Job Description

Senior Manager, Gaming Strategy

===================================


Redmond, Washington, United States



Date posted

Sep 25, 2025

Job number

1881367

Work site

3 days / week in-office

Travel

0-25

%

Role type

Individual Contributor

Profession

Business Development & Ventures

Discipline

Business Strategy

Employment type

Full-Time

Overview

At Microsoft Gaming, we aspire to bring the joy and community of gaming to everyone on the planet. Gaming, the largest and fastest growing category in media & entertainment, represents an important growth opportunity for Microsoft. We are leading with innovation across our entire business, highlighted by our platform, which spans Xbox PC; Xbox Console; Xbox Cloud Gaming; alongside our world-class gaming studios: Activision, Blizzard, King, Bethesda, Mojang, and Xbox Game Studios.


The Gaming Strategy team is a specialized group serving as the corporate strategy function for Microsoft's Gaming Division. We work closely with the Gaming CEO and Leadership Team to identify and evaluate transformative growth opportunities, helping shape the division's direction in partnership with Microsoft's CEO, Senior Leadership Team, and Board of Directors. We focus on:

Driving research, analysis, and framing of competitive and audience dynamics within the gaming industry and broader media & entertainment; Supporting the Leadership Team in defining and articulating strategic direction for Gaming; Leading project-based quantitative and qualitative decision support on critical business questions and strategic initiatives across Microsoft Gaming; Supporting Microsoft's corporate strategy rhythm of business.


We are looking for a Senior Manager of Gaming Strategy with distinctive analytical, financial, problem solving, and communication capabilities to lead high-impact projects in collaboration with senior leaders. Candidates should bring experience from management consulting, investment banking, private equity, or equivalent roles. Success in this role requires the ability to frame and analyze complex problems, uncover insights, problem-solve creatively, communicate clearly, and collaborate across a diverse set of stakeholders.


This role reports to the Senior Director of Gaming Strategy and partners closely with leaders across Product, Engineering, Finance, Business Planning, Business Development, Corporate Development, Legal, Marketing, and more. It requires comfort navigating ambiguity, building trusted relationships, and driving strategic impact across a dynamic, cross-functional environment.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Master's Degree in Business Administration or related field AND 3+ years marketing, strategy, business planning, consulting, banking, finance, economics, and/or partner organization experience + OR Bachelor's Degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Liberal Arts, Computer Science, or related field AND 4+ years marketing, strategy, business planning, consulting, banking, finance, economics, and/or partner organization experience
+ OR equivalent experience.
Proficiency driving strategic insight, considering product, technology, marketing, business model, and third-party/partner perspectives 2+ years of experience identifying and advocating for transformative growth initiatives, including building business cases for major internal investments and conducting strategic & financial evaluations of inorganic opportunities.

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Liberal Arts, Computer Science, or related field AND 8+ years strategy, business planning, consulting, banking, and/or finance experience OR Master's Degree in Business Administration or related field AND 6+ years strategy, business planning, consulting, banking, and/or finance experience OR equivalent experience. Instincts for portfolio management, sound business judgment, and proven framing skills to support key trade-offs and decisions. Demonstrated hypothesis-driven, problem-solving orientation with the ability to leverage both quantitative and qualitative analyses for decision-making. Proven ability to engage, influence, and manage positive relationships with key stakeholders, including executive communities across engineering, marketing, finance, corporate strategy, business development, etc.


Business Strategy 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

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until October 9, 2025.

#XBOXXPI

Responsibilities

Lead development of forward-looking, high-ambiguity competitive and market analyses to inform strategic planning, including modeling player behavior, evaluating industry shifts, and identifying whitespace opportunities across console, PC, cloud, and mobile Own the definition, framing, and execution of large strategic initiatives for Gaming with cross-division impact, including evaluation of new business models, partnerships, and M&A opportunities that could shape Microsoft's gaming portfolio over the next 3-5 years Lead cross-functional strategic initiatives that shape Microsoft Gaming's long-term direction, spanning platform, player engagement, and monetization; conduct comprehensive operational and financial modeling of strategic initiatives, in close partnership with Finance and other partner teams across the division Frequently present and influence decision making with senior division- and corporate-level leadership (GM level, CVP, etc.), including crafting executive-level narratives, communicating trade-offs, risks, and opportunities in concise memos, briefings, and presentations; synthesizing complex data into clear insights and recommendations that influence decision-making at the highest levels Support strategic planning cycles by coordinating cross-functionally, driving alignment on priorities, and ensuring timely delivery of high-impact materials Champion a player-first mindset by integrating player insights, behavioral data, and cultural trends into strategy development, ensuring our work reflects the evolving needs of global gaming audiences Mentor and guide other strategy and planning team members; establish frameworks / process for our organization and lead by example

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.
?Industry leading healthcare
?Educational resources
?Discounts on products and services
?Savings and investments
?Maternity and paternity leave
?Generous time away
?Giving programs
?Opportunities to network and connect
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 and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.