Program Manager Job Opportunities at Microsoft (2 Vacancies)

Overview
Apps and the Web are convenient ways for users to consume content and complete tasks: whereas apps offer a superior user experience, they often lack the scale and reach of the Web. At AMP (Apps, Media and Publishing) – a group which owns the critically acclaimed Windows Bing Apps and MSN portals worldwide – we are looking to combine the UX advantage of Bing Apps with the reach advantage of MSN in designing the next generation of our products. Our goal in international markets is a best-in-category user experience for each of our information verticals – across all device form factors – that in turn will lead to growth in each market’s user base, engagement and monetization potential (including partner RoI). We are looking for a PM to own these responsibilities for South Africa.

Join us at this exciting time as we fuse the best of app and Web to impact the lives of millions of users.

Key Responsibilities
• Own the local product
• Be the voice of the local user
• Be a keen student of local trends and competition; identify opportunities to continually enhance product value as seen by users, partners (partner RoI) and the business
• Recommend and drive product improvements in the form of clear and targeted UX, feature and content requirements relevant to the local market
• Work with Editorial, the local Executive Producer (EP), and business development to acquire and program content relevant to the local market
• Work with product teams to develop locally relevant services and features
• Understand AMP strategy and drive this forward in the local market

 
Microsoft Competencies Required:
• Influencing for Impact (Adapts style to most effectively engage and influence)
• Customer Focus (Allocates and aligns resources to optimize the customer experience)
• Cross-Boundary collaboration (Benefits by working together, sharing ideas & resources)
• End-to-end Innovation (Motivates others to generate innovative ideas)
• Planning, Organizing and Executing (Understands business objectives and plans accordingly; implements metrics to drive continuous improvements)

 
Program Management Duties
• Document requirements for features, product requests, or technical specifications.
• Track and communicate feature requirements and priorities as part of a roadmap, backlog, or project plan.
• Communicate to relevant parties the status of high-impact features and other significant issues.
• Provide and respond to feedback from managers, peers, subordinates and customers.
• Incorporate security, performance, and reliability in designs for major product and subsystems appropriately.
• Develop effective customer/partner feedback loops, listen to feedback, understand its implications, and translate feedback into better features and products.
• Autonomous and able to deal with ambiguity

Experience and qualifications
• 3 to 5 years of experience in the online industry, including at least 3 years’ recent experience with program/product management of a consumer-facing product.
• Comprehensive understanding and practice of software development methodologies, preferably agile
• Management of multiple complex projects with tight deadlines
• IT or business related BA/BSc degree or equivalent

Technical/Functional Skills
• Structured thinking and experience with data-driven analysis
• Strong experience of the technologies (networking protocols, web/application servers and databases) that underpin online consumer services.
• Experience implementing and troubleshooting feed formats such as XML, and knowledge of common web programming languages such as JavaScript, HTML.
• Regularly use and has interest in latest web-based services in multiple platforms such as PCs, Tablets and Smartphones.
• Experience with localization (or internationalization) of products

 
Special Requirements/Additional Information
• Experience of international culture & travel.
• Commitment to Microsoft’s business values.
• Perform other such duties as are from time to time assigned.
• Extended hours availability may be required depending on the project / service and subject to local laws.

Click here to apply for position in Johannesburg

Click here to apply for position in Cape Town