Principal Learning Program Manager, Credential Growth & Experience

Overview
Microsoft’s Global Skilling organization empowers learners worldwide through innovative learning experiences, industry-recognized credentials, and workforce skilling programs that help individuals and organizations thrive in an AI-driven economy. The Credentialing team manages Microsoft’s credential portfolio, including Certifications, Applied Skills, Pro Badges, and emerging credential offerings that validate skills and enable career growth. We are seeking a Principal Learning Program Manager – Credential Growth & Experience to set and drive the strategy for learner engagement, credential activation, and portfolio growth across Microsoft’s credential ecosystem. Operating at the intersection of credential growth strategy, learner experience, and business growth, this role shapes how learners understand credential value, navigate pathways, earn credentials, and continue building skills over time. This role leads the multi-year activation and expansion strategy to convert engaged audiences into credential earners and increase credentials per learner through progression, stacking, and renewal. Partnering across Marketing, Product, Partner, Field, and Operations, this leader sets portfolio positioning, defines the engagement operating model, and establishes scalable programs and standards that enable coordinated execution and measurable organization-level outcomes. Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond. #E&OJobs, #EOJobs

Responsibilities

Credential Growth & Portfolio Positioning Strategy 

• Own the strategic and positioning narrative for Microsoft's credential portfolio, defining value, progression pathways, and career relevance across credential types, and establishing the frameworks others use to represent it. 

• Define the multi-year activation and expansion strategy that converts engaged learners into their first credential and grows credentials per learner through stacking, laddering, renewal, and continuation. 

• Establish the shared funnel model and operating boundary for credential growth, defining ownership, handoffs, and success measures across the end-to-end learner journey. 

Learner Experience & Insights 

• Own the enterprise view of the learner credential journey, using qualitative and quantitative insights to identify barriers, friction points, and opportunities and inform portfolio direction, experimentation, and credential experiences.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Enablement 

• Define the messaging architecture and go-to-market communications that scale credential growth and adoption across the company. 

• Drive alignment, decision-making, and commitment across Marketing, Product, Partner, Field, and Operations leadership to execute shared strategy across complex initiatives and competing priorities.

Measurement & Business Impact 

• Define activation, conversion, progression, continuation, and credential growth metrics and establish reporting frameworks to measure performance.

• Own accountability for measurable, organization-level business outcomes, and establish repeatable systems and operating practices that improve execution at scale.

Other

• Embody our Culture and Values

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Master's Degree or equivalent AND 5+ years experience in learning and development, product marketing, business development, field or sales, customer success, industry, or program/project management, corporate education learning and development OR Bachelor's degree or equivalent AND 7+ years experience in learning and development, product marketing, business development, field or sales, customer success, industry, or program/project management, corporate education
  • OR equivalent experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Track record defining strategy and direction for learner engagement, product growth, portfolio strategy, product marketing, or program management at scale, including driving outcomes in ambiguous environments with accountability for results.
• Demonstrated ownership of activation, conversion, retention, expansion, or engagement metrics that drive measurable business outcomes.
• Experience translating complex products, portfolios, or programs into compelling narratives, including executive- and VP-level storytelling and influence.
• Ability to lead large, ambiguous cross-functional initiatives across multiple organizations, dependencies, and senior decision-makers.
• Experience leveraging customer insights, analytics, experimentation, or journey mapping to improve outcomes.
• Experience with learning, credentialing, or workforce skilling programs that help individuals demonstrate validated skills.

Integrated Learning & Skilling IC6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $130,900 - $277,200 per year. 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 $165,600 - $303,600 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. 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 with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.