Within CO+I, the Datacenter Construction Delivery (DCD) team is responsible for delivering datacenter capacity for Microsoft’s cloud business. We have a portfolio of complex, multi-disciplinary, multi-million, multi-year datacenter construction and lease projects.
As we expand in existing countries and into new geographies in EMEA we are seeking an Senior Lease Project Programme Manager with the ability to self-direct and who has a strong background in Data Center Construction with an emphasis on project and construction management. The individual requires strong interpersonal, communication, planning and organizational skills, strong business acumen and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment across multiple projects. The identified candidate will be accountable for assessing the Lessor construction capabilities, overseeing construction delivery, managing risk and coordination with internal stakeholders on a diverse portfolio of Lease projects with multiple Lessors in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands and to support other regions if required.
In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day.
The Senior Lease Project Manager is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the Lease provider safely delivers the construction and commissioning of each project to the defined Early Access and Ready For Service (RFS) milestones.
Responsibilities include:
Project Management
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Drives deployment of large-scale campus-based delivery solutions that have the potential to be used globally across entire portfolios (e.g., new and/or retrofit datacenter facilities). Develops/establishes program/project goals for teams, assigns overall responsibilities, ensures performance measurements, and seeks and delivers feedback to achieve timely results.
Change Management
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Analyzes the industry for best practices and internal process flows to recommend changes resulting in cost savings, enhanced customer service, or improved asset management.
Drives Results
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Makes decisions and influences partners to facilitate and accomplish complex issues impacting global construction projects (e.g., establishing and executing upon team goals, following business processes, engaging vendor relationships, and fostering cross-group collaboration efforts with the agreed-upon project strategy and milestones).
Managing Resources
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Manages any alterations made to the project scope and adjusts the overall plan to accommodate for these changes.
Coordination
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Acts as the primary point of contact for project development and delivery. Shapes and implements regional construction execution plans. Initializes and identifies opportunities to discuss and integrate lessons learned. Participates in and may drive Microsoft partner engagement, communications plans, and community events.
Goal Alignment
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Develops and maintains productive relationships with implementation partners, Operations, Security, Authorities having jurisdiction, and regional corporate leadership. Engages and sources other internal teams (e.g., Security (OSSC), Information Technology (MSIT), Legal, Project Engineering, Business Risk Management, etc.) to maintain the corporate vision and create goals for the project. Advises and directs internal teams and supporting specialty consultants to update and edit the Basis of Design (BOD) as needed.
Safety and Regulation
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Interprets safety standards and regulatory requirements (e.g., ADA) to direct and enforce compliance and aggressive management of risk. Creates and reinforces safety program routines and project and contractor audits. Demands safe environments/work sites and participates in governance, policies, and decision-making regarding risk compliance and management.
Risk Mitigation
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Establishes and communicates risk mitigation goals and develops metrics, dashboards and/or scorecards to drive progress. Presents and reports goals and progress to regional executive leadership.
Vendor Management
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Develops, reviews, and approves vendor scope of work, design review of site and building plans, pay-application, and invoices.
Vendor Selection
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Reviews and approves vendor scope of work, design review of site and building plans, pay-application, and invoices.
Financial Acumen
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Creates, applies, and shares best practices to identify and drive cost-effective solutions for the strategic and tactical delivery of a construction project. Applies influence, strategy, and decision-making to drive solutions, schedules, and manage change with clients, sponsors, vendors, and operational units including lower-level staff and internal partners.
Budget and Controls
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Develops and reports on scope, schedule, and budget of project. Implements project controls in work activities (e.g., project expenditure requests (PERs), Professional Service Requests (PSRs), change orders, and pay applications). Reduces cycle time, improves quality, and identifies and implements ways to lower cost.
Additional Responsibilities:
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Reviewing the submitted Lease RFP/SOQs and working with the Lessor to ensure the inclusion of a compliant realistic schedule and an adequate project delivery organizational structure.
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When the Lease has been executed, setting up and managing, on site and remotely, regular Lessor reporting forums to Microsoft Lease PM and Internal Stakeholders to assess safety compliance, construction and commissioning progress, quality and design compliance, understand and manage risk and change and coordinate with all internal stakeholders including;
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Coordinating with the Site Selection Team on SOQ compliance and Lease Contract Amendments
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Carry out site safety walks and coordinate with the Lessor to ensure adequate competent Lessor oversight is in place, incidents are tracked, and RCAs completed. Coordinate with the Microsoft Collaborative Planning & Safety Teams on setting up CP and Lessor site visits.
- Coordinating with the Commissioning Manager to ensure visibility and support for the Independent Commissioning Agents Level 4 and IST testing.
- Coordinating with the Integration Manager and supporting Integration IT fit out.
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Working with the Lessor to define Risk and Lessors risk mitigation plans and advising High Confidence schedule delivery assessments and delivery risks to the End To End Team and other stakeholders.
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Working with regional and global Lease Team and Internal stakeholders in the development of a comprehensive Lease Project Management framework and strategy.
- Applying a ‘growth-mindset’ philosophy to the day-to-day tasks and ensuring that any deficiencies identified within the processes/framework are addressed and improvements are implemented.
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Being a relentless advocate for safe working practices. It is expected that the identified candidate will demonstrate a purposeful presence in every engagement and drive the safety agenda across a diverse geographical and cultural portfolio.
Required/Minimum Qualifications
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Bachelor's degree in Construction Project Management, Architecture, Engineering, or related field AND related experience
Additional or Preferred Qualifications
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Bachelor's degree in Construction Project Management, Architecture, Engineering, or related field AND related experience
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OR equivalent experience.
These requirements include, but are not limited to, the following specialized security screenings: Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.
Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.