Global Expansion Incubator Manager, Africa at Microsoft

The Role 

Xbox is seeking an experienced individual to join the newly established Global Expansion Incubator team to grow our content acquisition pipeline and strategic partnerships in the regional markets. This manager will lead efforts in engaging with local gaming content creators and closely partner with internal stakeholders to achieve globalization of Xbox. 

This role requires exceptional collaboration skills where influence, rather than direct authority, is critical to executing and maintaining alignment of complex/cross-organizational initiatives to accelerate our content globalization. This person will be a self-starter, knowing how to work with ambiguity and unknown challenges to build our global muscles in prioritized markets. As a GXI Manager, you will base your decisions and prioritization on data and analytics to align to our partners’ needs and internal strategy.  You will need a high tolerance for and even appreciation and enjoyment of ambiguity and change; you will need to demonstrate problem-solving, leadership and decisiveness with limited oversight; and you will need to effectively navigate across a wide range of levels, roles, and personality types with ease.   

This role is a do-it-all function, balancing multiple projects at once, and being able to seamlessly switch context to solve new challenges. 

Responsibilities

Strategy 

• Develop an understanding of local customers, competitors, content, partners, business models, and gaming industry trends while producing quantitative and qualitative analyses. 
• Provide guidance to internal stakeholders to inform decision-making in Gaming expansion plans. 
• Use existing knowledge base to drive prioritization, planning and new opportunities. 
• Develop an understanding of Xbox’s and content creators’ strategic priorities, competitive position, gaps, and potential opportunities. 

Program Management 

• Drive to see new and existing initiatives through from start to finish in a complex, matrixed environment.  
• Be a proven problem solver and innovator to work through blockers & challenges to see projects and programs through. 
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and deadlines simultaneously. 
• Strong communicator with demonstrated success in clearly and persuasively communicating complex or sensitive business issues to senior management and external content creators. 
• Support business operations including managing contracts, tracking new business initiatives, and presenting Microsoft’s gaming vision. 

Partnership Management 

• Proactively engage and develop relationship with external gaming partners (i.e. gaming associations, governmental organizations, content creators etc.) while evangelizing Xbox Gaming Ecosystem. 
• Explore creative ways to collaborate with external gaming partners by understanding shared strategic goals and opportunities.  
• Identify, present, and acquire gaming contents from existing and new partners to support Microsoft platforms and subscription services. 
• Be the connector between Microsoft gaming and content creators representing Xbox to be the GLOBAL gaming platform of choice. 

Qualifications

Required Qualifications: 

• At least 5 years of relevant business experience in one or more of the following: business development, strategic partnerships, strategy & operations, global projects, project management and/or program management. 
• Fluent in English (written and verbal communications) 
• Comfortable with public speaking and engagement  
• Strong awareness of local culture and business etiquette  
• Comfortable with traveling domestically and internationally up to 50%  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in Gaming Industry 
• Existing network within the gaming developer and publisher community 

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. 

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.