Strategic Account Executive Manufacturing

Microsoft

13d ago

Job
Full-time
Expert Level
Customer Relations
Sales & Business Development
Zürich

AI generated summary

You must have extensive experience in manufacturing and digital transformation, a degree or equivalent, executive collaboration skills, deal-closing experience, and preferably knowledge of Japanese business culture. Fluent German is a plus.
You will engage customers, drive digital transformation, create account strategies, manage relationships, and influence decision-makers to increase Microsoft’s impact and solutions tailored to their needs.

Requirements

Significant number of years experience in working in the industry of Manufacturing and/or driving digital transformation
Bachelor's or Master's Degree OR equivalent experience.
Several years of experience making recommendations to and/or collaborating with mid-to-senior level executives.
Many years of experience closing large, complex agreements/deals.
Understanding of Japanese enterprise business culture is preferrable.
Fluent German is a plus.

Responsibilities

Competitive Knowledge
Leverages internal network of industry experts to strengthen knowledge of the industry (e.g., emerging trends), competitors (e.g., AWS, Salesforce) and customer business priorities (e.g., challenges, competitive landscape) and leverages in-depth knowledge of Microsoft's offerings (e.g., product landscape, solutions, strategy to address customer needs) to share knowledge internally, influence customers' business capabilities, drive more competitive solutions, and enhance growth of the account team.
Sales Excellence
Orchestrates high-impact solutions that enable digital transformation for assigned accounts and drive outcomes that create business value for customers. Owns the development of strategies that showcase the value added by Microsoft's innovative cloud offerings and ideas grounded on a deep understanding of industry trends and based on account needs and customer's expectations. Brings greater ecosystem together with the customer to discuss how to enrich customer's value to their customers.
Orchestrates the creation of long-term strategies aimed at building a level of loyalty that would be hard for competitors to overcome. Anticipates issues/risks on customer satisfaction, determines the root cause of problems, removes blockers, and establishes recovery action plan to improve customer's overall experience. Builds trust and loyalty with the customer by providing up-to-date insights, challenging the customer when necessary, and introducing innovative ideas relevant to the customer's business strategy. Enables customers to provide feedback directly to executives to help transform account space by establishing open communication channels for feedback, providing executive sponsorship, and providing direction to others to ensure customer feedback is addressed through One Microsoft approach.
Leverages understanding of customer business and engages Microsoft decision makers to drive customer's strategy, goals, and optimization. Engages and influences decision makers of the account (e.g., senior leaders, executives) to position Microsoft to increase customer's budget allocated to Microsoft, and tailor solutions that satisfy customers' Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Earns and maintains status as a trusted advisor to C-level business decision makers of the assigned account by bringing innovative ideas and leveraging industry experience. Mobilizes and mentors the account management team and relevant internal stakeholders with deep industry experience to build deep partnerships with decision makers of the assigned account. Leverages best-in-class sales and communication strategies and tools to meet business needs and identify new opportunities. Builds new relationships to create new opportunities and expand relationships within the customer.
Creates and qualifies new opportunities by identifying strategic opportunities (e.g., large, long-term) within accounts and guiding the customer on how to best identify new opportunities, leveraging deep customer and industry relationships and consultative selling skills. Drives new business opportunities across the team by creating a partner ecosystem, and empowers team members to find new opportunities by acting as a role model and by setting a clear vision and energy for the team to drive towards.
Account Management
Manages the development and application of a mature/dynamic multi-year customer account plan based on proven methodologies to manage a sustainable, long-term business portfolio. Leads strategies for the assigned account that yield high-volume sales and open new opportunities for both Microsoft and the partners, aligned to goals, budgets, and forecasts.
Proactively solicits feedback on additional needs, products, and features to develop targeted strategies for customers. Demonstrates a understanding of the customer's business model to articulate growth opportunities, leveraging industry experience to shape ecosystem. Influences relevant (internal and external) stakeholders and resources to drive change on behalf of the customer and to enhance team capabilities, improve Microsoft offerings, and adapt Microsoft's messaging to the assigned account.
Proactively solicits feedback on additional needs, products, and features to develop targeted strategies for customers. Demonstrates a understanding of the customer's business model to articulate growth opportunities, leveraging industry experience to shape ecosystem. Influences relevant (internal and external) stakeholders and resources to drive change on behalf of the customer and to enhance team capabilities, improve Microsoft offerings, and adapt Microsoft's messaging to the assigned account.
Leads efforts with key internal and external partners and business including vertical industry partners with technical decision makers in developing, sharing, and promoting mutually beneficial, long-term, tailored account plans to grow sales and partner impact, leveraging deep relationships, influence, and industry experience. Collaborates across organization and partners in discussions to impact the broader ecosystem (e.g., passing legislation).
Proactively expands strategic network of key internal and external partners and decision makers, including vertical industry partners, to ensure execution of core tasks and account transactions and to provide a comprehensive account management experience.
Orchestrates the execution of strategies for the assigned account to ensure engagements yield high-volume sales, drive plans to increase revenue potential, and open new opportunities for both Microsoft and the partners, aligned to goals, budgets, and forecasts. Leads and coordinates a diverse team (e.g., industry experts) on plan execution (e.g., prioritization, delegation) and drives accountability to execute and deliver on account plans and grow the account, leveraging industry experience.
Customer Engagement
Proactively develops a comprehensive understanding of customer's business needs, priorities, strategies, and industry insights. Anticipates customer's needs to deliver new insights on their business strategy, and educate customers on ways to address them jointly. Shows long-term differentiated value for the customer, leveraging industry experience and guides internal colleagues on ways to develop deeper customer knowledge. Delivers solutions into overall long-term business strategy.
Proactively elevates stakeholder relationships and uses Microsoft sales strategies through multiple levels of the customer's organization to secure buy-in and execution. Expands strategic customer relationships to drive larger impact for the customer and spread into other areas of the organization.
Strategic Thinking
Articulates Microsoft's and partners' point of view and creates deep connections with decision makers throughout multiple levels of the customers' organization to drive purchase decisions and increase interaction and participation, leveraging relevant tools and resources (e.g., LinkedIn). Leverages relationships to address complex political blockers and drive execution for the customer.
Leverages unique, strategic, industry-focused business insights and opportunities to create long-term, competitive advantage for the customer.
Engages in strategic discussions by articulating ideas to evolve and facilitate evolution of customer business model, using Microsoft capabilities to solve customer's complex business problems. Drives strategic initiatives to promote a more holistic digital approach between Microsoft and the customer.

