In Consumer Sales Organization (CSO) we are a global team at Microsoft responsible for sales across Windows, Microsoft 365, Surface and Gaming. CSO puts the consumer at the centre, helping them discover, learn, and buy through direct and partner channels in over 120 countries around the world. Our team works with ecosystem partners and internal business groups to drive digital excellence and e-commerce capability, as well as accelerate cloud and subscription adoption. Together, we win by delivering compelling at-home and on-the-go experiences combining intelligent edge devices and services that create Microsoft fans for life.
In this role, you will be able to create and execute an integrated Category Strategy for Gaming products across all Microsoft Consumer Channels in Japan. This is a high impact role that will optimize the consumer buying experience to build preference for our Gaming products. You will be expected to drive the strategy, investment priorities, goals by account and engage with multiple teams to develop plans that are landed through internal partner teams. You will be accountable for developing and executing annual and seasonal marketing plans that will drive revenue for these LOB’s as well as reach key performance indicator targets.
The Asia Gaming Category team’s mission is to deliver Xbox’s goal to ensure our customers can play the games they want, with the people they want, on the devices they want. To accomplish this, our business goal is to accelerate reach and engagement across devices and help earn Xbox fans through the intersection of customers, software and hardware partners, channel partners and creators.
We Accomplish This Goal In Two Ways
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, and sustain plans to improve our partners business, win share, sell units, and drive revenue/GM.
Strengthen the Xbox Brand via fan centric marketing experiences: 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 Xbox devices, content, accessories and services.
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
The impact you’ll be making:
Lead the Xbox Business in Japan – Take ownership of the business P&L, reporting during ROB key milestones and making strategic investment choices in the Japan sub-region. Influence across boundaries and exceed expected results with the ability to paint the right picture to Regional & Global leadership teams. This individual will have full autonomy to impact and influence the business in Japan and will need to have the required leadership skills to drive impact.
Team Leadership – Directly lead a Gaming Category team of two. Indirectly lead a larger Sub-region Gaming team across disciplines. Ensure readiness across segment and partner teams. Develop and share clear insights into growth drivers and blockers, competitive situation and a focus on the voice of the customer to feedback upstream.
Drive marketing and sales plans – Take the WW strategy and adapt to build the local category strategy and sales and marketing plan; Develop integrated marketing plans and strategic market objectives by channel partner, drive marketing execution and measure execution and return on investment (ROI). Identify key segments for compete and growth opportunities. Work with sales teams on partner mapping, segmentation, and prioritization. Provide feedback to Asia region on issues, opportunities and help needed.
Drive Investment Alignment – Align investments across all consumer channels by pitching the strategy; manage through channel investments and ensure highest ROI. Partner with AHQ integrated marketing and channel marketing to ensure marketing effectiveness and efficiency across the funnel.
Tell the Product and Profitability Story – Land local product and category stories with partners including pitch decks and readiness meetings so they are leading sell in aligned to Microsoft priorities. Hand off to sales leads.
Manage and Monitor ROB – Manage and monitor the business identifying upside and managing risk or gaps. Own the Sub Region ROB for the Gaming category in Japan.
Excel in Business Operations – drive accurate demand planning and inventory management processes; provide inputs to pricing process; land price promos and 1st/3rd party value-add bundles to drive volume and mix. Implement WW category management and Corp business group offer programs, messaging and sales motions that will be required to build strong category plans with our top partners.
Provide Analysis & Insight – This individual will be reporting into the Gaming Asia Category Lead and will need to have the ability to crisply tell the business story including issues, opportunities and clear asks (art of summarization) on continuous basis by partners, leverage quantitative data to provide analysis and insight back to the business on trends from a performance and compete perspective.
Consultative leadership – Active member of the Japan Leadership team and broader subsidiary and Xbox Asia category community. Develop a deep knowledge of the categories, market influencers and account strategies to be able to show thought leadership and become a trusted advisor to the account team and retail partners.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will:
Be a relentless driver who is skilled in getting work done through influence of others – both internally and externally through retail partners
Be a confident leader, representing your business in front of partners and stakeholder at all levels inside and outside of Microsoft.
Have a successful track record in managing and expanding a consumer category attaining sales and profitability targets
Have sharp analytical skills and strong financial acumen to manage a P&L
Be the expert for Gaming in Japan
Maintain a strong knowledge and awareness of the games industry and competitive trends
Understand retail environment, consumer and overall marketplace dynamics impacting the gaming category
Drive agreement on key channel objectives and strategies for the category and products with channel manager, account teams and accounts
Understand levers for driving change at retail, share and revenue in the category (e.g. on price, shelf presence, display, features, promotions, convenience, etc), online motions and consumer purchase habits by account and product
Experiences required:
Education, key experiences, skills and knowledge:
Business level English and Japanese proficiency – ability to communicate across many stakeholders across organizations.
Proven success at business building (business/channel development, entrepreneur, change management)
Sharp analytical skills and acumen and can use to review and manage budgets, market data and deal opportunities
Passion for the gaming industry or consumer marketing and technology
Business management expertise, substantial experience in retail Go-To-Market planning and execution, influence leadership and collaboration skills to drive impact and results
A strong communicator capable of driving complex projects across multiple groups, deal with ambiguity, and be comfortable interacting with senior leaders and virtual teams internally and externally
Strong attention to detail, excellent organization and ability to effectively manage multiple projects required
Action and detail-oriented with broad knowledge of sales and marketing including solid experience working through multiple internal and external partners to achieve superior results
7+ years product or category marketing experience preferably within a global, multi-brand company
Bachelor’s degree, or higher, preferably in business, marketing or equivalent experience
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, 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 and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.
