Do you have a passion for using Microsoft technology to empower consumers through the use of incredible and transformative products? The U.S. Retail Sales and Marketing Team is looking for Microsoft Market Consultant to promote the extraordinary Microsoft ecosystem within Microsoft Windows Stores located in Best Buy. We're looking for high-energy people who thrive on delivering the best customer experience possible. Warm and casual, yet knowledgeable and current, we live to delight our customers every time they visit. The Microsoft Windows Store Consultants are individuals who love to interact with people to revolutionize the Microsoft brand at Best Buy. We're looking for someone who has fanaticism for Microsoft technologies and the ability to convert retail employees and customers into fanatical brand advocates of the Microsoft ecosystem. You will have to be someone who loves to influence, shape and design outcomes to help Microsoft compete and win! Microsoft will discover potential you didn't know you had, push your limits, and inspire you to make a real impact on the industry and the world!
As a Microsoft Market Consultant , you will wear many hats and serve as a trainer, educator, event consultant and product expert to both customers and employees at Best Buy. You will manage and support the training, merchandising, events, and operations of the Microsoft product ecosystem within Best Buy. Representing Microsoft and working in our Windows Stores at Best Buy puts you at the center of the customer shopping experience and your role will span many facets of the retail experience. You will be expected to build relationships, earn the trust of employees and customers alike as you engage, educate, excite and empower those around you. Being able to educate through demonstration, training and product evangelism techniques will have to be what you love to do every day!
As a Microsoft Market Consultant, you will serve as a friendly and insightful primary point of contact for our customers, Best Buy Retail Pros and management staff. You will be training and partnering with Best Buy's in stores within an assigned District. You'll also be responsible for inspecting what we expect and funneling feedback to corporate for overall improvement ideas, maintaining visual merchandising excellence to represent the Microsoft Brand while engaging customers through exciting and powerful product demonstrations and Retail Pro's trainings. You will also manage the Microsoft business in the Windows Store within Best Buy and be accountable for driving performance at the store level.
Summary of essential job functions:
Support Best Buy employees and customers discover, enable, and implement high value Microsoft technology solutions and services across a broad range of devices that meet their individual needs and exceed their expectations.
Maintain expert level product knowledge in all Microsoft retail consumer products, devices, and services.
Self-educate, share specialized knowledge, and expertly demonstrate and present the newest product and service offerings across all devices.
Ability to coach and influence Best Buy store partners in driving positive business results to meet or exceed Performance Targets.
Build collaborative internal and external partnerships in the development of the necessary tools and program offerings that will lead to long-term mutual partner outcomes.
Maintain Microsoft merchandising standards in accordance with Microsoft brand guidelines.
Provide store level insights to Channel, Sales, and Category teams influence marketing and sales programs and strategies.
Transfer Microsoft evangelism of products through in-person group presentations, training events, and conference calls.
Support and manage the Microsoft business for up to 5 stores: including aligning training and other store business needs
A typical work week would run Tuesday-Saturday, with Sunday and Monday off.
Assisting Microsoft Experts/Consultants, in side-by-side sales interactions, as well as individualized
Responsibilities
Data Analysis
Monitors incoming data (e.g., individual unit sale contributions, store environment index, customer service net promoter scores, other key performance indicators (KPI)), and provides results to internal and external retail store contacts. Identifies trends in the data and makes targeted improvement plans that address sales performance gaps. Performs routine audits of sales performance, operations, and training via store visit report.
Collaboration
Partners with internal and external teams to align and execute sales strategies, visual merchandising (e.g., placement, signage), and knowledge base. Probes retail staff and leadership (e.g., General Manager and District Manager) to better understand potential improvements for store performance and sales culture, and takes required actions to meet goals. Partners with internal peers and external stakeholders to ask/share best practices and review performance. Partners with staff within the coverage area to plan for the coming year.