FAQs

What is the primary focus of a Strategic Account Executive in Manufacturing at Microsoft Japan?

The primary focus is to drive transformation in partnership with strategic customers like Hitachi and Canon, particularly in areas like AI, Copilot, and Security, to achieve both Microsoft and customer business outcomes.

What qualifications are required for the position?

Required qualifications include significant experience in the manufacturing industry or digital transformation, a Bachelor's or Master's degree (or equivalent experience), experience collaborating with mid-to-senior level executives, and a proven track record of closing large and complex agreements.

Is understanding Japanese enterprise business culture important for this role?

Yes, understanding Japanese enterprise business culture is preferable for this position.

What kind of experience is necessary for this role?

Several years of experience in customer engagement, sales excellence, and account management related to the manufacturing industry and digital transformation are necessary.

Does the role require fluency in other languages?

While fluency in Japanese is preferred, fluency in German is considered a plus.

How does Microsoft support employee development in this role?

Microsoft fosters a culture of growth mindset, providing opportunities for innovation and collaboration to help employees achieve their shared goals and thrive.

What is the working format for this role?

The position supports a hybrid work model, allowing for both remote and in-office collaboration.

How does this role contribute to Microsoft’s mission?

This role contributes to Microsoft’s mission of empowering every person and organization by driving digital transformation and providing innovative solutions to meet customer needs.

What type of relationships are emphasized in this position?

Building deep partnerships and trust with C-level decision makers and other stakeholders within customer organizations is emphasized to drive strategic initiatives and business outcomes.

Is previous experience in strategic account management important for this role?

Yes, significant experience in managing strategic accounts and developing long-term business strategies is crucial for success in this position.

Microsoft

Technology

Industry

10,001+

Employees

1975

Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

Every company has a mission. What's ours? To empower every person and every organization to achieve more. We believe technology can and should be a force for good and that meaningful innovation contributes to a brighter world in the future and today. Our culture doesn’t just encourage curiosity; it embraces it. Each day we make progress together by showing up as our authentic selves. We show up with a learn-it-all mentality. We show up cheering on others, knowing their success doesn't diminish our own. We show up every day open to learning our own biases, changing our behavior, and inviting in differences. When we show up, we achieve more together. Microsoft operates in 190 countries and is made up of more than 220,000 passionate employees worldwide.