Communications Manager - Issues Management

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more, and we’re dedicated to this mission across every aspect of our company. In this Communications Manager - Issues Management role, you will join a team of professionals on the Issues Management and crisis communications team to develop and implement communications and strategy for key audiences that include internal stakeholders, employees, media and customers. The team's responsibility is to develop communication strategies that address and reduce negative sentiment and coverage, supporting the company’s communications agenda and safeguarding the Microsoft brand. The Issues Management team aims to influence the trust and perception of Microsoft, as well as the reputation of its products and services.  

Your work will be focused on setting context for internal and external audiences during situations that require, and benefit from, timely and effective communications. The position involves managing issues for a diverse array of products, services, and topics on a global scale. Additionally, the role requires engagement with internal stakeholders to provide strategic counsel to proactively prevent issues or complications.

The Communications Manager will create and adapt coordinated communications that are ready for use in a variety of channels and audiences, both internal and external. The position requires effective communications experience and a proven track record of collaboration across internal teams, subject matter experts and senior leaders.

By joining one of the most dynamic teams at Microsoft, you will have the chance to connect with collaborators across the company and gain experience with a diverse range of Microsoft teams, products and disciplines.

• Define and execute communications strategies for issues across a broad array of topics that may have significant corporate and/or product brand impact.
• Implement messaging and strategy for a variety of audiences that include employees, customers and media.
• Provide counsel and strategy to communications group partners, engineering and executives during an issue or crisis.
• Proactively provide response best practices to avoid potential pitfalls. This type of preventative consultation is the “proactive” avoidance expertise inherent in “reactive” issues management.
• Partner with communications groups across Microsoft to develop and implement response communications processes and procedures.
• Provide executive communications and analysis to leaders and various stakeholders across the company during the lifecycle of the issue.
• Respond to intermittent and unexpected issues that may occur and result in work activity occurring outside the hours of 8am - 6pm.

Required/minimum qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Finance, or related field AND 2+ years communications, marketing operations, field operations, program management, project management, or related experience OR equivalent experience.

Additional or preferred qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Finance, or related field AND 5+ years communications, marketing operations, field operations, program management, project management, or related experience OR equivalent experience.
• Sound problem identification, judgment, resolution and decision-making skills, often in ambiguous situations.
• Excellent written communication skills, maintained to a high standard during times of extreme pressure.
• An ability to assess the severity and priority of multiple incoming inquiries from press, customers and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders across many disciplines (for example, HR, legal, engineering, security) and to work effectively with executives and senior leaders.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead others collaboratively, under pressure, to reach cross group consensus in short periods of time.
• Experience working in the tech industry or a similar industry, where the ability to understand complicated technologies and intersections is a regular requirement.
• The ability to grasp the dynamics of an issue, creatively think through possible approaches and articulate the way in which a situation can be explained and contextualized for various audiences.
• Understanding of media relations and success in dealing with complex, strategic communications challenges.
• Previous experience managing communications related to issues or crisis.

Communications IC3 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $86,100 - $169,800 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $113,300 - $187,400 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

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.