Higher Education Industry Advisor - Microsoft Jobs, Toronto

AI Summary

This role at Microsoft Canada in Toronto seeks a Higher Education Industry Advisor to lead digital transformation and AI-first strategies for strategic education customers. Key duties involve building executive relationships, orchestrating multi-account engagements, and driving high-impact solution sales focused on cloud, AI, and security. Top requirements include a Master's or Bachelor's degree with extensive customer-facing experience, coupled with deep expertise in the Higher Education sector and relevant technology. This position is open for a minimum of five days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis.

Driving Digital Transformation in Higher Education

As a senior industry expert, the Higher Education Industry Advisor at Microsoft Canada plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of education through digital transformation. This position focuses on driving industry-led sales strategy and AI-first transformation agendas for Microsoft’s most strategic Higher Education customers in the region. The successful candidate will build trusted executive relationships and orchestrate complex, multi-account engagements to deliver measurable outcomes in teaching, learning, research, and institutional operations. Operating with broad scope and impact, this role involves enabling and coaching account teams, sharing worldwide best practices, and scaling repeatable solutions across the region. Cloud, AI (with a focus on “Agentic AI”), and Security are central to this technology-driven position, requiring the ability to translate advanced AI capabilities like Copilots and autonomous workflows into clear value propositions and large-scale opportunities for Higher Education leaders. This involves leading multi-year, multi-horizon digital transformation planning for multiple accounts, mapping senior stakeholders, and aligning Microsoft solutions with customer priorities. The depth of experience required ensures a robust approach to industry challenges and opportunities within the education sector.

Strategic Leadership and Technology Expertise

This critical role demands significant industry leadership and engagement, serving as the Higher Education subject-matter expert in both internal planning and customer interactions. The advisor provides thought leadership on education trends, including AI-enabled learning, research innovation, policy shifts, and security postures, helping to co-create transformation visions and roadmaps with senior customer executives. A key responsibility is to own and drive high-impact solution selling in Higher Education, from early opportunity development through to agreement and adoption. This includes originating, qualifying, and advancing large transformational cloud, security, and AI opportunities, such as M365 Copilot and agentic solutions. Identifying new solution scenarios and relevant EdTech partners to address white-space needs and create new value for institutions is also crucial. The role requires a Master's Degree in a related field with at least eight years of customer-facing experience, or a Bachelor's Degree with ten years of equivalent experience in areas like management consulting, technology, or public sector. Extensive Higher Education sector experience, coupled with a proven history of advising institutional leaders on digital transformation, is highly preferred. Deep expertise in AI, security, and cloud technologies, along with an understanding of education trends and challenges, is essential for success in this demanding technology-focused position.

Collaboration, Continuous Learning, and Responsible AI

The Higher Education Industry Advisor is also responsible for leading and orchestrating complex, multi-stakeholder deals, aligning account teams, technical specialists, and partners to ensure successful outcomes. This involves engaging at CxO and board levels to articulate end-state visions and compelling business cases that secure executive buy-in. Demand generation through industry thought leadership, executive briefings, and AI envisioning workshops is a vital component, positioning Microsoft as a trusted innovation partner. Collaboration and ecosystem development are paramount, orchestrating cross-team efforts and driving repeatable partner motions with education ISVs and global integrators to scale proven solutions. The role also encompasses coaching and enablement for Microsoft field teams, fostering a culture of industry-focused selling excellence by sharing insights and best practices. Continuous learning is expected, maintaining deep expertise in relevant AI use cases for Higher Education, staying current on industry developments, technology advances, and regulatory requirements. Finally, championing responsible AI adoption in Higher Education is a core responsibility, guiding customers on governance, responsibility frameworks, and compliance aligned with Microsoft’s principles and local regulations. This comprehensive approach ensures that Microsoft’s technology drives positive and ethical transformation across the education landscape.