Partner Marketing Manager, Windows (Japan)

Overview

The Partner Marketing Manager, Windows (Japan) owns and executes channel marketing investments and programs for Commercial Devices & Solutions Sales in Japan. The role is the Windows channel marketing lead for the market within a small, blended Asia GTM team that works across both Windows and Surface, and it is central to driving commercial device sell-through with Japan's key system integrator and reseller (SRI) partners.

You will be the thought leader for full-funnel marketing to and through partners: landing marketing investments compliantly and on budget, coaching partners to plan and execute campaigns that deliver measurable business results, and holding every activity to clear KPI and ROI standards. Working closely with the Japan GTM lead, Windows Category Manager, the Surface channel and customer marketing leads in Japan, and the Asia GTM leadership, you will make sure every program landed in Japan is coordinated, well funded and tracked across the year.

Responsibilities

Planning

• Land Windows channel marketing investments to and through partners in Japan in line with business priorities, including Power On, the Windows SRI program, the new SMB program through SRI partners, and WinRAP.
• Articulate clear business goals for every marketing activity and investment.
• Coach and support partners, including Japan's four SRI partners, to plan and execute full-funnel marketing successfully.
• Measure the business outcomes of marketing activities and report progress, risks and insights in the Asia monthly business review.
• Bring new program and investment proposals through the Asia GTM leadership first, so Japan activity is assessed and sequenced alongside the full Asia program calendar.
• Marketing excellence
• Understand partners' full-funnel campaigns and bring in the ideal marketing mix for Microsoft.
• Prioritize measurement of business impact on marketing activities (KPIs) and on investments (ROI), and own full-funnel marketing ROI execution.
• Ensure privacy, brand, funding, SOW/contract and proof-of-execution guidelines are followed for every investment, acting as the subject matter expert for compliance of partner investments.
• Act as the subject matter expert for funnel creation and conversion activities such as events and proofs of concept.
• Build and share best practices and learnings across partners and the Asia GTM team.
• Partner engagement
• Coach partners on audience, insights and a full-funnel ROI focus, including how to measure business impact and track learnings.
• Own executive engagement on marketing with partners.
• Plan marketing activities that roll up to each partner's Shared Success Plan (SSP).
• Work with the Japan GTM lead, Surface channel marketing in Japan, the Japan sales and channel teams, and corporate Windows and category teams to deliver one coordinated plan for partners and feed market insight back into future programs.
• Windows ecosystem execution (Channel, OEMs, Silicon)
• Orchestrate whole-of-ecosystem channel and end-customer marketing initiatives in Japan across channel partners, OEMs and silicon partners, to drive channel behaviour change and customer demand for Windows.
• Align joint marketing plans, investments and timing with OEM and silicon partners, working with the Asia silicon partnership owners, so the ecosystem goes to market with one consistent Windows story.
• Connect channel programs with end-customer campaigns so the demand they create reaches partners and converts into Windows commercial sell-through.
• Measures of success

Success in this role is measured by

• Quarterly marketing budget utilization.
• Compliant execution of full-funnel marketing across all partner investments.
• Sales pipeline generated from lower-funnel activities.
• A regular partner marketing review that captures insights and learnings.
• Business impact of marketing activities, including Windows commercial sell-through with SRI partners.
• Microsoft readiness content landed in partners' learning tools and processes.
• The right Microsoft messaging landed in partners' marketing campaigns.

Required

• Substantial experience in channel, partner or product marketing in the technology industry, ideally in commercial devices, PCs or Windows.
• Proven track record of planning and executing full-funnel partner marketing and managing marketing investment against sell-through and pipeline targets.
• Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to measure KPIs and ROI and translate data into clear recommendations.
• Sound understanding of marketing compliance, including privacy, brand, funding and contract requirements.
• Native or business-level Japanese and professional working proficiency in English, to work with Japanese partners and regional and global stakeholders.
• Ability to influence without authority across sales, channel, corporate and partner teams, including partner executives.

Preferred

• Experience working with system integrators, resellers or distributors in the Japanese market.
• Familiarity with Microsoft partner programs, Windows commercial positioning and the Japan OEM ecosystem.
• Experience in a matrixed regional or global organization, including working across time zones.

Why this role matters

This is a business-critical role for Commercial Devices in Japan. It directly supports four SRI partners and the Windows sell-through they deliver, and it anchors Windows channel marketing within the Asia GTM team's coordinated approach to programs and investment across the region.

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.

Insights from previous hires

Top skills: Business Strategy, Strategy, Sales

Common previous titles: Product Manager, Marketing Specialist, Partner Marketing, Field Marketing, Account Strategist, Senior Account Strategist, Technical Program Manager II, Senior Business Planner, Senior Specialist, Senior Partner Manager