Director, AI Strategy & Operations Program Manager

About the role

Overview Microsoft AI's team is building the most capable and safe AI systems in the world. We operate as a lean research lab inside Microsoft, developing proprietary frontier models that power products used by billions of people.      The Strategy & Operations team sits within the Office of the CEO of Microsoft AI. We are a small, flat team of individual contributors - no layers, no management hierarchy. The team is a mix of former investment bankers, top-tier strategy consultants, and technical advisors, and we work directly on the problems that matter most to the organisation's success.

Our job is to identify what needs to change and make it happen. We shape the operating cadence for model development, drive compute and resource allocation decisions, produce competitive intelligence, and author the strategic analysis that informs leadership decisions. The work lands real outcomes - we don't build decks that sit in a drawer.

We are hiring a Director to join this team.

What our team does

Own competitive and market intelligence across the AI landscape. Track what matters, synthesise it into sharp briefs, and turn analysis into concrete recommendations that leadership acts on

Shape and run the operating cadence for model development - organise decision forums, curate pre-reads, pressure-test proposals, and drive follow-through so decisions don't stall

Drive compute and resource allocation across strategic priorities. Understand what the organisation needs, where the constraints are, and how to get maximum impact from finite resources

Coordinate execution across teams - partner with engineering, research, infrastructure, and product to unblock priorities, escalate risks early, and keep critical initiatives moving

Author strategic analysis and recommendation memos. Translate complex technical and market dynamics into clear, evidence-based positions that leadership can act on

Build relationships across Microsoft and with external partners, representing the team's priorities and ensuring alignment on what matters

Responsibilities Sharp analytical skills with the ability to get up to speed on unfamiliar topics fast and form well-evidenced views. You're comfortable being wrong and changing your mind when the data says so

Strong written communication. You can produce a crisp two-page memo that executives reads end-to-end, not a 50-page deck they skim

Comfort with ambiguity. The scope of this role will shift as priorities shift. You won't always have perfect information, clear ownership boundaries, or a playbook to follow

High agency. You notice what's broken, figure out the fix, and drive it without waiting to be asked

Genuine curiosity about AI and large-scale model development. You don't need a PhD, but you do need to care about the technology and be willing to build real understanding of how frontier models are trained and deployed

Humility. The team operates in service to the organisation. Strong opinions held loosely, low ego, and a willingness to do whatever the work requires - including the unglamorous parts

This role will suit you well if you have

Experience in strategy consulting, investment banking, private equity, corporate strategy, or a similar high-intensity analytical environment

A track record of operating at pace in environments where the stakes are real and the decisions matter

Experience working near senior leadership and producing materials that hold up under scrutiny

The ability to work across technical and non-technical teams, translating between the two fluently

This role probably isn't for you if

You're drawn to this primarily for the brand or the title. We need people who care about the work itself

You crave the limelight. This is ultimately a service-oriented role, in support of the organization as a whole rather than any individual successes

Your experience is mostly in large, steady-state organisations where change moves slowly and decisions take quarters. The pace here is different

You prefer clearly defined lanes and established processes. This team builds the processes - it doesn't inherit them

You're looking for a traditional strategy role where the output is analysis. Here, the output is change

Qualifications   Master’s Degree in Business Administration or related field AND 4+ years of experience in marketing, strategy, business planning, consulting, banking, finance, economics, and/or partner organizations OR Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Liberal Arts, Computer Science, or related field AND 6+ years of experience in marketing, strategy, business planning, consulting, banking, finance, economics, and/or partner organizations OR Equivalent experience Preferred Qualifications Master’s Degree in Business Administration or related field AND 8+ years of experience in marketing, strategy, business planning, consulting, banking, finance, economics, and/or partner organizations OR

Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Liberal Arts, Computer Science, or related field AND 12+ years of experience in marketing, strategy, business planning, consulting, banking, finance, economics, and/or partner organizations OR

Equivalent experience

5+ years of experience in investment banking or a consultancy firm (e.g., Associate, Analyst, Consultant, or equivalent), or as a Program Manager

3+ years of experience in strategy, management consulting, and/or finance

Business Strategy IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $130,900 - $251,900 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 $165,600 - $272,300 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.