Tech Stack
Job Description, Responsibilities & Requirements
About the Position
Director of Launch Operations
Microsoft Advertising is seeking a Director of Launch Operations to join the Global Sales Strategy and Enablement organization. Our team drives MSA’s transformation by combining strategy, enablement, and execution to drive performance today and build for tomorrow. We help unlock growth through future-ready investments, operating models, next-generation sales motions, seller readiness, insight-driven enablement-ensuring MSA can operate with agility, scale change, and deliver sustained business results. We make strategy real by equipping sellers to sell.
The Director of Launch Operations is a senior people manager responsible for driving and enabling the business of today and the future through product and process Go-to-Market (GTM) governance. The Launch Operations team drives end-to-end operational rigor and change management across product, platform, billing, and regulatory releases, ensuring seamless execution from ideation through adoption across all Microsoft Advertising solutions.
In partnership with Engineering, Product, Sales, and key cross-Microsoft stakeholders (including CELA, Corporate Accounting, Finance Operations, SANOps, Treasury, Tax, Privacy, and others), Launch Operations operationalizes go-to-market strategy through compliant, scalable processes that ensure accuracy across order-to-cash workflows, revenue recognition, and regulatory requirements. Acting as the connective tissue across a complex partner ecosystem, the team drives alignment, mitigates risk, and ensures accountability; ultimately delivering launches that are operationally sound, financially compliant, and ready for scale.
Locations: Redmond, WA, US | Mountain View, CA, US | Chicago, IL, US
Employment Type: Full-Time
Salary: USD $130,900 - $272,300 per year
Responsibilities
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Launch Operations Process Governance & Partner Education
- Lead global end-to-end Go-To-Market Launch process governance models, owning the MSA operating model for launch execution (scope, tiers, standards, exit criteria).
- Clarify ownership boundaries across Product, Product Marketing, Marketing, Engineering, Sales, Global Commercial & Strategy Operations, and corporate Microsoft partners for individual launch responsibilities.
- Ensure all launches operate within a consistent governance framework, regardless of size or complexity; scaling Launch models and IC coverage to support a high volume of launches.
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Drive Cross-Functional Alignment & Accountability
- Drive accountability for launch execution health, adherence to launch exit criteria – inclusive of stakeholder acceptance of launch requirements.
- Ensure all Sales and Customer impacting launches are flowing through the Launch Operations pipes, with a goal of zero launches released without Launch Operations.
- Influence senior stakeholders across Product and Engineering, Finance and Compliance partners, Sales Strategy, Sales Compensation, and Sales Leadership, to resolve systematic friction points and eliminate execution bottlenecks.
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Orchestrate Product / Seller Readiness
- Orchestrate / involve cross-functional partners (Product Marketing, Marketing, Sales Readiness, Learning and Development) to ensure products land in a way that helps sellers execute with confidence at scale.
- Elevate cross-functional gaps, for awareness, using every launch as an opportunity to listen, learn - adjusting governance documentation to help solve for systematic gaps where possible.
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Strategic Communication & Influence
- Reinforce the team’s identity as trusted advisors to sales and go-to-market leaders.
- Communicate effectively with senior leadership, technical teams, and field audiences, both verbally and in writing.
- Craft compelling context that connects strategic priorities and product capabilities to customer value and business outcomes.
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Program & Cross-Functional Leadership
- Lead large-scale, cross-functional programs with end-to-end ownership, from problem definition through execution and measurement.
- Establish clear documentation, operating rhythms, and success measures to manage complex program portfolios.
- Proactively manage stakeholder expectations, dependencies, and risks while maintaining momentum and trust.
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People Management & Leadership
- Foster an environment of accountability, results, and psychological safety, enabling teams to do their best work.
- Model Microsoft culture and leadership principles by living the values and setting the standard for impact and integrity.
- Coach by setting clear objectives, enabling success across boundaries, and helping individuals and teams adapt and learn.
- Care by attracting, retaining, and developing top talent-understanding individual strengths and aspirations and investing in long-term growth.
Requirements
Required/minimum qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, Engineering, or related field AND 7+ years experience in sales, sales operations/management, program management, business development, marketing, consulting, or a related field OR equivalent experience.
- 5+ years experience using data to drive business outcomes or inform business decisions.
- 5+ years experience managing relationships with stakeholders, clients, and/or customers.
Additional or preferred qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, Engineering, or related field AND 12+ years experience in sales, sales operations/management, program management, business development, marketing, consulting, or a related field OR equivalent experience.
- 5+ years managing projects, including planning, managing timelines, and tracking progress, and/or change management experience.
- 3+ years people management and/or informal/indirect team leadership experience.
- Proven experience leading complex, cross-functional programs that span multiple teams, stakeholders, or feature areas, with demonstrated ability to define strategy, evaluate customer and market signals, and prioritize initiatives across a portfolio of work.
- Demonstrated ability to identify unmet or emerging customer needs through both quantitative (e.g., usage data, telemetry, operational metrics) and qualitative (e.g., customer interviews, listening systems, market trends) insights and translate those needs into scalable solutions or program improvements.
- Ability to operate effectively in highly ambiguous environments, independently scoping problems, defining success criteria, and driving execution across organizational boundaries.
- Solid analytical and communication skills, with the ability to use data to tell compelling stories and influence decision-making at multiple levels of the organization.
- Proven track record of exceptional performance, high productivity, and meeting deadlines in a leadership role; high personal accountability for self and others.
- Experience in digital advertising, understanding the way customers buy, sellers sell, and what’s required to enable that output.
- Experience in Sales Operations, GTM strategy, Sales Enablement, or similar.
We Offer
- Competitive salary range: USD $130,900 - $272,300 per year
- Opportunity to work in a dynamic and innovative environment
- Comprehensive benefits package
- Professional development opportunities
About the Company
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.
Microsoft is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone can thrive. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and provide reasonable accommodations to support our hiring processes.