Director Sales, Cloud & AI Platforms - Japan Global Account Solutions

Our team spearheads digital innovation for Japan’s largest global enterprises, helping them achieve business transformation through Microsoft solutions. We lead global sales strategy and technical engagement to drive digital transformation and revenue growth for these strategic customers.

As the Director Sales, Cloud & AI Platforms - Japan Global Account Solutions, especially in Azure Solutions, you will lead a high-performing team of solution sales specialists and technical experts focused on delivering Azure-powered solutions for iconic Japanese companies (e.g. Hitachi, Toyota, NTT, Fujitsu, NEC, Honda, Mitsubishi UFJ and more). This executive role positions you to shape how these enterprises leverage cloud technology to innovate and thrive on a global scale, working across borders to align customer needs with Microsoft’s capabilities. This opportunity will allow you to accelerate your career growth, deepen your global business acumen, and expand your leadership influence by driving complex, high-impact projects that transform industries.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Provide vision and leadership to a global team of solution specialists and technical professionals, ensuring strategies and goals are aligned with customers’ business objectives and Microsoft’s Azure solution offerings.
• Team & Talent Development: Attract, retain, and develop top talent by modeling Microsoft’s “model, coach, care” management philosophy. Foster a diverse, inclusive team culture and mentor future leaders to build a high-performing, engaged organization.
• Customer Engagement: Drive senior-level engagement with strategic client accounts to understand their needs and challenges. Guide your team in developing tailored cloud solution proposals that address each customer’s unique business priorities and deliver tangible outcomes.
• Digital Transformation: Champion digital transformation initiatives across the portfolio of accounts. Empower your team to propose innovative Azure-based solutions that create new business value and accelerate the customers’ transformation journey.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with cross-border teams and partners – including technical specialists, engineering, and global partner organizations – to orchestrate end-to-end solution delivery. Ensure effective communication and teamwork between Japan-based account teams, international field teams, and Microsoft corporate groups.
• Sales Excellence: Drive disciplined sales execution and operational excellence. Oversee pipeline development, accurate forecasting, and strategic deal reviews to meet or exceed revenue targets for Azure solutions. Implement best practices in account planning and leverage Microsoft’s sales processes to accelerate and de-risk complex deal closures.
• Executive Influence: Serve as a trusted advisor and Microsoft thought leader to C-level executives and business decision-makers within client organizations. Build deep, long-term executive relationships by delivering industry insights and envisioning strategic digital initiatives. Represent Microsoft at executive briefings and industry events, articulating our value proposition and vision for enterprise innovation.

• Other

  • Embody our Culture and Values

Qualifications

Required/minimum qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, Information Security, or related field AND 8+ years experience in technology-related sales or account management OR equivalent experience.

• 8+ years of solution sales and business development experience, with a record of driving enterprise-level deals and digital transformation projects.
• Experience selling cloud or IT solutions to large corporate clients is highly desirable.
• Experience engaging with C-level executives of large, multinational companies. 
• Experience crafting and presenting complex solution proposals that address strategic business needs. 
• People management experience.

Preferred qualifications

Master's Degree in Business Administration (i.e., MBA), Information Technology, or related field AND 12+ years experience in technology-related sales or account management OR Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, Information Security, or related field AND 15+ years experience in technology-related sales or account management OR equivalent experience.

• 10+ years services sales or account management experience.
• 5+ years people management experience.
• 2+ years manager of managers experience.
• Native-level English proficiency (spoken and written) and business-level Japanese proficiency.
• Experience with cross-cultural communication skills, enabling collaboration with both Japanese clients and global teams.

Solution Area Specialists M6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $158,400 - $243,000 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 $202,000 - $267,000 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   

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until August 4, 2025.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.  We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.