Contract Administrator

Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO&I) is the team behind the cloud.  Within CO&I, the Engineering Procurement & Construction (EPC) organization is responsible for delivering core datacenter infrastructure for Microsoft’s cloud business. The MS portfolio consists of complex, multi-disciplinary, large scale, and multi-year datacenter construction projects. We are looking for a passionate, high-energy individual to help build the cloud datacenters that power the world’s largest online services.  This role is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Relocation support will be provided, and successful candidates must ​relocate or reside within 50 miles of the office location. 

We are seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive Contract Administrator to join our Contract Management team supporting the delivery of large-scale construction projects.

This role plays a critical part in maintaining contractual governance, documentation integrity, and commercial administration throughout the project lifecycle. The successful candidate will support contract execution activities, manage contract records, coordinate contractual communications, and enable effective change management processes while ensuring compliance with company policies and project requirements.

The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced project environment, demonstrates strong attention to detail, and takes ownership of ensuring contractual information is accurate, timely, and audit-ready.

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.

Compliance

Ensures consistency, timeliness, quality, and accuracy of deliverables, and ensures stakeholders are aware of Service Level Agreement (SLA) and/or defined milestones and deliverables terms. Communicates delays to stakeholders and independently proposes and executes contingency measures. Leverages data to anticipate and mitigate risk and negative business impacts by ensuring compliance with agreed-upon terms, communicating delay potential to stakeholders, and supporting the execution of contingency plans cross-functionally and/or cross-regionally as needed.

Ensures adherence to policy, educates stakeholders and suppliers on policy compliance, and manages the remediation and resolution of sourcing issues. Identifies opportunities to adapt policy as needed to mitigate risk and better enable suppliers to meet business requirements. Facilitates periodic Microsoft-driven supplier audits against policy/contractual requirements. Ensures the governance model maintains up to date sourcing and supplier data.

Contract Management & Administration

• Understand industry contracting norms and Microsoft contracting requirements; participate and/or lead negotiation of contracts that meet business goals.
• Processes and supports stakeholder requests based on defined contracting strategies via engagement and/or leveraging workflow process or technology, where applicable in support of product and service requirements.
• Develop strategies for the construction services scope and construction sub-contractors, organize bid results, communicates complete strategy and results to senior management.
• Integrates business specifications for complex contracting areas into request for information (RFI) and/or request for proposal (RFP) processes. Collaborates cross-functionally to define and manage General Contractors against their respective agreement(s), coordinates performance/recovery reviews, and drives corrective actions, performs necessary contract management activities.
• Identifies risks and roadblocks to contract execution and drives action internally and/or externally to resolve and/or escalate, as appropriate.
• Executes contracts and complies with established control processes to ensure delivery and execution on contracts in alignment with business requirements.
• Manages contract and price negotiation activities for construction categories (early works, General Contractor, etc.) and ensures needs are met while also reflecting Microsoft's cross-functional engagements with contractors. Identifies cost reduction opportunities and works closely with suppliers and internal stakeholders to drive cost competitiveness.
• Monitors and mitigates the impact of change orders to the underlying business case, and partners cross-functionally to adjust impact models.
• Develops formal notices/responses based on contract requirements

  Stakeholder Collaboration

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, such as project managers, legal counsel, procurement, finance, and suppliers, to ensure smooth contract execution and delivery. You will be required to build and maintain strong relationships with the stakeholders, as well as communicate and negotiate effectively with them.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and persuade at all levels. You should be able to communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing, as well as negotiate effectively and constructively.
• Analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to handle complex and ambiguous situations. You should be able to analyze data and information, identify and solve problems, and make sound and timely decisions.
• A proactive, collaborative, and customer-oriented mindset, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team. You should be able to take initiative and ownership, work well with others, and deliver value to the customers.

• Required/minimum qualifications

  Master's Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, Business, Finance or related field AND 3+ years experience in data science/analytics, finance, project management, supply chain, and/or operation OR Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, Business, Finance or related field AND 4+ years experience in data science/analytics, finance, project management, supply chain, and/or operations OR equivalent experience.

While not required, we also look for the following Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, Business, Finance or related field AND 6+ years experience in data science/analytics, finance, project management, supply chain, and/or operation OR Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, Business, Finance or related field AND 8+ years experience in data science/analytics, finance, project management, supply chain, and/or operation OR equivalent experience.

Background Check Requirements: 

Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. 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.

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Sourcing and Category Management IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $97,600 - $188,400 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 $125,000 - $206,400 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.