Senior Brand Strategist

Microsoft AI is the superintelligence lab at Microsoft - a global network of researchers, engineers, scientists, and creative minds dedicated to advancing the science of artificial intelligence. We build and scale foundational AI models and push the research frontiers that power breakthrough capabilities across Microsoft's portfolio. Guided by our Humanist AI values, everything we do is oriented toward earning trust and amplifying human potential

As a Brand Strategist in the MAI Creative Studio, you will be working alongside the Brand Strategy Lead (your manager) and partner with Creative, Design and Product Leaders to build communications planning strategies that bring Microsoft AI's research and scientific mission to life - translating complex, highly-technical decisions into coherent stories that build cultural relevance and lasting brand equity. You will sit at the intersection of research, engineering, brand strategy, product marketing, and creative expression to ensure MAI's scientific story is told with clarity, consistency, and high creative ambition.

This is an IC-level role, with 75% of time dedicated to Microsoft AI brand & communications efforts and 25% supporting Copilot brand and product marketing.

Mission And Culture

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.

MAI Brand Strategy, Portfolio Narrative & IP Management

• Partner with key stakeholders across MAI to lead or contribute to building the foundational Microsoft AI brand strategy and expression, with a specific focus on how MAI's research and scientific, humanist identity that differentiates against other labs.
• Steward relationships across AI product leads, marketing, and MAI Creative Studio to create a coherent portfolio narrative of MAI research and scientific initiatives that fit together within a larger story.
• Lead or contribute to workshops and training to educate teams on Microsoft AI's brand strategy and expression.

Cultural Planning & Activation

• Partner with MAI product leads and MAI brand leads - Writers, Designers, and Project Management - to translate MAI's research and scientific portfolio of initiatives into semi-annual cultural calendars for MAI brand moment campaigns based on product roadmap.
• Partner with researchers, scientists, and product leads to translate technical milestones into audience-appropriate narratives that drive understanding, trust, and cultural relevance.
• Proactively anticipate major research moments and model launches, building communications plans that sequence messaging across internal and external channels.
• Serve as a connective tissue between MAI Creative Studio, product marketing, and research teams - ensuring brand voice, scientific credibility, and creative expression are never in conflict.
• Guide brief writing, provide direction to cross-group teams, and develop strategies to engage cross-company stakeholders.

Cultural Insights

• Partner with UXR and Research & Insights teams to track brand perceptions and reporting through various types of studies (e.g., qualitative, quantitative) to support broader MAI strategy and initiatives.
• Partner with internal teams and commission studies with agencies to support research and insight identification as needed.
• Monitor brand performance and brand impact, and look for emerging opportunities across the company and portfolio.

Naming

• In partnership with MAI product teams (e.g., Product Marketing, Engineering), lead or support naming efforts of Models, Research, and other work across the Microsoft AI portfolio.
• Direct naming efforts and naming rhythm of business, as needed.
• Drive approvals with senior management and work with external partners to support the naming process.

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• 6+ years work experience at a branding agency or with product marketing, brand building, and/or strategy development OR equivalent experience

Additional Or Preferred Qualifications

• 6+ years brand/creative strategy and communications/connections strategy experience, which could include brief writing and/or managing strategy on the corporate or agency side.
• 6+ years of communications/connections planning experience building integrated campaigns that bring brands into culture.
• Strong insight into the AI discourse, tensions and implications across various parts of culture (media, arts, etc.)
• Genuine technical fluency in AI/ML: you can read a research paper, follow a model architecture conversation, and know enough to ask the right questions that inform how we go to market.
• Comfort operating in ambiguity: this role will define its own shape, and that's a feature, not a bug.
• Luxury, lifestyle, or entertainment experience preferred.
• 6+ years experience managing projects (e.g., internal stakeholder management, timelines, prioritization, road mapping).
• A strategic mindset, able to balance short- and long-term goals, and to translate business objectives into brand solutions.
• Effective communication and presentation skills, able to articulate and justify ideas and recommendations with clarity and confidence.
• A collaborative and inclusive work style, able to work effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders across different levels and functions.
• A customer-centric and empathetic approach, able to understand and anticipate the needs and preferences of target audiences.
• A growth mindset and a curiosity for learning, willing to experiment, iterate, and adapt to changing environments and feedback.

Brand 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.