Launch Operations Manager

Job description

**Overview** The Product Operations team is seeking a Launch Operations Manager who can own complex back-office execution for product and service launches, with an emphasis on applying AI across Product Master Data, operational rules, system readiness, data quality, and operational transformation. This role supports the configuration and movement of product, offer, pricing, regional, channel, and lifecycle data across internal operational systems so launches can be executed accurately, consistently, and at scale. The ideal candidate brings deep operational discipline, hands-on experience working inside enterprise back-office environments, and a passion for AI and innovation. They should be eager to use Microsoft's existing and future AI capabilities to improve Product Operations processes, automate repeatable work where practical, and work in conjunction with AI on the most complex operational asks, including master data quality, rule interpretation, exception handling, workflow automation, and decision support. The position requires strong experience with internal operational system migration, including data migration planning, source-to-target mapping, data validation, system architecture awareness, cutover readiness, issue triage, and post-migration stabilization. The candidate should be able to master complex operational systems and master data processes, operate with autonomy, identify operational risk before it affects launch outcomes, and serve as a change ambassador who influences and leads without authority to drive adoption of new ways of working. **Responsibilities** - Own Product Master Data readiness for product and service launches while using AI-enabled methods to improve accuracy, completeness, validation, and repeatability across product attributes, pricing inputs, regions, channels, lifecycle states, offer relationships, and launch dates. - Translate business, pricing, finance, tax, engineering, and launch requirements into back-office operational data structures, rules, controls, and system execution steps, using AI to accelerate analysis and improve consistency where appropriate. - Use AI and automation to execute and improve quality controls for master data and launch configuration, including pre-launch validation, exception management, root-cause analysis, defect prevention, and evidence-based signoff. - Define, document, and maintain operational rules that govern product setup, offer configuration, pricing behavior, launch timing, marketplace eligibility, and post-launch maintenance, making rules clear enough to support future AI-enabled execution. - Lead operational system migration activities for Product Ops workstreams, including current-state assessment, future-state operating model input, data migration scope, mapping logic, validation strategy, cutover planning, defect triage, and stabilization support. - Partner with system owners and engineering teams to understand system architecture, upstream and downstream dependencies, integration touchpoints, data lineage, and impacts to operational execution. - Use operational metrics, system data, exception trends, and AI-assisted analysis to identify process gaps, drive continuous improvement, strengthen controls, and reduce manual rework in back-office launch operations. - Identify and implement practical AI use cases across Product Operations processes, especially for repeatable work such as master data validation, operational rule analysis, exception detection, knowledge management, launch readiness checks, workflow automation, and productivity improvements. - Apply a growth mindset to evaluate Microsoft AI capabilities, learn emerging tools, test responsible adoption opportunities, and translate AI potential into measurable operational improvements with clear business value. - Create clear operational documentation, including data standards, rule logic, migration playbooks, validation checklists, process maps, and issue-resolution guidance, so repeatable work can be executed consistently by the team and supported by AI-enabled tools. - Act as a senior individual contributor for complex launch scenarios, escalations, operational readiness reviews, and cross-system issue resolution, using AI as a partner for analysis, synthesis, and decision support while applying strong operational judgment. - Serve as a change ambassador for AI-enabled Product Operations practices by influencing and collaborating across Product Ops, engineering, business, and leadership stakeholders, building credibility with peers and leaders, and leading without authority to drive meaningful adoption and business outcomes. **Qualifications** **Minimum / Required Qualifications:** - Bachelor's Degree in Operations, Business Supply Chain, Finance, Business Management, Accounting, Human Resources (HR), Organizational Development or related field AND 4+ years experience in operations or process design or program/project management OR equivalent experience. - This role requires proficiency in written, reading, and conversational English as all business operations as well as customer communications are conducted in English. **Preferred Qualifications:** - Bachelor's degree in Operations, Business, Supply Chain, Information Systems, Data Management, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience in enterprise back-office operations. - 8 to 12 years of experience working with operational rules, product data, catalog operations, offer management, pricing operations, launch operations, ERP, commerce, or similar operational systems. - Demonstrated experience with Product Master Data management, including product attributes, lifecycle status, pricing-related data, marketplace eligibility, regional configuration, and data quality controls. - Hands-on experience supporting internal operational system migration, including data migration, data cleansing, source-to-target mapping, reconciliation, user acceptance testing, cutover support, and stabilization. - Working understanding of system architecture concepts such as upstream and downstream dependencies, integrations, data lineage, data models, roles and permissions, and operational control points. - Experience applying AI, automation, analytics, or intelligent tooling to improve operational processes, especially repeatable work, data quality, rule interpretation, exception management, workflow efficiency, or decision support. - Passion for AI and innovation, with a growth mindset focused on continuous learning, responsible use of technology, and practical application of AI to improve back-office operational effectiveness. - Analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to diagnose data defects, interpret process breakdowns, and recommend practical controls that improve accuracy and speed. - Ability to communicate complex operational details clearly to business stakeholders, system teams, and launch partners, and to influence adoption of new operating practices without relying on formal authority. - Experience with catalog, offer, pricing, commerce, ERP, SAP, or other enterprise operational systems used to manage product launch and lifecycle execution. - Experience designing or improving operational rule frameworks, data governance practices, standard operating procedures, validation controls, and exception-management processes. - Experience acting as a change ambassador, leading process or technology adoption through influence, credibility, storytelling, stakeholder engagement, and practical operational guidance. - Experience identifying repeatable operational work that can be simplified, automated, or augmented with AI while maintaining appropriate controls, accountability, and quality standards. - Experience using AI as a partner for complex analysis, synthesis, exception review, decision support, knowledge retrieval, or operational problem solving. - Ability to lead without authority across cross-functional teams. **Work Location details:** - On‑site presence expected at least three days per week, in alignment with team and business need. 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)