Welcome to the June edition of our International Careers Newsletter. In this edition we meet Fiona Mullan - HR Director in Ireland - who tells us about recent success for Microsoft both in Ireland and across Europe, and why she loves working at the company. You'll also find a selection of open jobs and a summary of the latest and greatest content available on our Websites and communities.

This is a selection of open jobs across some of our local offices in Microsoft International. Access our Global Careers Site in order to get an overview of open jobs across the company. You can view full details and requirements for each position by clicking on the relevant job title.

China, Beijing
Windows Consumer Business Group Lead
Lead Windows Consumer marketing strategy and Windows eco-system development. Responsible for the Internet Explorer 8 and Windows 7 launches.

National Delivery Director – Support & Health
The National Delivery Director - Support & Health is responsible for leading teams of services professionals in China toward profitable and sustained high-quality delivery of premier support services to customers. He/she will be solely focused on Premier Service Delivery Management, including Resource Management, overseeing Support Engagement Managers and Technical Account Managers.

Test Lead
We are looking for a talented Test Lead with great leadership skills and a passion for agility, quality, efficiency, and the desire and ability to learn new techniques and drive innovation. The successful applicant will lead and build a dedicated team of high-caliber individuals who greatly enjoy working together as we deliver on our technology across both Developed and Emerging markets.

China, Shenzhen
Senior Software Development Engineer
Our team owns SMS messaging for Microsoft, the Windows Live ID mobile experience and all client work not being done on Microsoft platforms. We are undergoing a period of rapid growth and require technical leadership to help make the most of our opportunities.

Germany
EMEA Solution Technical Executive
Microsoft Health Solutions Group (HSG) is expanding in DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and seeks a senior pre-sales technical professional with a deep understanding of the health industry, a proven sales track record (supporting a pipeline of opportunities to close), agility in developing and managing executive enterprise relationships, and experience working as an effective team member.

Greater China Region, Hong Kong
Consulting Delivery Director
We are looking for a Consulting Delivery Director to lead our services professionals toward profitable and sustained high-quality delivery of services to customers. He/she will manage the supply and delivery of a Services Cluster. The Consulting Delivery Director is focused on Delivery Management, including Resource Management, overseeing Architects, Consultants, Engagement Managers and Project Managers within a practice.

Ireland, Dublin
Operations Specialist
BA/BS or equivalent required, plus 2-5 years demonstrated work experience in an operations environment - typically account management, customer service, business operations, licensing, services, supply chain management or logistics. Language requirements: Fluency in English plus one or more of the following languages: French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, Polish and in particular Arabic, Hungarian, Czech.

Operations Category Manager
Establish and maintain the appropriate category architecture - right product, right tier, right price, and right customer across multiple channels. Assist Business Groups in developing profitable pricing strategies for category products. This position will work across various Entertainment & Devices (E&D) groups to develop the operational framework to support category management.

Senior Operations Account Manager - BIOS (Business Incubation & Online Services)
A partner-facing role, operations account managers (OAMs) are accountable for positive relationships and results with online services syndication partners (SSPs) and other strategic business partners that support Microsoft’s emerging businesses.

Senior Program Manager- BIOS (Business Incubation & Online Services)
A "breadth" role, incubations program managers are accountable for the design, utility, and fiscal and satisfaction (customer and partner) results of Trial-to-Cash (T2C) operating models for Microsoft’s emerging businesses. This includes - among others - businesses such as online/Software+Services, business and client groups, products, services, and hybrid new businesses and acquisitions.

French Retail Services Manager
This role requires a motivated self starter who is capable of proactively managing our key accounts, in addition to identifying and implementing improvement initiatives with these customers. Driving towards a best in class experience for our customers, the role-holder will also possess the ability to manage strategic projects to successful implementation. This position will afford you the opportunity to work across all functions in the regional supply chain. Language requirements: Fluency in French. Work experience within French retail is also required.

Russia, Moscow
Consumer General Manager
Profitably build and grow a market leading consumer software, online services and advertiser/publisher business by delivering a distinctive end-to-end consumer experience, supported by a world class sales and marketing team.

Singapore
General Manager, Asia Pacific Enterprise Sales
The individual in this role will assume responsibility for the Enterprise account segment by driving revenue and ensuring customer and partner satisfaction and loyalty. He/she will be responsible for ensuring a coordinated approach to Microsoft’s Enterprise sales strategy, and will achieve this by collaborating with Asia Pacific HQ/Subsidiaries and relevant WW teams.

