QualificationsProject managementAnalysis skillsResearchInvestment bankingBachelor’s degree
Microsoft is empowering every person and every organization on the planet to do more and achieve more. We are going after three bold ambitions: create more personal computing, reinvent productivity and business processes, and build the intelligent cloud. Our culture is centered on embracing a growth mindset, a theme of inspiring excellence and encouraging teams, and leaders to bring their best each day.
As part of our transformation, Industry Solutions will be a key growth accelerator for Microsoft, enabling digital transformation, and improving the customer experience. The Industry Solutions division at Microsoft is focused on bringing together the best of Microsoft to power a more impactful, industry-focused customer journey.
Within Industry Solutions, the Growth & Strategy team develops growth strategies founded on customer needs and industry-orientation and drives strategic initiatives involving partner strategy and inorganic moves (acquisitions, alliances, and investments).
We currently have an open role for a Business Research Analyst to support the Growth & Strategy team, by managing a portfolio of research projects. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with strong problem framing skills, analytic capabilities, consulting skills, and an entrepreneurial spirit to work on one of the most significant parts of Microsoft’s business.
Responsibilities
In this role, the person will be responsible for a portfolio of research and analysis projects in support of Industry Solutions. This includes working closely with our stakeholders to define and frame the business problems, constructing analytic plans, interpreting results, and developing & socializing insights. As a typical project may rely on several information sources – such as company financials, surveys, external secondary research, and social intelligence – a successful candidate will be effective in synthesizing multiple types of information to generate insights and develop business recommendations.
Research, Analysis, & Framing:
Conducts research projects with or without vendor support with strong knowledge of advanced research techniques
Performs market-based research by collecting and interpreting information (e.g., financial statements, reports, analyses, stakeholder feedback, expert calls) including researching existing business and identifying new spaces for Microsoft
Executes analyses (e.g., financial modeling) of strategic and quantitative business opportunities and leverages analyses of others to synthesize information
Integrates large amounts of internal and external data (both qualitative and quantitative) to develop strategic and actionable insights and recommendations
Problem Solving & Insight:
Creates frameworks and methodologies to drive problem solving and insights
Synthesizes findings into insights across projects, including implications that inform business decisions
Leverages insights to develop recommendations and seeks to provide thought leadership (e.g., trend identification, implications of competitor moves) around potential future growth opportunities and strategic issues for Microsoft
Cultivates strong partnerships and working relationships with key stakeholders
Builds end-to-end storylines and creates outlines across multiple projects
Communicates and advocates findings, insights, and recommendations to senior business leaders to facilitate discussions and decision making
Conveys viewpoints through written documents (e.g., memos, reports) and is versatile in designing and conveying compelling presentations
Drives and moderates meetings including vetting of and iterating on feedback
Leadership:
Contributes to large Strategy projects and defines and manages small projects (some of which will be ad-hoc) with guidance as needed
Manages projects independently and/or in collaboration with teammates
Supports efforts to improve overall research efficiency and effectiveness of the team
Manages and builds relationships with research vendors
Qualifications
2+ years’ experience as a consultant in a top tier strategy consulting firm, investment banking OR research firm/academic setting
Experience working in the technology space
Experience integrating large amounts of internal and external data to develop strategic and actionable insight
Strong knowledge of advanced research techniques
Proven high-quality problem solving and outstanding analytical skills with affinity for numbers, strategic mindset, creative thinking paired with hands-on attitude
Proactive and outcome-oriented team player with a structured and independent way of working and experienced in managing projects
Excellent communications, storytelling, and influencing skills
Eager to learn and quickly apply new information and skills
Ability to deal effectively with ambiguity and complex environments and experience to work across geographies and in an international, multi-cultural environment
Strong project management and excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills
Exceptional cross-group collaboration
Experience in working with senior business leaders
Experience managing research vendors
Bachelor’s degree
Location/Travel: You may be based anywhere in the United States, with a preference for the Pacific Northwest. You can expect limited global travel, 0 – 25%, contingent upon Covid-19 restrictions.
Join us and be one who empowers billions! That’s incredible reach. When you combine that with your own inspiration, plus the freedom and support to make your ideas happen, you can make a huge impact on how people work and live all over the world.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.
The salary for this role in the state of Colorado is between $103,700 and $156,400. At Microsoft, certain roles are eligible for additional rewards, including annual bonus and stock. These awards are allocated based on individual performance. In addition, certain roles also have the opportunity to earn sales incentives based on revenue or utilization, depending on the terms of the plan and the employee’s role. Benefits/perks listed here may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.US-based employees gain access to healthcare benefits, a 401(k) plan and company match, short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, and fitness benefits, among others.
Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.