Cloud & AI Solution Area Specialist – Education

About the role

The Cloud & AI Solution Area Specialist – Education leads Microsoft’s AI‑driven cloud engagements with universities, ministries of education and research organisations. You will own the end‑to‑end sales journey, from qualified opportunity through commitment, consumption and expansion, helping institutions modernise legacy estates and deploy AI at scale.

Key responsibilities

• Lead discussions with senior academic and technology leaders to qualify and accelerate AI‑focused opportunities, positioning Microsoft as the platform of choice.
• Analyse market whitespace, synthesize AI‑driven insights and shape sales plays that align with education priorities such as student success and research acceleration.
• Own the deal from qualification to close, coordinating account teams, solution engineers, partner solutions and delivery engines to secure large‑scale consumption commitments.
• Maintain pipeline hygiene, use AI‑powered forecasting tools and drive post‑sale adoption and expansion.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical or business field with at least 6 years of technology‑related sales or account‑management experience (8 years preferred).
• Proven experience selling cloud and AI modernization solutions to education, research or public‑sector customers and shaping multi‑year consumption commitments.
• Deep understanding of education sector priorities such as student success, research acceleration and responsible AI.

Required skills

• Microsoft Azure
• Cloud migration and modernization
• AI platform deployment
• Data estate management
• Secure‑by‑design architecture