Director of Communications Strategy

Microsoft is at a defining moment as AI and Copilot reshape how people experience technology. The Director of Communications Strategy is responsible for translating Microsoft and Copilot brand and GTM strategy into clear audience, channel, and engagement frameworks that ensure our ideas reach the right people in the right environments.

This role sits at the intersection of brand strategy, audience understanding, and media, owning the "how and where" of our communications approach. You will partner closely with Brand Strategy, Media, Campaigns, Integrated Marketing, Product Marketing, and agency teams to shape the communications architecture that brings strategy to life across paid, owned, and earned channels.

This role demands a strong, empathetic, strategic leader who can synthesize data, culture, and media behavior into actionable communications direction, and lead teams and partners to execute against it to help bring campaigns into culture with impact.

Key Responsibilities

Communications & Audience Strategy

• Own communications strategy across defined Microsoft and Copilot initiatives
• Translate brand and GTM strategy into audience, channel, and engagement frameworks
• Define priority audiences-who they are, what they care about, and how they consume media

Channel & Media Strategy

• Recommend the optimal media mix across paid, owned, and earned channels
• Provide strategic direction to media teams and agency partners who execute buys
• Ensure channel strategy reinforces brand intent, campaign goals, and audience behavior

CrossFunctional Leadership

• Partner closely with Brand Strategy, Media, Campaigns, Integrated Marketing, and Product Marketing
• Serve as the primary communications strategy lead within owned scope
• Bring clarity and alignment across teams on how ideas show up in market

Insight, Measurement & Stewardship

• Synthesize audience, cultural, and media data into actionable communications insights
• Use performance and audience signals to refine communications strategy over time
• Act as a steward of the Microsoft and Copilot brands across media environments

What Success Looks Like

• Communications strategy clearly connects brand intent to audience and channel choices
• Media and engagement plans reflect strong strategic rationale, not just executional efficiency

• Embody ourCulture&Values

Required/minimum qualifications

• 8+ years work experience at a media agency or with ad agency, in-house media, and/or communications planning.
  • OR equivalent experience.

Additional or preferred qualifications

• Master's Degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, or related field
  • OR equivalent experience.
• 8+ years creative strategy experience, which could include brief writing and/or managing strategy on the corporate or agency side.
• 8+ years experience managing projects (e.g., internal stakeholder management, timelines, prioritization, road mapping).

Brand 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.