Educate Staff
Develops and facilitates onboarding and training sessions to instill a sales culture within and/or outside of retail store locations. Evaluates Microsoft Expert coachings and follows the rhythm of the contract between the retail partner and Microsoft. Engages in side-by-side selling (e.g., observing sales staff), coaching, and role playing with retail staff to improve sales interactions, provide better customer service, and increase unit sales. Ensures others can evangelize the Microsoft brand. Explains the performance metrics, the reasons behind the numbers, and coaches sales staff in stores and virtually as needed to boost unit sales. Develops and facilitates training on product knowledge at Microsoft locations. Analyzes business, partners with store leadership, and facilitates morning trainings on product knowledge for departments or stores.
Growth Mindset
Asks for and integrates supervisory, peer, and partner feedback, seeks mentorship, shadows experienced staff, and provides/receives peer-to-peer accountability. Pursues up-to-date knowledge about Microsoft ecosystems and Windows store execution and the retailer's sales culture and goals. Plans additional development time (e.g., development plan, stretch assignment) to improve performance. Networks by attending events and proactively reaches out to internal and external stakeholders.
Influencing Without Authority
Adapts communication style for each sales and leadership level to align strategies, garner buy in, and increase sales. Establishing oneself as a creditable partner and subject matter expert, reviews performance outcomes (e.g., profitability, customer satisfaction), and helps instill new behaviors in retail sales staff and peers to drive accountability. Ensures a balance partner and Microsoft priorities.
Manage a Portfolio of Stores
Partners with the retail leadership staff at the store and market levels daily to craft, understand, and execute the strategic plans for each store within a coverage area. Identifies trends in successfully performing stores and adjusts schedule to maintain growth and manage gaps of low-performing stores to increase revenue. Aligns Microsoft goals and execution strategies with those of the retailer's leadership team. Prioritizes time between store locations both physically and virtually to ensure sales success across all locations. Consistently supports and openly communicates with retail store leadership partners and quickly responds to questions from retail partner.
Problem Solving
Determines root causes of problems and devises solutions. Observes retail staff to understand how they could be positioning Microsoft better or selling more units, and builds strategies while providing feedback so staff can meet these goals. Reviews scorecards and ensures staff communications are ideal. Escalates and follows up on a variety merchandising and other issues to appropriate channels (e.g., Partner Store, Microsoft leaders) in alignment with the policy of the internal and external stakeholder.
Visual Merchandising
Evaluates the merchandise setup in Partner stores and positions products accordingly to maximize impact and sales. Partners with Store Leadership to communicate visual standards and confirm visual placement. Leverages the Store Environment Index report and Microsoft Store Visit Report to cascade feedback to internal and external stakeholders. Reviews all Microsoft ecosystems and Windows store executions to ensure they meet brand standards.
Other
Embody our culture and values
Qualifications
Required/Minimum Qualifications
High School Diploma or equivalent AND 3+ years retail experience
OR Bachelor's Degree AND 1+ year(s) retail experience.
End to end customer service/people rapport building skills, both 1:1 and in a group environment
Additional or Preferred Qualifications
High School Diploma or equivalent AND 5+ years retail experience
OR Bachelor's Degree AND 3+ years leadership retail experience AND 1+ year(s) multi-unit experience.
Remote multi-unit support and/or managerial experience
Passion for and usage of Microsoft products and technology.
Detail-oriented with solid written and verbal communication skills, problem-solving and presentation skills, and multi-tasking ability
Teaching or training experience
Prior experience selling technology or other consumer products
Thrive in a fast paced, dynamic, public facing environment and ability to be flexible and adaptable to ever-changing business demands
Team player and ability to get along with others.
College degree and/or equivalent work experience.
Partner Store Market Consulting ATR-D - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $30.14 - $50.72 per hour. 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 $36.68 - $53.75 per hour.
Learn more about base pay ranges and pay equity: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-retail-pay
Microsoft will accept applications for the role until June 19, 2025.
CSO
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, 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 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) .
