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Software, Cloud Computing, Hardware, Gaming

Commercial Solution Area (CSA) Activation Lead, CAIP

RemoteRemoteFull TimeLead$130,900–$251,900 /yrPosted 2 months agoVisa sponsorship available

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Required skills

  • MCEM
  • Cloud & AI Platforms
  • Customer Success
  • Go-To-Market
  • Solution Plays
  • Business KPI
  • Field Enablement
  • Pipeline Creation
  • Velocity
  • Conversion Rates

Nice to have

  • enterprise cloud
  • SaaS solutions
  • technical acumen
  • business acumen
  • cross-functional teams
  • senior stakeholders

Role summary

The Commercial Solution Area (CSA) Activation Lead, CAIP is responsible for driving Microsoft Customer Engagement Methodology (MCEM) stage 4/5 activation and associated outcomes for SME&C Customer and Partner Success (CPS) with a focus on Cloud & AI Platforms (CAIP). This role partners closely with various internal teams to accelerate pipeline, adoption, and business outcomes. The lead will act as a bridge between strategy and execution, ensuring scalable, partner-centric, and digital-first Go-To-Market (GTM) design, clear requirements for the supporting ecosystem, and providing field technical execution insights to leadership for continuous improvement. Key responsibilities include defining customer success strategy, leading solution area activation and execution guidance, and providing business performance and insights leadership.

Overview

Role Overview

The Commercial Solution Area (CSA) Activation Lead, CAIP is responsible for driving Microsoft Customer Engagement Methodology (MCEM) stage 4/5 activation and associated outcomes for SME&C Customer and Partner Success (CPS) with focus on Cloud & AI Platforms (CAIP)

The role partners closely with SME&C (STU) Specialist Team Unit, MCAPS Core CAIP SME&C, Customer & Commercial Success (C&CS) SME&C Execution, C&CS Planning, Landing and Excellence, Global Channel Partner Sales (GCPS), SME&C GS&O GTM Marketing (CAIP), Cloud Accelerate Factory, Product and other teams to accelerate pipeline, adoption, and associated business outcomes.

The role will act as a bridge between strategy and execution, ensuring that:

  1. Upstream GTM (Go-To-Market) design for Stage 4/5 execution is built for scale from the ground up with IP that is partner centric & digital first.
  2. The broader ecosystem supporting field landing & readiness has clear requirements and is held accountable for outcomes.
  3. SME&C (Small, Medium Enterprises & Channel) leadership and CSU (Customer Success Unit) leaders have the field technical execution insights to inform continuous improvement.


Responsibilities

1.Customer Success Strategy Definition (CAIP)

  • Represent SME&C CPS and influence strategy creation inclusive of MCEM design, Solution Plays (Customer Conversations), Role accountabilities, IP development needs, Business KPI definitions
  • Translate corporate and regional GTM strategy into local practical execution plans
  • Establish continuous feedback loops to improve:
    • GTM programs
    • Customer Conversations design
    • Field enablement

2. Solution Area (CAIP) Activation & Execution Guidance

  • Lead Stage 4/5 activation of customer conversations and campaigns for CAIP
  • Contribute to cross-solution efforts to align execution frameworks, tools, operating rhythms, partner involvement and drive adoption within CAIP.
  • Ensure CSAs (Customer Success Architects), DCSAs (Digital Customer Success Architects) and CSAMs (Customer Success Account Managers) are equipped to execute CAIP Customer Conversations effectively.
  • Drive last-mile field activation, including validation of readiness & enablement of field resources by accountable Corporate teams.

3. Business Performance & Insights Leadership

  • Serve as the central aggregator of business performance for CAIP.
  • Track and analyze relevant metrics for the business like:
    • Pipeline creation and velocity
    • Conversion and win rates
    • Customer conversations adoption and execution quality
  • Be the aggregation layer for technology/solution aligned technical feedback gained from the field as part of executing against stage 4/5 including but not limited to:
    • Technology capability gaps
    • Capacity and performance trends
    • Technical insights that support Consumption attainment
  • Remove execution blockers and streamline processes to enable reliable field delivery


Qualifications

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Finance, Engineering, or related field AND 5+ years experience in business consulting, sales, sales operations, information technology (IT), account management, business development, marketing, IT field sales, or a related field OR equivalent experience.
  • 6+ years experience in Near Term Strategy (2 years out), Management Consulting, Sales, or Finance.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience in Customer Success, Go-To-Market, or Sales Strategy, including experience with enterprise cloud, SaaS solutions.
  • Strong technical and business acumen (ability to connect technology to business outcomes)
  • Proven experience influencing cross-functional teams and programs
  • Deep understanding of Microsoft cloud solution portfolio, FY27 GTM framework and customer conversations.
  • Strong understanding of Commercial Solution Area CAIP
  • Demonstrated ability to:
    • Translate strategy into execution
    • Influence senior stakeholders
    • Drive measurable business outcomes
  • Expertice with data-driven decision making
  • Experience driving large-scale transformation or change management initiatives

Core Capabilities

  • Communicating with impact (business value communication; strong verbal and written communication)
  • Business relationship management; stakeholder management; influence and negotiation
  • Cross-Group Collaboration – ability to drive integrated outcomes across multiple groups
  • Execution Excellence – strong operational rigor and delivery mindset
  • Strategic Influence – ability to align diverse stakeholders
  • Data & Insights Orientation – performance-driven decision-making

What success looks like (outcomes)

  • Clear, measurable plans and deliverables delivered on time with strong cross-group alignment.
  • High-quality executive-ready insights that influence GTM decisions and unblock strategic opportunities.
  • Strong adoption of agreed tools/scorecards/operating rhythms with improved execution consistency.
  • Smooth field landing with escalations resolved quickly and clear role/plan cascades across regions.
  • Improved customer conversation adoption and execution consistency
  • Strong field readiness and engagement scores


Sales Strategy Enablement 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.

Sample Microsoft interview questions

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