Sr Microsoft Solutions Specialist

Overview

Working independently, with minimal direct supervision from the Manager of Microsoft Solution Sales, the Sr. Microsoft Solution Specialist (SMSS) acts as a senior team member of the Microsoft Solutions team in the COE to guide peers, develop junior team members and work in conjunction with Leadership to help lead team initiatives. The Sr Microsoft Solutions Specialist acts as a resource dedicated to supporting Account Managers and customers with their Microsoft program, product, and pricing needs. Supports multiple volume license agreement types including Open Value, CSP/NCE, MPSA, with a specialization to support Microsoft Enterprise Agreements. Works with customers to understand their business needs and to provide up to intermediate level solution guidance, recommendations and purchasing options to our customers/prospects and Account Managers on Microsoft Modern Workplace, Azure, Professional Services and Managed Services. Trains Account Managers to provide efficient customer responses and utilize Connection tools including the Microsoft COE Resource Page, Volume License Portal, and the Microsoft Product Cheat Sheets. In addition to being certified in Azure and Microsoft 365 Fundamentals, the MSS actively participates in Connection and Microsoft trainings to maintain a required knowledge base to keep themselves updated on new technologies and product offerings. Supports MSS peers and contributes to the team in ways that benefit the group as a whole. What We Do

We calm the confusion of IT by guiding the connection between people and technology. If a customer is looking for a better way to manage their warehouse inventory, equip their workforce, or secure their data, we make it happen. All it takes is finding the right combination of tech hardware, software, cloud solutions, and support services. That’s what we do. We’re the IT Department’s IT Department.

Who We Are

Our team is made stronger by a multitude of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. It’s what makes Connection unique-what drives us to innovate and create technology solutions that stand apart from the crowd. We’d love for you to be a part of that fabric, to share your ideas and experiences with a team that thrives on fresh thinking, creativity, and helping others.

Why You Should Join Us

You’ll find supportive teammates and a rewarding career at Connection-plus great benefits. We take pride in supporting employees with a total rewards package that provides financial, emotional, and physical resources for you and your family. Our compensation, 401k plans, medical insurance, and other benefits are progressive and competitive. We value the importance of our employees’ emotional wellbeing. To support employees, we provide free therapy visits, mental health coaching and tools, and meditation resources. You’ll also enjoy a generous paid time off package that includes not only vacation and sick time, but also Wellness and Volunteer Time Off days.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Responsibilities

Primary Job Duties

· Leads team initiatives as delegated by the manager, director or other members Sr. Leadership

· Functions as a peer leader within their respective team

· Provides peer mentorship and aids in growth of developing team members

· Supports leadership efforts to boost and maintain positive team morale

· Acts as a dedicated consultative resource for Sales, Sales leadership, and customers focused on Microsoft solutions providing recommendations that best fit the goals of the customer.

· Presents on customer calls with all stakeholders providing options that provide clarity and control for customers based on their needs and budget.

· Delivers industry-based insights to our customers focusing on pain points leading to Microsoft modern solutions.

· Assesses quote solutions and identifies better program and product suite options to share with customers and Account Managers.

· Utilizes a customer first approach focusing on positioning value added services to the customer, such as managed and professional services leading to customer transformation.

· Supports customer Enterprise Agreements (EA) as an assigned resource to provide product, program and contract guidance to ensure investments support customer goals and are in compliance with Microsoft Licensing Guidelines.

· Manages contract lifecycle for Enterprise Agreements to ensure subscription reconciliation, on-time placement of true-up, additional product and renewal orders

· Produces cost analysis, product quotes and pricing visibility for Enterprise Agreements in partnership with Sales

· Creates milestone touchpoints to communicate with customers and their Microsoft account team

· Engages in Microsoft opportunity conversations with customers to build additional value and position Connection professional and managed services

· Stays current on programs, technical knowledge, market trends and operational models.

· Leverages self-paced Microsoft training via Get License Ready and Partner University.

· Completes on-line research in order stay abreast of new product developments.

· Builds and maintains positive relations with vendor.

· Reacts to vendor needs and balances the needs of Connection together in support of the customer.

· Identifies gaps in partner’s toolkit and works with partner to create additional/improved resources.

· Assists with the Microsoft Landscape Optimization (MLO) assessment consultations.

· Seeks opportunities to provide greater account control through site Microsoft team involvement.

· Maintains and update Salesforce Pipeline

· Presents at Sales team meetings and On-Boarding events

Min

Max

Qualifications

· Advanced Microsoft Office (Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Outlook)

· Proficient and professional in hosting and attending remote meetings using Microsoft Teams

· Advanced knowledge of Microsoft's lifecycle and renewals process for Enterprise Agreements, MPSA (Microsoft Products and Services Agreement) and Cloud Subscription Agreements with the ability to identify, drive, and oversee all aspects of a Microsoft deal from conception to closure.

· Negotiation skills with ability to secure best purchasing agreement for customers and company.

· Working knowledge of sales strategies including upselling with proven success in a goal driven environment.

· Strong business analysis skills with ability to convert customer needs to Microsoft solution.

· Excellent written communication skills with ability to compose professional business communications.

· Excellent verbal communication skills with ability to create and deliver professional presentations.

· Meticulous attention to detail with ability to proofread for accuracy.

· Organized state of mind with ability to document activities, anticipate problems, plan schedules and monitor performance according to priorities and deadlines.

· Interpersonal skills with ability to work well with all levels of the organization.

· Analytical with ability to draw conclusions from data, systematic and rational.

· Adaptable with ability to switch tasks based on shifting priorities.

· Strategic thinker in future-oriented terms who anticipates and considers external and internal elements with ability to develop long-term plans to leverage resources.

Because of the possibility for fraudulent job postings on many popular job boards, please be advised that Connection will never offer a position of employment without a complete interview process and communication with a “live person".