US Business Lead - 257138

US Business Lead

Would you like to work on a business that is crucial to both the Windows business and the Search business? Would you like to be part of a global team that manages a business that has 500 million users, in 100 countries, and is the worldwide leader in share of online communication and sharing minutes? Are you looking for a tough challenge? Windows Live is a free set of communication and sharing tools - email, instant messaging, photo-sharing, social networking, online storage, and more - designed to help consumers keep their lives in sync. Windows Live is best known for its flagship services, Windows Live Hotmail, and Windows Live Messenger. However, Windows Live has been transformed into a robust set of communication and sharing tools that now allow our users to enjoy all the benefits of social networking and photo-sharing services right from within Mail and Messenger, including feeds from other social networks. Though we have the #1 position in many markets around the world, our business is being challenged by formidable competitors: Google, Yahoo!, Facebook, and others. This competition is particularly fierce in the US, given that it represents more than 40% of total worldwide ad and Search revenue, and the US competitors we face are particularly entrenched.

The Windows Live Marketing team resides within the Windows Live Business Group, and is responsible for developing Go-To-Market (GTM) playbooks and marketing programs that are then deployed to our subsidiaries around the world. There is no US subsidiary in the field organization for online services, so the Windows Live Marketing organization takes on full responsibility for executing all marketing programs in the US. We are looking for a senior product marketer to join the Windows Live Marketing leadership team, with the specific task of ensuring that we are driving our US business goals, working across the entire marketing organization. You will work closely with the overall WL Marketing Lead to conduct analyses to identify key US business drivers, build a robust US marketing plan that layers on US-specific initiatives to the go-to-market playbook, and manage the US marketing budget. You will work closely with the GTM, Relationship Marketing, and Marketing Communication leads to ensure that their work addresses the needs of the US market. You will drive the Monthly Business Reviews and ensure that the state of the US business is top of mind across the Windows Live leadership team.

We’re looking for a strong analytical thinker with a relentless passion for driving business results in a tough market situation. We need a strong self-starter who can learn the online services business quickly and use data to identify opportunity areas and turn those into marketing initiatives in a short period of time. We need someone who has excellent x-group collaboration skills, as this is an individual contributor role that must influence across a number of senior people in the organization. And finally, we want someone who is excited at the opportunity to get a bird’s eye view into how a digital marketing organization is run, and in exchange will roll up their sleeves and do whatever is needed to help us make traction in this crucial market.

Key Responsibilities
Develop robust analyses to determine key US business drivers that lead to tangible action plans that a team can address through marketing programs. Continually refine plans as market dynamics change.
Deliver a thorough US Marketing plan that identifies US-specific initiatives on top of the go-to-market playbook and foundational marketing programs being delivered by the GTM, Relationship Marketing and Marketing Communications teams.
Manage the Monthly Business Review process for the US business, working closely with the all-up Windows Live Marketing lead.
Be the voice of the customer in the US to all parts of the Windows Live Business Group, and provide ample competitive intelligence to ensure we have a complete picture of market dynamics.
Manage the US budget, ensuring that we are surgically spending on the right things, holding ourselves accountable to ROI metrics, and continually improving our marketing efficiency and effectiveness.

The Team
You will join a team of seasoned consumer marketers who are passionate about online services and engaging with consumers on mass scale. Our responsibility is global and that definitely poses interesting challenges in building plans to engage with 500 million people across age groups, cultures, preferred products and segments. Since we face fierce competition in this space, we must react quickly to changes in market dynamics. If you are up for the challenge, this will be a very exciting experience for you.

Ideal candidates will have:
• A proven track record of strategic problem solving
• A customer-centric approach to business
• Great communication and collaboration skills
• Strong leadership and project management skills
• Experience leading cross functional v-teams
• A passion for the Internet and a natural curiosity for how to use online tools to communicate and share with others
• A flexible and agile attitude to manage the pace with which we work and the ever changing timelines of online services product releases
• 7+ years of marketing or product management experience or equivalent. MBA and/or Management Consulting experience is a plus