - $169,800 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 $112,000 - $185,300 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.
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.