Business Development Executive / Consumer Durables
Communications Manager – Consumer Full Time
Job Description
-Work on leading brands including Xbox and Surface
-10+ years’ experience; agency plus in-house experience preferred
-A team player and (calculated) risk taker whose primary focus is on engaging fans through creative communications campaigns that drive business impact
Microsoft is seeking a communications manager to manage external communications for our consumer business, including Xbox, Surface, Office, Windows and Microsoft Store. Key aspects of the role include:
-Develop and execute integrated communication campaigns for Microsoft’s portfolio of consumer products and services
-Drive alignment across a diverse range of business stakeholders, locally and globally, in relation to specific PR announcements as well as broader marketing and communications campaigns
-Manage an award winning PR agency to deliver creative campaigns which help us meet our business goals while engaging our fans
-Manage the influencer relations campaign driving advocacy and brand love with content creators across consumer and SMB audiences
Responsibilities
Campaign execution :
-Development, execution and orchestration of integrated communication campaigns for Microsoft’s portfolio of consumer products and services
-Driving alignment across a diverse range of business stakeholders, including category and BG leads, internal communications, social and marketing managers in relation to specific PR announcements as well as broader campaign executions
-Overseeing product launches, media briefings, media travel, media training etc.
-Development of PR and marketing materials, including media releases, blogs, briefing documents and other copy-writing as necessary
-Device seeding programs, including management of the agency in this respect
-Driving the agency in the management of the press office function and facilitating agency connection to stakeholders in the business
-Developing strategy and working with our agency to own and manage relationships with influencers across relevant consumer and SMB categories
Administration/Misc. :
-Partners with Comms Director and agency to ensure effective management of the budget, Purchase Order maintenance, corporate communications calendar and all company reporting requirements
-Contributing to the monthly Rhythm of the Business (RoB) process and ensuring inputs are complete in time for review by the internal team and conference call with Asia comms team
-Manage reporting requirements for Asia comms team and corporate teams as required
-Providing input in to owned channels such as the Microsoft News Centre and Microsoft social channels to tell the end to end story of Microsoft’s business in Australia
-Advocate for the consumer business within the communications function ensuring the business is well represented in communications both internally and externally
Agency management :
-Build and maintain agency relationships and facilitate productive engagement between Microsoft and our agencies on specific campaign executions
-Manage local agency relationships in line with procurement guidelines for all tactical campaign requirements.
Compliance :
-Ensure compliance with M&O and PR operating model
-Ensure legal approvals of all communications and material
-Comply with Corporate planning and review processes
Qualifications :
-10+ years communication experience in the technology/consumer technology sector or in an industry that has a proven track record of progressive technology adoption and innovation
-Forward-thinking individual who has a passion for PR and marketing communications as well as for technology and, critically for Microsoft
-Mix of both agency and in-house experience preferred but not essential
-Demonstrated experience in digital and online communications
-Demonstrated experience working with influencers to drive business results
-Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills (particularly spelling and grammar) with an eye for detail
-Excellent time management skills, including the ability to deal with tight deadlines in a fast-paced team, the ability to multi-task and be flexible, and attend to important issues quickly
-Team player with strong stakeholder management skills, an ability to work across boundaries with diverse teams located around the world, occasionally at unusual times of the day
-Ability to work autonomously and enjoys owning their work and has a strong sense of pride in producing outstanding results
-Ability to suggest new ideas and solutions, solve problems creatively, develop new ideas and approaches to unusual or difficult situations.
-An enthusiastic and flexible approach to work
-Ability to form an opinion and challenge
-Action oriented and results-driven
