Director of Communications

Overview

Director, Communications

Office of the CTO (OCTO)

The Office of the CTO (OCTO) is seeking a Director of Communications to help build and execute a communications strategy that extends the offices influence across the technology landscape. This person will report to the OCTO Chief Operating Officer, working closely with them to develop strategic processes for announcing new technologies, managing communications with and thru key partnerships, finding channels for extend relevant narratives, and shape and deliver key technical programs and events that reach key internal and external audiences.

This role requires a savvy communications leader with a strong pulse on the AI-native and developer landscape and a deep understanding of how ideas spread across technical communities. They will track the conversations among developers, builders, founders, influencers, researchers, partnerships and investors; identify where OCTO can contribute meaningfully; and bring creative ideas, new formats, and an experimental mindset to engage and influence priority audiences.

The person will have a solid understanding of OCTO’s mission and Microsoft’s AI strategy. They will bring a strong track record in developer and open source communications, technical storytelling, and AI thought leadership. They will build trusted communications relationships both internally and externally with partnerships and communications community. Importantly, they will have the ability to move easily between strategy and execution.

This role requires a minimum of three days per week onsite at Microsoft’s Redmond campus.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Build and Scale the OCTO's Mission

Engage with technical influencers and developer communities, activating conversations on social and developer platforms, and identifying opportunities for other Microsoft leaders and trusted voices to carry key ideas forward.

Collaborate across Microsoft—including with Communications, Marketing, Investor Relations, CELA, product, engineering, research, and other executive offices—to coordinate opportunities, align with broader company narratives, and maximize the reach and impact of OCTO.

Support communications activities for the CTO-owned channels, including contributed writing, social, podcast, video, and emerging formats.

Create strategic communications plans for OCTO to engage with media, influencers, first and third-party events, and other opportunities to scale the team's mission across Microsoft and the broader tech industry.

Lead new technology, experiences or communication campaign launches for or in advancing third-party partnerships like OAI, Anthropic and others.

Contribute to the strategic relationship program connecting the CTO with influential founders, AI-native developers, researchers, technical leaders, investors, and other builders shaping the frontier of the industry. This will include planning engagements such as small-group technical conversations, founder roundtables, private convenings, ecosystem visits, and one-to-one exchanges.

Drive and collaborate across Microsoft groups to develop strategic communications plans for launching new AI technology and experiences, particularly for cutting edge, frontier models and experiences that can change users capabilities and valued use of AI.  This will include highlighting go-to-market opportunities with strategic partnerships.

Collaborate with Public Affairs to operationalize an engagement model for policymakers seeking deeper technical understanding of frontier AI, open-source AI, infrastructure, safety, and deployment.

Use an AI-enabled approach to track and report on audience reach and impact and refine strategies based on learnings and insights.

Advance AI Narrative and Strategic Programs

Drive strategies and programs that can bring OCTO voices forward to elevate technical ideas and emerging issues in the broader industry dialogue and ecosystem.

Create and operationalize an approach to spread narrative frameworks, proof points, and intellectual assets across leaders at Microsoft to communicate the company’s AI direction with clarity and consistency.

Track emerging tech shifts, competitive advancements, policy debates and developer sentiment, and develop communication plans for OCTO to engage in these topics to lead, clarify or challenge.

Contribute to operating mechanisms, planning cycles, and measurement to track and provide OCTO visibility into communications progress.

Manage Communications for OCTO Projects, Programs and Prototypes

Partner closely with leaders and builders across OCTO to identify the big ideas, technical breakthroughs, and prototypes emerging and determine which have the potential to matter to priority audiences. Develop communications plans to drive awareness, understanding, and adoption of these with internal and external audiences.

Build communications platforms for other OCTO leaders and builders whose work can help carry the CTO’s narrative forward through high-value internal and external engagements, including events, media, technical community participation, editorial platforms, and social media.

Create scalable approaches for identifying and amplifying high-value stories, helping OCTO teams consistently surface work that is worth communicating and connecting individual initiatives to the broader CTO and company narrative.

Required/minimum qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Business, Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Finance, or related field AND 6+ years communications, marketing operations, field operations, program management, project management, or related experience OR equivalent experience

Additional or preferred qualifications

Master's Degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Finance, or related field AND 8+ years communications, marketing operations, field operations, program management, project management, or related experience OR Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Finance, or related field AND 12+ years communications, marketing operations, field operations, program management, project management, or related experience OR equivalent experience.

Experience developing communications strategies and compelling narratives for complex technologies, AI initiatives, or strategic partnerships, translating technical concepts into clear, audience-relevant communications.

Experience developing and executing communications strategies for complex, cross-functional or cross-company initiatives.

Experience leading high-profile communications initiatives and coordinating across engineering, product, marketing, communications, and executive stakeholders.

Strong understanding of the AI and emerging technology landscape, including developer, open-source, AI-native, and technical influencer communities.

Experience developing executive thought leadership and engaging technical audiences through media, social platforms, events, editorial content, or emerging communications formats.

Experience identifying technology trends, industry conversations, and audience insights to shape communications strategies and expand organizational influence.

Communications IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $130,900 - $251,900 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 $165,600 - $272,300 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.

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