Pre-Construction Manager, Data Center (AMERS)

Microsoft Cloud Operations + Innovation (CO+I) is the team behind Microsoft’s cloud platform and is responsible for delivering the infrastructure that powers our customers and services worldwide, including infrastructure, security and compliance, operations, globalization, and manageability. Our focus is on smart growth, high efficiency, and delivering trusted experience to customers and partners worldwide. We are looking for a passionate individual to help build the network that powers the world’s largest online services.

The Construction Services organization is part of the wider EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) group within CO+I. The Construction Services group support the upfront delivery of datacenter capacity prior to construction start, that supports Microsoft's cloud business while meeting safety, quality, sustainability, schedule, budget, and operational readiness requirements. 

The Pre-Construction Manager acts as a support function to our Datacenter Construction Delivery (DCD) organization and provides guidance and input on site selection, early works packages, constructability studies, early procurement activities, manages the General Contractors pre-construction efforts to allow a consistent start point for construction, constantly looking for opportunities to allow more efficient data center delivery schedules. The candidate will provide leadership, ownership, and accountability for the safe, predictable, and efficient delivery of large-scale datacenter pre-construction programs across an assigned sub-region. This role is responsible for leading pre-construction teams and delivery partners to achieve safety, quality, scope, schedule, budget, and operational readiness objectives in support of Microsoft's cloud growth strategy. 

The Pre-Construction Manager establishes portfolio priorities, allocates resources, drives risk management and governance, and promotes consistency in pre-construction execution across campuses and projects. This role partners with Engineering, Supply Chain, Contracts, Project Controls, Commissioning, Quality, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), Operations, and external delivery partners to ensure successful project start and continuous improvement. 

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.     

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. 

Budget, Estimating and Controls 

Assists with the creation of the initial project budget and 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, etc.). Assists our estimating team on establishing initial project budgets, suggesting any available Value Engineering opportunities.  

Change Management 

Partners with the Internal Cloud Operations + Innovation (CO+I) team and other Microsoft key stakeholders (e.g., DCE - Datacenter Engineering, Project Controls, Contracts Management, 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 Pre Construction design reviews, owner/architect/contractor and other project meetings. Will coordinate and lead pre-construction meetings and seek alignment across all organizations and stakeholders within CO+I to drive early project milestones.

Drives Results 

Facilitates the delivery of all pre-construction services for 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. Seeks to challenge existing norms and drives any opportunities to improve project execution goals (safety, cost, quality & schedule). Engages vendor input early to improve project delivery, suggests alternative approaches and initiate early engagement on design and execution improvements. 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. Investigate any options to drive cost efficiencies through data led studies. 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, Contracts Management, Legal, Project Controls, etc.) and Architect/ Engineers, General Contractors/Subcontractors to maintain the corporate vision and goals for the project. 

Managing Resources 

Oversees timely execution of all early 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 early project solutions. Assists stakeholders in establishing project goals, suggests and drives continuous improvement opportunities, measuring performance, and seeking and delivering feedback to achieve timely results.

Project Tracking 

Assists with creating and reporting on early project milestone progress, risk mitigation efforts, record pre-construction team value add inputs, regarding scope, schedule, standards, and budget. 

Risk Mitigation 

Communicates risk mitigation measures necessary to hold or maintain project milestones 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 pre-construction 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. Assists in all safety in design efforts, conducts routine safety program, project, and contractor audits, and performs and participates in early safety improvement initiatives. 

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/ standards and ensures alignment with organizational standards and commitments. Develops scope for all pre-construction related works and inputs on the final project scope documents prior to issuing for bid.

Vendor Management 

Early engagement and investigative studies on most suitably qualified local vendors (General Contractors, Key sub-contractors, etc.) and supports contracts management team on early engagement and final vendor selections. Advises and monitors the performance of vendors and/or contractors on all pre-construction activities, ensuring compliance with contracts and prior audit results. Reviews pool of available vendors that can support the project prior to any RFQ issuance, identifying any gaps or risks that may impact project delivery goals.

Vendor Selection

Reviews early vendor scopes of work, design review of site and building plans/ permits, works with land development team to ensure a smooth handover prior to construction start and provides technical input in review of vendor selection activities.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Construction Project Management, Architecture, Engineering, or related field
  • AND 12+ years related experience
  • OR equivalent experience. 

Other 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Construction Project Management, Architecture, Engineering, or related field AND 15+ years related experience OR equivalent experience of 15+ years working on data center projects.
• 15+ years of experience in leading construction execution performance of large scale data center projects

#COICareers | #EPCCareers | #DCDCareers

Construction Project Management 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.