Digital Partner Marketing Manager

VML

Department: Marcomms

Location: London, United Kingdom

Requisition ID: 11769

Who We Are:

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse. 

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences.  Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work. 

We are seeking a highly skilled Digital Partner Marketing Manager (DPMM) to join our team as the primary face of Microsoft towards our partner ecosystem. This role combines marketing consultancy expertise with relationship management, requiring someone who can serve as both a strategic marketing advisor and trusted consultant to our partners, including ISVs, Cloud Solution Providers, and hardware partners across Microsoft's full product portfolio.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Marketing Consultancy:

  • Develop and recommend comprehensive marketing strategies aligned with partner business goals and Microsoft's objectives
  • Provide expert guidance on positioning, messaging, and value propositions tailored to partner offerings across Microsoft's ecosystem (Cloud solutions, Office 365, Dynamics 365, and hardware)
  • Act as the primary consultant for partners on B2B marketing trends, best practices, and emerging opportunities in the tech/cloud space

Partnership Enablement & Education:

  • Serve as the main point of contact and first line of defence for partners seeking marketing guidance
  • Educate partners on how Microsoft-partner relationships work, including available benefits, incentives, and certification pathways
  • Provide ongoing training and consultation on customer journey optimisation and audience segmentation strategies
  • Keep partners informed about Microsoft offerings, discounts, and co-marketing opportunities

Campaign Development & Execution:

  • Collaborate with partners to plan and execute partner-led marketing campaigns across digital, social, and direct channels
  • Oversee end-to-end campaign processes with a consultative approach, providing strategic guidance rather than operational execution
  • Monitor performance and provide data-driven recommendations for optimisation
  • Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders while maintaining the consultative relationship focus

Relationship Management & Client Representation:

  • Build and maintain strong consultative relationships with assigned partners, understanding their unique business challenges and growth objectives
  • Represent Microsoft with confidence and authority in all partner interactions
  • Act as a trusted advisor to partner marketing leaders, providing insights that drive business alignment and shared success
  • Ensure seamless communication between Microsoft and partners while serving as their primary advocate

Performance Measurement:

  • Work with regional teams to track marketing investment impact through the co-marketing dashboard processes
  • Provide partners with ROI analysis and strategic recommendations based on campaign performance data

Required Skills and Behaviours:

Technical & Marketing Expertise:

  • A strong understanding of B2B marketing within the tech/cloud/IT sector, combined with specific knowledge of Microsoft ecosystem products and services, will be highly advantageous.
  • Proven expertise in digital marketing trends, brand positioning, sales funnel optimisation, and audience segmentation
  • Strong technical acumen to understand and communicate complex cloud solutions and technology partnerships

Consultative & Communication Skills:

  • Exceptional consultative abilities - approaching client relationships as a trusted advisor rather than a traditional account manager
  • Outstanding listening skills to truly understand partner needs and co-develop targeted marketing strategies
  • Confident, charismatic communicator able to represent Microsoft with influence and clarity
  • Excellent writing ability for crafting persuasive, strategic recommendations that drive action

Leadership & Relationship Building:

  • Strong relationship-building skills with a consultative mindset focused on long-term partner success
  • Self-driven and autonomous professional able to operate independently while maintaining high standards
  • A proven ability to foster collaboration and shared success between Microsoft and its diverse partner ecosystem is a very strong plus. 

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or related field
  • 5+ years of B2B marketing experience, preferably in the tech/cloud/IT sector
  • Proven track record in partner management or marketing consultancy roles (experience with companies like VMware or similar tech partnerships highly valued)
  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to optimise strategies based on data insights
  • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with a consultative approach
  • Native English proficiency
  • Experience with Microsoft partner ecosystem or similar technology partnership programs preferred

What Makes This Role Unique:

This position represents a shift toward a more consultative, relationship-focused approach to partner marketing management. Rather than traditional operational account management, you'll serve as Microsoft's strategic marketing consultant to partners, helping them navigate the benefits and opportunities within Microsoft's ecosystem while building long-term, trust-based relationships that drive mutual success.

#LI-EMEA

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers. 

VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. 

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.