Continuous Improvement SME

Job description

**Overview** The Frontier Transformation Framework helps our customers become **Frontier Firms:** organizations where AI is part of the operating system the business runs on. The difference between a transformation and a one-off deployment is what happens after go-live. Without a deliberate improvement discipline, returns erode: adoption plateaus, agents drift, prompt libraries go stale, and high-value agents are starved while low-value ones persist. Continuous Improvement is the operating discipline that makes AI value compound over time rather than dissipate. The Frontier Transformation team is how the Microsoft Frontier Company, the organization this role sits within, delivers this: a small, senior human-agent team in which each member carries one of the Framework's eight capabilities into the customer, directs a set of digital co-workers to deliver at a scale headcount alone could not, and is designed to fade into a customer counterpart who can carry the work forward. We are seeking a **Frontier Continuous Improvement SME** to make AI value compound across strategic customer engagements. In this role, you will establish and run the Continuous Improvement Framework as a permanent operating rhythm, grounded in kaizen and strong facilitation, that redesigns and reruns workflows to outcomes. You will solve the last-mile problem, embedding what gets built into how work actually gets done through standard work, clear ownership, and an execution cadence that makes new ways of working stick, working directly with business owners, operators, champions, and the Value, Skilling, Change, and engineering leads. This is a role for people who are energized by making change hold rather than launching it, who can read measurement signals and turn them into the next round of improvement, and who believe a programme that ships once and leaves is just a release, not a transformation. You are designed to fade into a customer counterpart who owns the improvement rhythm after the engagement ends. If you are excited by turning AI deployments into value that compounds cycle after cycle, this role is for you. **Responsibilities** ### Understanding Customer/Partner Technical Environment - Gathers and propagates customer/partner insights from a broad range of stakeholders as well as the main business sponsor that will help shape and form both the definition and ongoing execution of the project. Learns to identify and evaluate industry trends (customer industry verticals, information technology [IT] industry). - Works with customer/partner stakeholders (e.g., Enterprise Architects, Security Team, Development Team, Operations Team) and business sponsor to socialize both the business solution and the project approach to determine if changes are needed to the business solution. Where the cost of change is accepted by the customer, shares this feedback with the project team and the broader account team to make the necessary adjustments using mechanisms such as updating the solution approach and projected costs in presales and change requests in delivery. - Uses evidence-based approach to function as customer advocate and shares insights with Product Engineering teams and the business with a view to improving Microsoft technologies, products, services, and offerings such that they can better meet customer/partner needs. --- ### Architecture Design and Deployment - Leverages a structured approach to architecture projects using existing methodologies (e.g., Waterfall, Agile, Iterative) that make use of existing reference architecture and established architectural styles and design patterns. Builds and maintains an architecture description document, an architecture decisions log, and a requirements/constraints traceability matrix to ensure the rationale for the business solution's Architecture is known and understood. - Defines and documents the Architecture through an architecture description document, an architecture decisions log, and a requirements/constraints traceability matrix to communicate the value proposition of the business solution along with the project approach. Leads cost-based and technology-based discussions to explain the architecture in terms of its build, deployment, and ongoing operational use to determine customer appetite for the business solution. Uses a business-value approach that values return on investment (ROI) and customer cost-savings over technical ease of execution. - Collaborates with the Project Manager to jointly drive project/technical governance of the design, build, and deployment into use of proof of concepts (POCs) and pilots. Works with customers to understand and demonstrate business value (e.g., release of revenue, cost savings) that the business solution realizes. - Works with the business sponsor and customer/partner stakeholders (e.g., Business Users, Enterprise Architects, Security Team, Operations Team) to gather and ratify requirements and constraints. Manages and resolves ambiguity in the requirements and constraints and documents assumptions and implications where it cannot be resolved. Maintains the requirements/constraints traceability matrix to prove that solution components have a rationale/justification for inclusion in the Architecture of the business solution. Drives development and execution of Test Plans to prove that each requirement/constraint has been implemented as expected by the customer. Where there are defects, works in close collaboration with the Project Manager and Customer to redress or accept