Senior Lease Contruction Manager

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Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO+I) is the business unit responsible for operating Microsoft’s cloud and the Datacenter Construction Delivery (DCD) team is responsible for constructing datacenter capacity. We have a portfolio of complex, multi-disciplinary, multi-million, multi-year datacenter construction and lease projects underway. Our focus is on smart growth, high efficiency, and delivering a trusted experience to customers and partners worldwide. We are looking for an individual to help build the network that powers the world’s largest online services.

The role of the Lease Construction Manager (LCM) requires interpersonal, communication, organizational skills, ability to self-direct, background in datacenter design, engineering, controls, operational requirements, managing teams and vendors, and an emphasis on project/construction management.

The Lease Construction Manager is ultimately responsible for the complete project delivery of Ready for Service (RFS) for each lease site location. The LCM is responsible for ensuring that each project meets the Data Center Development (DCD) guidelines and standards, which may be adjusted from time-to-time based on best practices and Lesson Learned drawn from previous projects as well as industry changing best practice. In addition, LCM will be responsible for ensuring that the lease provider is complying with the Microsoft requirements in the lease contract when delivering a project.

The LCM will coordinate with Microsoft’s Subject Matter Experts (SME) and stakeholders to support the efforts of achieving RFS for each lease datacenter sites. The LCM will manage the deliveries of projects from lease execution through RFS. In managing the delivery of projects, this position aligns team objectives, business processes, vendor management strategies, and cross-group collaboration efforts with the Data Center Development Project Strategy.

The LCM will be a relentless advocate for managing a safe worksite. Safety is one of the four pillars of CO+I’s mission in delivering cloud capacity; joined by Quality, Schedule adherence, and Cost Management. In addition, this position will be responsible in reviewing potential lease sites providing preconstruction expertise and assisting site selection teams in providing feedback on lease provider’s qualifications. LCM will work closely to support the Datacenter Integration Managers (DCI-ITIM) across regions and their respective local sites.

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.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Construction Project Management, Engineering, or related field AND 12+ years related experience (OR equivalent experience).
• 5+ years in construction project management of Datacenters or Mission Critical Facilities working as a Construction Manager, Services Manager or Engineer.
• Construction health & safety knowledge
• Ability to independently manage deadlines and support staff
• Must be able to work within a dynamic team of full-time employees and consultants
• High personal standard to deliver a thoughtful, polished and quality work product
• Strong Verbal and Written Communication Skills
• Excellent client relationship skills
• Willingness to travel 25-50% travel
• Growth mindset

Preferred qualifications:

• 12+ years experience working on data center projects.
• Bachelor's Degree in Construction Project Management, Engineering, or related field AND 12+ years related experience (OR equivalent experience).
• Detailed understanding of Mechanical and Electrical systems to include integrated testing, MOPs/ SOPs of installation, functionality and troubleshooting; etc

Key Responsibilities

• The LCM will be a relentless advocate for managing a safe worksite.
• The LCM will be responsible for identifying and managing stakeholder dependencies and construction deliverables and handoffs with the following Microsoft teams: E2E (End-to-End), Security (DCPS), Data Center Engineering (DCE), Data Center Operations (DC Ops), Site Selection and Acquisition (SSA), Environmental Health & Safety (EHS).
• The LCM will manage lease providers and support associated teams & partners in the delivering RFS “Ready for Service”
• This position will require travel up to 50% of the time to datacenter sites
• Manage & support vendor contracts
• The LCM will be responsible for ensuring regional goals of delivering capacity are aligned to business OKRs
• Identify and track Key Performance Indicator (KPI) to help with improvement in delivery of RFS. Provide feedback and insight to leadership on areas of improvement

Budget and Controls

Monitors the approved project budget, provides oversight, and suggests necessary adjustments for project controls (e.g., Project Expenditure Request (PERs), Professional Services Request (PSRs), Change Orders, Pay Applications, etc.).

Change Management

Partners with the Internal Cloud Operations + Innovation (CO+I) and other Microsoft key stakeholders (e.g., Commercial Software Engineering [CSE], and Real Estate & Facilities [RE&F], etc.) and shares updated process flow information with the project team to ensure new processes are being followed that increase program cost savings and improve overall cycle-time and efficiencies.

Coordination

Attends and advises during scheduled owner/architect/contractor and other project meetings.

Drives Results

Facilitates the delivery of metro-based/campus projects (e.g., new construction and/or retrofits) by making timely data-based decisions in partnership with the local project team and key stakeholders. Champions team and project goals, adhering to business processes, engaging vendor relationships when/where applicable, and fostering positive cross-group collaboration efforts aligned to the program strategy and milestones.

Financial Acumen

Creates and applies best practices to identify and incorporate cost-effective solutions for the strategic and tactical delivery of a construction project. Applies influence, strategy, and decision-making to drive solutions, schedules, and manages change with clients, sponsors, and vendors.

Goal Alignment

Collaborates and contributes needed technical knowledge to internal teams (e.g., Engineering, Operations, Center for International Social Science Research [CISSR], Commercial Software Engineering [CSE], Legal, Project Controls, etc.) and General Contractors/Subcontractors to maintain the corporate vision and goals for the project.

Managing Resources

Oversees timely execution of all procurement activities associated with resourcing and materials necessary for delivering program(s) on time and within project budget forecasts. Evaluates resources and ensures adequate staffing and materials for job completion.

Project Management

Drives campus-based delivery solutions (e.g., new or retrofit data center facilities). Analyzes technical information and provides recommendations to support solutions. Assists campus teams in establishing goals for project teams, assigning responsibilities, measuring performance, and seeking and delivering feedback to achieve timely results.

Project Tracking

Assists with creating and reporting on project progress regarding scope, schedule, standards, and budget.

Risk Mitigation

Communicates risk mitigation goals and develops metrics, dashboards and/or scorecards to track, communicate, and drive progress. Suggests actions to support organizational and national safety goals.

Safety and Regulation

Represents Microsoft as a safety leader and advocate on all Campus/Metro construction programs, ensuring adherence to safety standards and regulatory requirements (e.g., Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA], or equivalent) to ensure compliance and aggressive management of risk. Conducts routine safety program, project, and contractor audits, and performs and participates in incident investigations.

Technical Acumen

Reviews engineering documentation/designs, site, and building plans by examining and analyzing technical information. Identifies potential risks/gaps and provides recommendations to project teams that mitigate risk, and improve overall constructability. Aligns project/program delivery with execution procedures and standards, and ensures alignment with organizational standards and commitments.

Vendor Management

Advises and monitors the performance of vendors and/or contractors, ensuring compliance with contracts and prior audit results. Reviews vendor performance relative to cash flow and budget summaries (with the cost management team) and clarifies those reports in presentations to the delivery and executive teams.

Vendor Selection

Reviews and approves vendor scope of work, design review of site and building plans, pay-application, and invoices.