We are seeking a strategic and experienced Director of Event Venue Strategy, Contracts, and City Engagement to lead all aspects of venue sourcing, contract negotiations, and city and convention and visitor authority relationships for Microsoft’s key events worldwide. This role is ideal for someone with deep experience in the convention and hospitality industry, particularly someone who has worked at or with major convention centers, city visitor authorities, or in event sales and contracting roles in large markets.

As the Director of Event Venue Strategy, Contracts, and City Engagement, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the physical and strategic foundation of Microsoft’s most influential global events. This is a leadership position that blends operational excellence, strategic negotiation, and civic partnership to deliver world-class event experiences that reflect Microsoft’s brand and business priorities. You will lead the end-to-end process of venue sourcing and contracting for high-profile events, including major conventions, executive summits, and global showcases. Your expertise will guide the selection of venues that not only meet technical and logistical requirements but also elevate the attendee experience and align with Microsoft’s innovation-driven identity. This role demands a seasoned professional with deep roots in the convention and hospitality industry - someone who understands the nuances of venue operations, union labor dynamics, and city-level economic impact.

You’ll be the primary liaison between Microsoft and city convention bureaus, tourism boards, and local government stakeholders, forging partnerships that unlock value for both Microsoft and host cities. You’ll also be responsible for negotiating complex contracts with venues and hotels, ensuring favorable terms and seamless execution. Your ability to think creatively about non-traditional spaces and your fluency in economic impact modeling will be key to identifying innovative opportunities that enhance brand visibility and community engagement. In this highly cross-functional role, you’ll collaborate with internal event teams, external vendors, and executive stakeholders to align on timelines, budgets, and strategic goals. You’ll present plans to leadership, manage detailed workback schedules, and ensure that every venue decision supports Microsoft’s broader marketing and business objectives. You will also be the central hub to be able to look across at contracts and venue opportunities to connect the dots within Microsoft, and be able to recommend opportunities to various teams for event moments. This is a rare opportunity to influence how Microsoft shows up in the world, through the spaces we choose, the partnerships we build, and the experiences we create.

Microsoft is on a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Our culture is centered on embracing a growth mindset, a theme of inspiring excellence, and encouraging teams and leaders to bring their best each day. In doing so, we create life-changing innovations that impact billions of lives around the world. You can help Microsoft achieve our mission. The Microsoft Commercial Cloud and AI Marketing team is responsible for accelerating Cloud products and services across the Global Industry and Azure portfolio of Infrastructure, Data and AI, and Digital Applications, and Event Experiences.