Higher Education Industry Advisor
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Key skills for this role
About the Role
Microsoft is seeking a Higher Education Industry Advisor to drive industry-led sales strategy and digital transformation for strategic Higher Education customers. The role involves building executive relationships, shaping AI-first transformation agendas, and orchestrating multi-account engagements.
Key Skills for This Role
Responsibilities
- Lead multi year, multi horizon digital transformation planning for multiple Higher Education accounts in the region
- Serve as the Higher Education subject matter expert in internal planning and customer engagements
- Own and drive high impact solution selling in Higher Education from early opportunity development through to agreement and adoption
- Lead and orchestrate complex, multi stakeholder deals, aligning account teams, technical specialists, partners, and other internal stakeholders
- Generate demand through industry thought leadership – conduct executive briefings, AI envisioning workshops, and represent Microsoft at major Higher Education events
- Orchestrate cross team collaboration to leverage full Microsoft expertise and remove blockers
- Enable and coach Microsoft field teams by sharing industry insights and best practices
- Maintain deep expertise in relevant AI use cases for Higher Education and stay current on industry developments
- Champion responsible AI adoption in Higher Education, guiding customers on governance and compliance
Requirements
- Master's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Health Sciences, Supply Chain, Education, Business or related field AND 8+ years customer facing experience OR Bachelor's Degree AND 10+ years customer facing experience OR equivalent experience
- Extensive Higher Education sector experience with a proven history of advising or working closely with institutional leaders on digital transformation
- Demonstrated success originating and closing large, complex deals in the Higher Education or public sector
- Deep expertise in AI, security, and/or relevant cloud technologies (e.g., Azure OpenAI, M365 Copilot)
- Exceptional executive presence and communication skills
- Organizational savvy and collaboration skills
- Fluency in English (written & verbal) required; additional languages are an asset
Full Job Posting
Overview
- As an Industry Advisor – Higher Education, you are a senior industry expert who drives industry led sales strategy and digital transformation for Microsoft’s most strategic Higher Education customers in the region.
- You build trusted executive relationships, shape AI first transformation agendas, and orchestrate multi account & ecosystem engagements to deliver measurable outcomes in teaching, learning, research, and institutional operations.
Responsibilities
- Strategic Planning: Lead multi year, multi horizon digital transformation planning for multiple Higher Education accounts in the region.
- Industry Leadership & Engagement: Serve as the Higher Education subject matter expert in internal planning and customer engagements in the region.
- Solution Sales & Opportunity Origination: Own and drive high impact solution selling in Higher Education from early opportunity development through to agreement and adoption.
- Deal Orchestration: Lead and orchestrate complex, multi stakeholder deals, aligning account teams, technical specialists, partners, and other internal stakeholders to ensure successful outcomes.
- Demand Generation & Evangelism: Generate demand through industry thought leadership – conduct executive briefings, AI envisioning workshops, and represent Microsoft at major Higher Education events and Academic Research forums.
- Collaboration & Ecosystem: Orchestrate cross team collaboration (sales, engineering, marketing, partners) to leverage full Microsoft expertise and remove blockers in complex engagements.
- Coaching & Enablement: Enable and coach Microsoft field teams by sharing industry insights and best practices and fostering a culture of industry focused selling excellence.
- Continuous Learning: Maintain deep expertise in relevant AI use cases for Higher Education.
- Responsible AI Advocacy: Champion responsible AI adoption in Higher Education, guiding customers on governance, responsibility frameworks, and compliance aligned with Microsoft’s principles and local regulations.
Qualifications
- Master's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Health Sciences, Supply Chain, Education, Business or related field AND 8+ years customer facing experience OR Bachelor's Degree AND 10+ years customer facing experience OR equivalent experience.
- Extensive Higher Education sector experience with a proven history of advising or working closely with institutional leaders on digital transformation.
- Demonstrated success originating and closing large, complex deals in the Higher Education or public sector, with tangible outcomes.
- Deep expertise in AI, security, and/or relevant cloud technologies (e.g., Azure OpenAI, M365 Copilot) and ability to map advanced capabilities to real world education scenarios.
- Understanding of education trends and challenges (digital learning, data privacy, funding and procurement mechanisms, etc.) and ability to translate these insights into strategic initiatives.
- Exceptional executive presence and communication skills (persuasion, storytelling).
- Organizational savvy and collaboration skills – adept at leading virtual teams and influencing stakeholders across Microsoft and partner organizations.
- Thought leadership and innovation mindset – public speaking, publishing, or other evidence of shaping industry conversations is a plus.
- Language skills: Fluency in English (written & verbal) required; additional languages are an asset.
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