Industry Advisory--Retail

Industry Advisory – Retail (Microsoft) Microsoft’s Industry Team focuses on empowering customers on their AI Transformation. This team is responsible for understanding the Retail and Consumer Goods industry and our customers’ business and priorities, developing strong relationships with senior leaders by generating interest in Microsoft solutions that accelerate AI Transformation and drive revenue growth for Microsoft. As an Industry Advisor, you will have the opportunity to drive industry solution‑focused sales for Microsoft. This role is responsible for originating sales, driving industry‑led conversations with customers, qualifying the pipeline, and accelerating through Microsoft’s partner ecosystem. Accountabilities include developing and winning market‑making opportunities that deliver customer value and enable transformational customer outcomes. As an Industry Advisor you will be the industry subject‑matter expert in AI Transformation, engaging with customer executives, leaders and decision makers to identify, generate and nurture new business opportunities aligned to their strategic priorities. You will articulate and position strategic business value and long‑term positive results of using Microsoft’s products, partners and solutions, collaborating across roles and organizations. This is a flexible work opportunity, requiring travel, with the option to work from home 50% of the time. 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. Commercial Role A commercial expert in a large FMCG organization serves as the strategic anchor for driving growth, profitability and market relevance across diverse product categories and geographies. This role blends deep industry expertise with consultative sales leadership to orchestrate complex transformations and unlock value at scale. Responsibilities Strategic Sales Leadership: Leading commercial growth programmes, go‑to‑market strategies and sales excellence initiatives that deliver measurable top‑line impact. Retail and Category Expertise: Bringing hands‑on experience from roles in category management, merchandising and supply chain across large retailers. Technology Integration: Translating retail and consumer insights into compelling narratives powered by AI, cloud and data platforms—enabling predictive analytics, personalized engagement and unified commerce. Stakeholder Management: Engaging C‑level decision-makers and board members across regions to align on transformation agendas. Originate and qualify new opportunities while driving account‑based revenue by defining and executing industry plays across assigned consumer goods accounts. Lead and orchestrate sales activities and customer engagement in partnership with account teams to deliver value, build trust and exceed customer expectations as a strategic advisor. Leverage deep industry expertise across the retail value chain to accelerate customers’ digital agendas—driving AI transformation, inspiring innovation through industry‑relevant use cases and generating net‑new growth in cloud, data and AI with Microsoft. Ignite, shape and secure market‑making business partnerships by building and leveraging relationships with CxOs and senior business executives. Collaborate with external partner ecosystem (e.g., business leaders, GSIs, ISVs) on client and partner planning, and develop industry‑specific strategies that add credibility and depth. Spark innovation and reimagine future capabilities by facilitating ideation and envisioning sessions and co‑developing multi‑horizon roadmaps. Embody Microsoft’s culture and values by modeling a growth mindset, contributing to others’ success and delivering impactful results that build on collective ideas and efforts. Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business or related field AND 7+ years customer‑facing experience in consumer goods, retail, management consulting, consultative selling, technology or industry‑relevant equivalent management or technical work experience. OR Master’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business or related field AND 5+ years customer‑facing experience in consumer goods, retail, management consulting, consultative selling, technology or industry‑relevant equivalent management or technical work experience. OR equivalent experience. Additional or Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree and 15+ years customer‑facing experience in a combination of consumer goods and retail industry and management consulting at the Director, Principal and Associate Partner level or equivalent, consultative selling of transformative technology. OR Master’s Degree in Business or related field and 12+ customer‑facing experience in a combination of consumer goods and retail industry and management consulting at the Director, Principal or Associate Partner level or equivalent, consultative selling of transformative technology. OR equivalent experience. Seniority Level Not Applicable Employment Type Full‑time Job Function Software Development 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr