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Program Director - Job Opportunity at Microsoft

Sydney, Australia
Full-time
Executive
Posted: August 21, 2025
Hybrid
AUD 180,000 - 220,000 per year plus performance bonuses and equity compensation. This executive-level position with Microsoft in Sydney commands premium compensation reflecting the seniority of the role, extensive experience requirements, and strategic importance to the organization's Asia-Pacific growth objectives.

Benefits

Comprehensive work-life integration with up to 50% remote work flexibility, positioning employees for optimal productivity balance
Industry-leading healthcare coverage providing extensive medical, dental, and vision benefits that exceed market standards
Professional development through educational resources and training programs supporting continuous learning and career advancement
Employee discount programs on Microsoft products and services, delivering significant cost savings on technology solutions
Robust savings and investment programs including retirement planning and stock options for long-term financial security
Progressive parental leave policies with generous maternity and paternity benefits supporting family priorities
Extensive paid time off and flexible leave policies promoting employee wellbeing and work-life balance
Corporate giving programs and volunteer opportunities enabling meaningful community impact and social responsibility
Professional networking opportunities and internal connection programs fostering career growth and collaboration

Key Responsibilities

Drive strategic account delivery management across the entire customer lifecycle, from initial solution envisioning through cloud implementation and ongoing optimization, directly impacting multi-million dollar Azure transformation initiatives
Lead executive-level steering committees with strategic enterprise customers, ensuring delivery excellence while maintaining accountability for project forecasting and consumption goal achievement
Orchestrate complex project budget management and profitability optimization, balancing financial performance with customer value delivery across multiple concurrent engagements
Develop and maintain strategic stakeholder relationships at C-suite level, proactively managing service delivery expectations and resolving escalations through tailored action plans
Champion intellectual property development and knowledge sharing initiatives, driving process standardization and artifact reuse across global consulting teams to enhance delivery efficiency
Spearhead relationship development with key customer stakeholders, leveraging deep technical expertise to build lasting partnerships and drive customer satisfaction through systematic feedback analysis
Lead project initiation for medium to high-complexity digital transformation programs, securing resources and establishing work breakdown structures that align with enterprise objectives
Manage end-to-end contracting processes including partner resource allocation, fixed-fee negotiations, and delivery acceptance protocols that ensure seamless project execution
Drive presales support for strategic opportunities by articulating compelling business value propositions and conducting comprehensive feasibility assessments for medium-impact projects
Create and execute detailed project plans for complex initiatives, aligning Microsoft and customer schedules while managing critical dependencies and stakeholder expectations
Oversee comprehensive project monitoring and controlling activities, ensuring KPI adherence and providing strategic direction throughout the project lifecycle while managing risks proactively
Execute thorough project closure processes including stakeholder sign-offs, system updates, and lessons learned documentation to drive continuous process improvement
Own financial health and business growth objectives including revenue optimization, forecasting accuracy, and capacity planning to accelerate consumption and delivery outcomes

Requirements

Education

Bachelor's Degree in related field OR equivalent experience

Experience

10+ years' experience in project management and proven track record leading large business transformation programs

Required Skills

Project management Business transformation program leadership Dynamics 365 experience (strongly preferred) SAP or competing technologies experience Financial management Agile methodologies Scrum Master capabilities Stakeholder relationship management Risk management Budget and profitability management Contract negotiation Customer success management

Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP) certification Agile certification Scrum Master Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) Professional Scrum Master One (PSM1) certification
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

Digital transformation initiatives are accelerating across Asia-Pacific markets, with organizations increasingly adopting cloud-first strategies and AI-powered solutions to enhance operational efficiency and competitive positioning. Microsoft's Azure platform is experiencing unprecedented growth in the region, creating substantial demand for experienced program directors who can navigate complex enterprise transformations. Enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management solutions are converging with advanced analytics and artificial intelligence capabilities, requiring program directors to possess deep understanding of both traditional ERP systems like SAP and modern cloud-native platforms like Dynamics 365. This convergence is driving significant investment in hybrid cloud architectures and integrated business solutions. The consulting services market is experiencing a paradigm shift toward outcome-based delivery models and consumption-driven revenue structures, requiring program directors to balance traditional project management methodologies with agile, iterative approaches that demonstrate measurable business value throughout the engagement lifecycle. Regulatory compliance and data sovereignty requirements in Australia and New Zealand are becoming increasingly stringent, necessitating program directors who can navigate complex legal frameworks while delivering cloud-based solutions that meet local compliance standards and security requirements.

Role Significance

Typically manages cross-functional teams of 15-25 professionals including project managers, technical architects, business analysts, and external partner resources, while coordinating with global delivery teams and maintaining relationships with customer executive stakeholders.
This is a senior executive-level position with substantial P&L responsibility and strategic decision-making authority. The role combines tactical project execution with strategic business development, requiring leadership of complex, multi-million dollar initiatives that directly impact Microsoft's regional growth objectives and customer success metrics.

