Cloud & AI Solution Specialist-CTJ- POLY

Job ID: 200057947Posted: 2026-09-29Location: United States, Maryland, Annapolis JunctionSalary: USD $133,000 - $222,700 per yearEmployment type: Full-TimeWork site: 2 days / week in-officeRole type: Individual ContributorTravel: 25-50%Profession: SalesDiscipline: Solution Area SpecialistsCompany: MicrosoftOverviewAre you passionate about AI and eager to help transform how the Federal Government delivers on its mission? Join our Cloud & AI Platform Federal team as we help government customers harness the power of cloud and AI to modernize their technology environments, strengthen mission capabilities, and accelerate innovation.As trusted advisors and subject matter experts, we work alongside Federal customers to modernize infrastructure, optimize operations, and unlock new possibilities with Azure and AI. Whether modernizing environments to be AI-ready, accelerating innovation with AI agents and platforms, empowering developers with AI capabilities, or unifying and modernizing data estates, we help customers build secure, scalable technology solutions that support critical mission outcomes.In this role, you'll be at the forefront of AI transformation across the Federal Government, helping customers navigate complex technology, security, compliance, and mission requirements while developing strategies that enable them to realize the full potential of cloud and AI. You'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by helping agencies modernize, innovate, and advance some of the nation's most important missions.As a Cloud & AI Solution Specialist, you will serve as a solution sales expert within our Federal sales organization, working with strategic government customers across a broad Azure portfolio. You will collaborate closely with technical specialists, partners, customer success, engineering, and consulting resources to advance customer priorities, accelerate cloud and AI adoption, grow Azure consumption, and achieve revenue objectives across your assigned accounts.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.ResponsibilitiesCustomer EngagementLeads the sales strategy tailored to each customer's security priorities, showcasing Microsoft's dedication to secure, AI-powered transformation and addressing their specific needs within the customer success plan, fostering long-term partnerships through AI-driven insights. Leads partner teams and resources and fosters lasting relationships that activate co-selling strategies and drive partner attach to each opportunity through every stage in the sales lifecycle. Leads partner organization connections (i.e. GPS) that lead to enduring relationships, shared gains, partner health and alignment with execution plans to accelerate customer value realization at scale.Assesses and qualifies sales opportunities following sales frameworks and guidelines, ensuring alignment with AI-enhanced sales methodologies and best practices. Leads strategy development for driving and closing complex, high-value opportunities. Partners across organizations (e.g., Account Team Unit [ATU], CSU, ISD, GPS) to drive deal orchestration and ensure seamless handoffs throughout the deal lifecycle. Advances best practices to gain customer trust, secure deals, and strategically mitigate risks to enhance sales activities across the market.Sales & Pipeline ManagementStrategically analyzes business and emerging opportunities to enhance the customer portfolio and drive customer innovation. Integrates technology (e.g., AI sales agents, automation, Power Platforms) to accelerate growth across assigned domain. Employs comprehensive analysis of propensity, renewal, consumption, and usage data to refine and execute sales strategy. Manages optimization of partners assigned to each account and/or opportunity to ensure seamless handoffs with other teams (e.g., Global Partner Solutions [GPS], Customer Success Unit [CSU], Industry Solutions Delivery [ISD], Partner) throughout the deal lifecycle.Leads sales pipeline reviews with internal senior stakeholders to drive forecasting accuracy and meeting sales targets, ensuring the use of AI-powered analytics and forecasting tools to enhance precision. Coaches others on and maintains sales and/or consumption pipeline hygiene to enable tracking to achieve assigned sales metrics using all available tools, resources, and processes Coaches others on and leads to achieve usage and/or consumption pipeline hygiene targets to actively monitor adoption trends, identify opportunities for intervention, enabling customers to realize the value of solutions purchased, drive expansion, and ensure healthier, more predictable renewals.Sales StrategyLeads discussions with senior stakeholders and decision makers for high-value customers to identify, qualify, and accelerate sales opportunities. Serves as a key point of contact for, and partners with internal senior stakeholders within and across organizations to strategically drive customer success. Proactively engages with account teams to align the customer's artificial intelligence (AI) transformation vision with their business priorities and success objectives. Ensures the integration of security principles in customer interactions, opportunity, and pursuits to maintain trust and compliance standards.Leads collaborations with others on whitespace analysis and leverages expertise to identify and capitalize on business opportunities and market gaps within the assigned market domain, utilizing AI-driven market intelligence tools to assess trends and insights. Integrates and translates market intelligence, trends, and insights to inform team strategy. Refines and evolves the established market analysis approach to ensure proactive alignment with strategic directives and emerging market trends.Synthesizes evaluation of the solution area(s) and market to strategically align sales plays with complex customer priorities and outcomes, incorporating AI-driven predictive analytics to forecast future market needs. Drives cross-functional collaboration to propose and prioritize solutions and strategies that drive customer business objectives. Proactively identifies and addresses gaps, setting the direction for market engagement and sales execution.Leads partnerships with others cross-organizationally and guides the development of solutions to enable AI- and cloud-driven transformations for existing and new customers within the region, emphasizing the integration of cutting-edge AI technologies and cloud services. Crafts and refines strategies and engages with customers to distinguish Microsoft’s offerings in the competitive landscape. Acts as a subject matter expert and trusted advisor for customers and drives the adoption of technologies and solutions that align and advance their strategic goals and drive digital transformation.QualificationsRequired QualificationsBachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, Information Security, or related field AND 6+ years experience in technology-related sales or account managementOR equivalent experience.Other Requirements:Security Clearance Requirements: Candidates must be able to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings: The successful candidate must have an active U.S. Government Top Secret Clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) based on a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) with Polygraph. Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required pre-offer and post-hire for this role. Failure to maintain or obtain the appropriate U.S. Government clearance and/or customer screening requirements may result in employment action up to and including termination.Clearance Verification: This position requires successful verification of the stated security clearance to meet federal government customer requirements. You will be asked to provide clearance verification information prior to an offer of employment. Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter. Citizenship & Citizenship Verification: This position requires verification of U.S citizenship due to citizenship-based legal restrictions. Specifically, this position supports United States federal, state, and/or local United States government agency customers and is subject to certain citizenship-based restrictions where required or permitted by applicable law. To meet this legal requirement, citizenship will be verified via a valid passport, or other approved documents, or verified US government clearance.Preferred QualificationsMaster's Degree in Business Administration (i.e., MBA), Information Technology, Information Security, or related field AND 8+ years experience in technology-related sales or account management OR Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, Information Security, or related field AND 12+ years experience in technology-related sales or account managementOR equivalent experience.6+ years solution or services sales experience.Solution Area Specialists IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $133,000 - $222,700 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 $170,300 - $239,800 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: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.