Academic Research Lead (Industry Advisor) Western Europe Area HQ

Jobinhalt

The profound shift that has taken place in the Education Industry has created a need and opportunity for talent development and skilling to meet current and future demands. We must prepare them to be successful today and be prepared for the opportunities ahead. Microsoft is a learning company and the Education Industry is a core priority for Microsoft.

The Academic Research Industry Executive will be responsible for working with research institutions, particularly in Higher Education, helping them embrace the opportunity for transformation and acceleration of their research agenda. Collaborating with Sr Government and Education leaders, and engaging education research networks as well as researchers, the Academic Research Industry Executive will help Microsoft customers around the world get the best outcomes from their investments in the latest Microsoft cloud technologies.

We are looking for specialist sellers with a passion for developing and winning market-making opportunities that deliver customer value and enable transformational customer outcomes. In this role, you will develop transformational propositions with customers, collaborating with your peers to successfully close deals.

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

• Leverage internal and external networks to develop new strategic relationships with senior business and technical decision makers at top research institutions; develops relationships as a trusted advisor for academic research; provides industry insights internally.
• Articulate the value of Microsoft solutions in the context of the customer’s perspective, leveraging knowledge of customer and partner business priorities and/or drivers
• Lead a diverse academic research v-team of high impact technical and industry sellers to expand strategic education customer relationships to drive larger impact
• Mobilize, orchestrate, mentor and lead the academic research v-team, partners and customer in order to:
• Drive Azure as the cloud for education, especially in academic research
• Grow awareness/usage of the Microsoft Cloud, Microsoft Technical Certifications, Career Coach to close talent gap of students, researchers and faculty/instructors on Azure/Cloud
• Disrupt the mindset of research customers and sales teams by bringing innovative ideas that showcase case for change and Microsoft’s unique value proposition for education. Articulating the Education Transformation Framework strategic vision
• Plan and oversee the process of structuring deals and defining the negotiation strategies for customer accounts
• Remain focused on customer facing time by running a healthy and predictable business that delivers on a jointly agreed customer Digital Transformation strategy
• Continuously nurture and expand your sales, industry, technology and competitive knowledge and capabilities
  

Qualifications

• Strong sales and business background, with experience in education or research related fields to achieve quota and sustainable growth year-over year,
• Experience of selling academic research software solutions (Microsoft technologies preferred) combined with deep understanding of key research solutions and competitive technologies
• Strong business planning and business discipline skills woven with ability to develop and implement targeted plans
• Possess executive maturity, presence and experience in building trust with senior academic research decision makers and articulating how their institutions can digitally transform research, teaching and learning with Microsoft solutions
• Ability to drive digital transformation in a highly competitive environment with proven ability to successfully anticipate market changes to drive industry-relevant solutions, address competitive threats and navigate complex customer environments
• Experience in leading and driving the entire sales cycle, orchestrating virtual selling teams where necessary, managing multi-country frameworks while leveraging repeatable offerings that maximize revenue/market share/consumption opportunities and increase customer satisfaction
• Be comfortable with public speaking and the media
  

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.