Launch Manager

Organization Summary:

If you love the pursuit of excellence and are inspired by the challenges that come through driving innovations that impact how the world lives, works and plays, then we invite you to learn more about Microsoft Operations - and the value we deliver across Microsoft and to our customers and partners. We offer unique opportunities to work on interesting global projects in an environment that appreciates diversity, focuses on talent development and recognizes and rewards great work.

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 Position Description:

The Planning & Launch Team is seeking a highly motivated and strategic Launch Manager to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives from concept through market execution. This role is responsible for driving end-to-end launch readiness, ensuring alignment across stakeholders, managing operational risks, and delivering successful outcomes that support Microsoft’s business objectives and long-term strategy.

The ideal candidate is an experienced program leader who combines strong operational discipline with a growth mindset and passion for innovation. They are comfortable navigating ambiguity, driving large-scale cross-functional initiatives, and leveraging AI and data-driven insights to transform how work gets done. This individual continuously seeks opportunities to improve processes, increase efficiency, and deliver greater business impact through operational excellence, automation, and technological advancement.

• Lead end-to-end launch planning, execution, and governance across multiple products, services, programs, or business initiatives.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive launch plans, readiness frameworks, timelines, milestones, and success criteria.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to assess business impacts, define launch requirements, and coordinate execution activities.
• Drive alignment across engineering, product management, marketing, sales, operations, finance, compliance, supply chain, and support organizations.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate launch risks, dependencies, blockers, and operational challenges while proactively driving resolution plans.
• Facilitate executive reviews, stakeholder discussions, and decision-making forums to ensure alignment and accountability.
• Monitor critical paths, launch readiness indicators, and key performance metrics to ensure successful delivery against commitments.
• Translate strategic business objectives into actionable execution plans that support organizational priorities and customer outcomes.
• Establish clear communication channels and provide regular status updates, executive summaries, and launch health reporting.
• Promote operational excellence through continuous process improvement, launch playbook development, and implementation of best practices.
• Support portfolio planning, intake assessments, prioritization, and resource alignment to maximize business impact.
• Drive post-launch reviews, capture lessons learned, and implement improvements to strengthen future launch execution.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement by identifying process gaps, reducing operational complexity, and implementing scalable solutions that improve launch execution and business outcomes.
• Leverage AI, automation, and emerging technologies to increase efficiency, enhance decision-making, improve insights, and streamline launch management processes.
• Partner with stakeholders to identify opportunities for digital transformation and operational innovation across launch planning, readiness, reporting, and governance.
• Develop and maintain launch frameworks, knowledge bases, playbooks, and best practices that promote consistency, repeatability, and organizational learning.
• Utilize data analytics, AI-powered tools, and business intelligence solutions to generate actionable insights, measure launch effectiveness, and inform strategic decisions.
• Champion experimentation and adoption of new tools, processes, and methodologies that accelerate business value and improve customer and partner experiences.
• Lead post-launch reviews and retrospectives, using lessons learned and performance data to drive continuous process optimization and future readiness improvements.

Required/Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Operations, Business Supply Chain, Finance, Business Management, Accounting, Human Resources (HR), Organizational Development or related field AND 4+ years experience in operations or process design or program/project management OR equivalent experience. 

Preferred Qualifications

• 5 years of Project Management experience with a focus on Operations program management.
• Proven experience leading complex cross-functional programs, product launches, or business initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated project, program, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at all organizational levels.
• Experience managing competing priorities, ambiguity, risks, and dependencies across multiple workstreams.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, facilitation, and executive engagement skills.
• Ability to synthesize complex information into clear recommendations, action plans, and decision-ready materials.
• Demonstrated ability to drive results through collaboration, accountability, and operational rigor.
• Passion for delivering exceptional customers and business outcomes.
• Experience in a multinational environment.
• Operations experience.
• Initiative and drive for continuous improvement and delivery against objectives.
• Ability to work under and meet continual deadline constraints.
• Negotiation skills with the ability to impact and influence at a leadership level.
• Ability to manage short, medium, and long-term planning horizons concurrently.
• Understanding of financial principles.
• Experience engaging with Finance Stakeholders.
• MBA is a plus.

We are looking for a strategic leader who can successfully orchestrate complex launches while driving operational excellence, continuous improvement, and AI-enabled transformation. If you are passionate about innovation, thrive in dynamic environments, and have a proven ability to deliver business results through collaboration, process optimization, and technology, we encourage you to apply.

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.