Director of Communications

Responsibilities

• Engage with technical influencers and developer communities, activating conversations on social and developer platforms, and identifying opportunities for other Microsoft leaders and trusted voices to carry key ideas forward.
• Collaborate across Microsoft—including with Communications, Marketing, Investor Relations, CELA, product, engineering, research, and other executive offices—to coordinate opportunities, align with broader company narratives, and maximize the reach and impact of OCTO.
• Support communications activities for the CTO-owned channels, including contributed writing, social, podcast, video, and emerging formats.
• Create strategic communications plans for OCTO to engage with media, influencers, first and third-party events, and other opportunities to scale the team's mission across Microsoft and the broader tech industry.
• Lead new technology, experiences or communication campaign launches for or in advancing third-party partnerships like OAI, Anthropic and others.
• Contribute to the strategic relationship program connecting the CTO with influential founders, AI-native developers, researchers, technical leaders, investors, and other builders shaping the frontier of the industry. This will include planning engagements such as small-group technical conversations, founder roundtables, private convenings, ecosystem visits, and one-to-one exchanges.
• Drive and collaborate across Microsoft groups to develop strategic communications plans for launching new AI technology and experiences, particularly for cutting edge, frontier models and experiences that can change users capabilities and valued use of AI.  This will include highlighting go-to-market opportunities with strategic partnerships.
• Collaborate with Public Affairs to operationalize an engagement model for policymakers seeking deeper technical understanding of frontier AI, open-source AI, infrastructure, safety, and deployment.
• Use an AI-enabled approach to track and report on audience reach and impact and refine strategies based on learnings and insights.
• Drive strategies and programs that can bring OCTO voices forward to elevate technical ideas and emerging issues in the broader industry dialogue and ecosystem.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Finance, or related field AND 6+ years communications, marketing operations, field operations, program management, project management, or related experience OR equivalent experience
• Master's Degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Finance, or related field AND 8+ years communications, marketing operations, field operations, program management, project management, or related experience OR Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Finance, or related field AND 12+ years communications, marketing operations, field operations, program management, project management, or related experience OR equivalent experience.
• Experience developing communications strategies and compelling narratives for complex technologies, AI initiatives, or strategic partnerships, translating technical concepts into clear, audience-relevant communications.
• Experience developing and executing communications strategies for complex, cross-functional or cross-company initiatives.
• Experience leading high-profile communications initiatives and coordinating across engineering, product, marketing, communications, and executive stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of the AI and emerging technology landscape, including developer, open-source, AI-native, and technical influencer communities.
• Experience developing executive thought leadership and engaging technical audiences through media, social platforms, events, editorial content, or emerging communications formats.
• Experience identifying technology trends, industry conversations, and audience insights to shape communications strategies and expand organizational influence.

Preferred

• Experience developing communications strategies and compelling narratives for complex technologies, AI initiatives, or strategic partnerships, translating technical concepts into clear, audience-relevant communications.
• Experience developing and executing communications strategies for complex, cross-functional or cross-company initiatives.
• Experience leading high-profile communications initiatives and coordinating across engineering, product, marketing, communications, and executive stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of the AI and emerging technology landscape, including developer, open-source, AI-native, and technical influencer communities.
• Experience developing executive thought leadership and engaging technical audiences through media, social platforms, events, editorial content, or emerging communications formats.
• Experience identifying technology trends, industry conversations, and audience insights to shape communications strategies and expand organizational influence.