and document the status of the test results. - Collaborates with the Account Team and/or Bid Team to understand the business solution/problem. Drives agreement, based on the customer's priorities, requirements/constraints, approach, principles, concepts, and expectations. - Builds and documents a realistically costed Solution Approach with traceability of requirements, constraints, decisions, and tradeoffs that balances risk, technical credibility, and technical innovation to meet customer need, predominantly based on existing solution offerings and/or reference architecture. - Jointly leads the implementation in close partnership with the Project Manager. Exercises oversight and governance and establishes quality practices and standards to realize the business solution. Uses a cohesive build methodology with an agreed release schedule and timeline so the solution can be transitioned to live operations. - Ensures communication of and adherence to the pre-sales value proposition. Works with the Project Manager to highlight where assumptions have proven false. Uses change requests to modify the solution/project approach when needed. - As needed, collaborates with Subject Matter Experts to receive specialized advice that can help define the solution and project approach and increase the time to value for the customer. - Identifies scenarios that could slow or impede pre-sales/delivery. Orchestrates the broader Microsoft team to address technical blockers and works with the account/project team to resolve non-technical issues. Reports significant problems to Microsoft management and escalates when needed. - Plans a way forward in complex and ambiguous situations with an innovative approach and durable design. Delegates and uses specialist skills of others to drive technical alignment across internal/external teams. Coordinates disparate approaches into a single plan of action. - Works in close collaboration with the Project Manager and Account Team to identify, categorize, and communicate business and technical risks. Defines risk mitigation activities that are foundational to the project plan. Defines risk contingency plans for invocation should the risk occur. - When appropriate, oversees a broad portfolio of accounts. Manages and ensures the all-up delivery of consulting engagements, as necessary. --- ### Practice Development - Generates new and/or improvements to existing intellectual property. - Identifies which ideas should be culled. - Drives the re-use of intellectual property and recommends practices in both pre-sales and delivery. - Participates and contributes to internal/external communities. --- ### Trusted Advisor - Develops a network of internal/external relationships to build influence in addressing problems/blockers and facilitating additional views on the matter of interest. - Stays up to date on Microsoft's technologies, products, and services in order to communicate Microsoft's mission, strategy, and capabilities. - Uses evidence-based arguments that articulate complex concepts in a simple manner to respectfully challenge Microsoft and customers/partners when a decision or course of action will not produce optimal results. - Serves as the "technical conscience" to challenge the status quo and unrealistic expectations. - Proactively resolves conflicts and seeks resolution to balance the overall outcome. - Drives consensus where possible and leads decisions to resolve conflict when needed. - Understands competitor solutions and identifies how customer business value can be driven through Microsoft's offerings. - Steers the customer/partner conversations to the benefits of the solution rather than the features and functionalities. --- ### Thought Leadership - Shares ideas, insight, and strategic, technical input with technical teams, internal communities across the field, and the larger virtual team across Microsoft using a thorough knowledge of specific Microsoft products and their context in the competitive landscape. - Participates in external architect community events (e.g., conferences, seminars, technical meetups, webcasts, blogs, hackathons) and shares learnings with internal team. - Acts as a mentor to less experienced colleagues to educate them on technical and non-technical concepts. --- ### Other - Embody our culture and values. **Qualifications** ### Required/Minimum Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field **AND** 6+ years' experience in technology solutions, practice development, architecture, consulting, and/or technology domain (e.g., Security) **OR** - Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field **AND** 4+ years' experience in technology solutions, practice development, architecture, consulting, and/or technology domain (e.g., Security) **OR** - Equivalent experience. --- ### Additional or Preferred Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field **AND** 8+ years' experience in technology solutions, practice development, architecture, consulting, and/or technology domain (e.g., Security) **OR** - Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field **AND** 6+ years' experience in technology solutions, practice development, architecture, consulting, and/or technology domain (e.g., Security) **OR** - Equivalent experience. - 4+ years technical sales experience. - 4+ years project management experience. - Technical or Professional Certification in Domain (e.g., Security). 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.**](https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/accessibility.html)