General Manager, South East Asia
The person in this role will be responsible for the overall subsidiary business performance (people, revenue and profitability) for Vietnam, Bangladesh, Brunei, Sri Lanka and the Philippines (150 employees) including the short and long-term performance of the five commercial business groups. Additionally, the GM is accountable for key company initiatives, including improving customer and partner experience (CPE), managing the Commercial Software Initiative (CSI), and leading work in the area of Citizenship.

United Kingdom, Reading
EMEA Financial Controller – Entertainment & Devices Division
We are looking for someone to provide world class finance and business performance support, control and analysis to maximize revenue and profitability of the Specialized Devices & Applications (SDA) and Windows Platform and Office (WPO) Retail Groups in EMEA.

Microsoft was recently named the Best Large Workplace in Europe 2009 - the second consecutive year the company has won the award. Presented by The Great Place to Work Institute, the award recognises companies who make significant investment in people to provide exceptional working environments, practices, benefits and recognition.

In addition, Microsoft was recognised in the top 100 Best Workplaces for all 16 European countries that participated in the awards, and attained #1 position in Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Spain.

To recognise the achievement we caught up with Fiona Mullan, HR Director for Microsoft Ireland, to get her thoughts on why Microsoft has done so well.

From your personal experiences at Microsoft, why do you think the company has been recognised with these awards, both in Ireland and across Europe?
Trust has played a significant part in Microsoft winning these awards. At Microsoft, we’re honest enough to know we’re not perfect but we try to make sure that all of our people play an active role in the success of the company.

This starts with the relationship between employees and managers. Fundamentally, the relationship must be one of trust, one that is strong enough to be able to ask or be asked direct and challenging questions.

Additionally, part of being successful at Microsoft is being who you are - you don’t have to conform to a type, you just have to be passionate about what you do, our technology and our customers. That’s what connects us.

In the last year we’ve spent time understanding more about the people at Microsoft in Ireland. Employees were asked to share their personal stories on video, and the results captured not only the diversity within the company, but also what we have in common – the passion to succeed and the feeling that Microsoft is the best place for us to do this!

What’s the next step - how is Microsoft planning to build on this success?
We are really proud of our achievements in 2009 but are not going to become complacent. In this challenging business environment it’s more important than ever to have a strong and committed organization in place so that we can respond to our business challenges and opportunities. It’s our employees who will drive the innovation and agility that will be our competitive advantage. Continuous improvement, open communications around the decisions the company makes, soliciting input to those decisions and feedback once they are made, as well as continuing to give people the opportunity to develop and realize their potential will continue to be key parts of the culture and the continued success of the company.

More generically, please provide examples of Microsoft’s recent investments in becoming the employer of choice across multiple European locations?
Microsoft has made great investment in office environments across Europe, including flexible benefits and technology to empower and enable its staff.

As an example Microsoft Netherlands has implemented the New World of Work, in which every employee decides for themselves when, where, and how to work with leadership based on trust and not on control. A recent survey confirmed that this has improved the work-life balance for 83% of Microsoft employees.

What has been your biggest challenge whilst working at Microsoft and how has the company supported you?
The ability to realize your potential at Microsoft - is not just a tag line, it’s a real part of working here. When you’re given the opportunity to do something, you’re expected to do it very well. Sometimes this can be a little daunting – particularly when it’s something you haven’t done before – but you’re provided with the support and encouragement required to be successful.

I feel empowered at Microsoft. I get to manage how and when my work is done and my manager is only focused on the output of my work and the success that it brings. Now, that’s a win-win situation!

The Microsoft International Tech Jobs blog has been developed independently by a Microsoft employee working within the Ireland hub of Core Tech. Inside the blog, you’ll discover the types of development opportunities existing in our European and Asian regions with Microsoft. You can also read accounts of some of the roles available and find out what each involves, as well as watch videos from some of our employees.

Meet Stephane, for instance, a software engineer within the Zurich development centre and learn about how he applies multimedia technologies enabling customers to communicate in new and dynamic ways.

The blog is designed to be as interactive as it is informative. We encourage you to send messages and leave comments, enabling our employees to create a powerful resource for anyone interested in hearing about Core Tech direct from our people.