Key Projects

Multi-year enterprise digital transformation programs involving complete ERP system replacements and cloud infrastructure migrations Large-scale Dynamics 365 implementations for Fortune 500 companies across manufacturing, retail, and financial services sectors Complex hybrid cloud architectures integrating on-premises systems with Azure services and third-party applications AI and machine learning solution deployments that transform core business processes and decision-making capabilities Merger and acquisition integration projects requiring rapid system consolidation and process standardization

Success Factors

Exceptional stakeholder management capabilities with proven ability to influence and align C-suite executives around complex technology initiatives while maintaining focus on business outcomes and ROI achievement Deep technical proficiency across multiple enterprise platforms combined with strong financial acumen to optimize project profitability while delivering exceptional customer value and maintaining competitive positioning Advanced change management expertise with demonstrated success leading large organizations through transformational initiatives, including communication strategy development, training program execution, and resistance management Strategic business development skills including opportunity identification, deal structuring, and relationship building that contribute to sustainable revenue growth and market expansion objectives

Market Demand

High demand driven by Microsoft's aggressive expansion in the Asia-Pacific cloud services market and the critical shortage of senior-level program directors with demonstrated expertise in large-scale business transformation initiatives and cloud migration programs.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Advanced project management expertise using both traditional waterfall and agile methodologies is essential for managing complex, multi-phase enterprise transformations with diverse stakeholder groups and competing priorities. This skill directly impacts project success rates and customer satisfaction metrics. Deep understanding of enterprise resource planning systems, particularly Dynamics 365 and SAP, is crucial for designing effective migration strategies and integration architectures that minimize business disruption while maximizing operational efficiency gains. Exceptional financial management capabilities including budget development, profitability analysis, and resource optimization are critical for maintaining competitive project margins while delivering superior customer value in an increasingly price-sensitive market environment. Strategic stakeholder relationship management skills enable effective navigation of complex organizational hierarchies and decision-making processes, directly impacting project approval cycles, change request management, and overall engagement success.

Beneficial Skills

Artificial intelligence and machine learning knowledge will become increasingly valuable as organizations seek to integrate advanced analytics and automation capabilities into core business processes and decision-making frameworks. Industry-specific expertise in manufacturing, financial services, or retail sectors provides competitive differentiation and enables more effective solution positioning and business case development for vertical market opportunities. International project management experience and cultural competency enhance effectiveness when managing global delivery teams and multinational customer organizations with diverse communication styles and business practices. Emerging technology awareness including Internet of Things, blockchain, and advanced security frameworks positions the role for future growth opportunities and thought leadership development in next-generation enterprise solutions.

Unique Aspects

This role offers exceptional exposure to cutting-edge AI and machine learning technologies integrated with traditional enterprise systems, providing unique experience in next-generation business transformation methodologies
The position includes direct interaction with Microsoft's global product development teams, offering insights into product roadmap development and early access to emerging technologies before market availability
Opportunity to influence Microsoft's regional go-to-market strategy and service delivery methodologies while building thought leadership presence in the Asia-Pacific consulting market
Access to Microsoft's extensive partner ecosystem including systems integrators, independent software vendors, and technology consultants, creating significant networking and business development opportunities

Career Growth

Typical progression to next executive level within 3-5 years, contingent upon consistent delivery excellence, revenue growth achievement, and demonstrated leadership capability in expanding market territories or service offerings.

Potential Next Roles

Regional Practice Director overseeing multiple delivery teams and P&L responsibility across broader geographic territories Principal Director of Consulting Services with enterprise-wide strategic responsibility for service delivery excellence and innovation Vice President of Customer Success leading comprehensive customer experience programs and retention initiatives General Manager of Strategic Accounts with full accountability for major customer relationships and revenue generation Independent consulting practice leadership or advisory board positions leveraging extensive Microsoft ecosystem expertise

Company Overview

Microsoft

Microsoft Corporation stands as the world's largest software company and a dominant force in cloud computing services, artificial intelligence development, and enterprise productivity solutions. The company has successfully transformed from a traditional software licensing model to a cloud-first, mobile-first strategy that generates over $200 billion in annual revenue and serves billions of users globally.

Microsoft maintains the second-largest market capitalization among global technology companies and holds leading positions in cloud infrastructure services, enterprise software solutions, and developer tools markets. The company's Azure platform competes directly with Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform while maintaining strong competitive advantages in hybrid cloud solutions and enterprise integration capabilities.
Microsoft's Asia-Pacific operations represent one of the company's fastest-growing regions, with significant investment in data center infrastructure, local partnerships, and regulatory compliance initiatives. The Sydney office serves as a critical hub for Australia and New Zealand operations, supporting thousands of enterprise customers and government agencies across diverse industry sectors.
Microsoft has undergone significant cultural transformation under current leadership, emphasizing growth mindset principles, inclusive collaboration, and customer-centric innovation. The company promotes psychological safety, continuous learning, and employee empowerment while maintaining high performance standards and accountability for business results.
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