Surface Category Manager- Small Business Direct
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Nov 12, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 30, 2026. Microsoft scores A on the Alion truth index.
Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions-Core (MCAPS) accelerates customer outcomes and business growth. By uniting product, engineering, marketing, sales, customer success, and partners around a common customer mission, we help customers realize value faster and turn innovation into measurable business impact. Through deep technical expertise and differentiated go-to-market execution, we win competitively, capture market share, and scale repeatable growth motions. We differentiate through value creation - delivering world-class, AI-powered customer experiences that accelerate adoption, strengthen loyalty, and create sustainable competitive advantage, driving growth that outpaces the market.
Within MCAPS-Core, the Windows & Device Sales (WDS) team is transforming how the world interacts with AI through the Windows platform, devices, and Microsoft Cloud services. WDS leads Sales and Go-To-Market for the Windows devices business, delivering innovative, AI-powered device and cloud experiences through our partner ecosystem to customers around the world.
Within WDS, the Consumer Sales Organization (CSO) creates value with our partners by bringing innovative consumer solutions powered by Windows, Office, Surface, and Xbox to market. Positioned at the intersection of customers, hardware partners, and channel partners, CSO plays a critical role in translating Microsoft innovation into compelling consumer experiences and driving growth across the ecosystem.
Our team works with ecosystem partners and internal business groups to drive digital excellence and e-commerce capability, as well as accelerate cloud and subscription adoption. Together, we win by delivering compelling at-home and on-the-go experiences combining intelligent edge devices and services that create Microsoft fans for life.
As a Surface Category Manager- Small Business Direct, you’ll be part of growing a multi-billion-dollar business, charting new areas of innovation and impacting billions of lives around the world. You also will be a part of a culture centered on embracing a growth mindset, a theme of inspiring excellence, and encouraging teams and leaders to bring their best each day. If that appeals to you, it’s an exciting time to be here in CSO.
In Surface, our business goal is clear: Profitably Grow Surface Volume & Share. We accomplish this goal in two ways:
- Selling TO our retail partners: Use consumer insights, market data, store level analysis, and device sales information to evaluate our business performance and develop seasonal, launch & sustain plans to improve our partners business, win share, sell units, and drive revenue/ GM.
- Selling THRU our retail partners: Plan and execute thoughtful and impactful promotions and full-funnel-marketing plans, focused on driving purchase intent, conversion & post purchase advocacy & consumer lifetime value for Surface devices & accessories.
Candidates who live within 50 miles of Microsoft's Redmond campus will be required to work in the office 3 days per week.
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
SMB Direct Lead
- Lead for the Surface Category SMB Business thru our Microsoft Direct channel
- Accountability for Sell Thru, Sell In and gross margin (GM) targets are met or exceeded
- Develop and execute the business plan across product, pricing, marketing and channel (Assisted and UnAssisted)
- Drive alignment across key stakeholders with Surface BG, WW, Commercial SMB and Direct partners.
Category planning and Alignment
- Responsible for leading product launch efforts and ensure execution across Direct channels.
- Optimize portfolio plans and proactively manage across product Lifecycle - Launch, Sustain, EOL.
- Build a localized promotional calendar based on regional insights aligned to broader Commercial plan.
- Develop plan to drive growth through both Assisted and Unassisted Channel motions.
Manage & Monitor and Execution
- Develop Rhythm of Business (ROB) to support Yearly, Monthly and Weekly planning for business
- Manage and monitor the performance sell-through and sell-in, and drive Agility plans as needed.
- Responsible for forecasting Sell Thru and Pricing/ promo spend across Portfolio/ Sku level
- Drive Operations alignment on In stock positions and Ending Inventory positions supporting business
Other
Qualifications
Required/minimum qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Economics, Public Relations, Engineering, or related field AND 4+ years category management, product management, marketing strategy, business planning, product planning, or related work experience
- OR equivalent experience.
Additional or preferred qualifications
- Master's Degree in Business Administration, Business, Marketing, Communications, Economics, Public Relations, or related field AND 6+ years category management, product management, marketing strategy, business planning, product planning, or related work experience
- OR Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Economics, Public Relations, Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years category management, product management, marketing strategy, business planning, product planning, or related work experience
- OR equivalent experience.
- 4+ years experience managing and expanding a category and attaining sales and profitability targets within a complex (e.g., multinational or matrixed) organization OR equivalent experience.
- Consumer Electronics/IT ecosystem experience with a focus on devices and services sales. (OEM, Silicon, Retailer/ SMB partner experience)
- Understanding of Consumer and SMB sales channels and digital marketplace landscape.
- Experience with Portfolio Lifecycle Management to drive Launch, Sustain Momentum and effectively EOL products.
- Channel management with proven operational excellence and sales results through joint business planning.
- Ability to navigate and optimize a P&L to drive sustainable growth for MSFT and our Partners.
Category Management IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $106,400 - $203,600 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 $137,600 - $222,600 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.