Planning Lead

Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO+I) is the team behind the cloud.  Within CO+I, the Global Project Controls (GPC) team is composed of project management professionals who are committed to providing timely delivery of cost and schedule solutions to positively affect project outcomes. We are looking for a passionate, high-energy individual to help build the cloud datacenters that power the world’s largest online services.  

Microsoft's CO+I team is seeking a Planning Lead to provide services for the Charlotte, North Carolina site in the US. The employee will provide integrated planning and schedule management services for the campus. They will be required to develop and analyze totally integrated engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) schedules. Recommend solutions or recovery plans to schedule or cost impact or delays. Required weekly and monthly reporting as assigned. We utilize tools such as Primavera, Master Schedules, Risk Framework, Quality Checklists and Schedule Health Scorecards, and are hands-on with the Project Managers in the field, and with the General Contractor with our tools and analysis.  This results in Schedule Predictability driving overall delivery efficiencies.  

This role is a field-based role for the Charlotte, North Carolina metro. Relocation support will be provided, and successful candidates must ​relocate or reside within 50 miles of the field location. This role is not eligible for hybrid or remote work. 

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 AND 4+ years experiene planning medium-sized capital projects in data center, oil and gas, chemicals, or other related process industry. This experience should specifically include engineering and procurement, with specific examples of integrated construction planning.  
  • OR equivalent experience
• 2+ years experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects
• Experience with Oracle P6 project planning software, Project Planning, Earned Value Management, and Key Commodity Tracking

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 AND 8+ years experience in engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development
  • OR equivalent experience.
• 6+ years experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects.
• 7+ years experience working on data center projects.
• Familiarity with CPM scheduling methodology and Risk Schedule analysis.
• Great attention to detail, problem-solving skills, ability to work in a fast-paced environemnt and ability to deliver high-quality work and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks effectively.
• Ability to present data from a detailed to high-level depending on audience.   

Technical Program Management IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $117,200 - $229,200 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 $153,600 - $250,200 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until January 22, 2025.

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Planning:

• Help develop Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) including timelines and dependencies for large-scale datacenter construction projects. 
• Work with cross-functional teams, including engineers, procurement, and construction to ensure project milestones are met and deliverables are completed on time. 
• Monitor project risks and develop contingency plans to mitigate potential issues. 
• Work with clients to understand their needs and ensure project outcomes meet their expectations. 
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders 
• Continuously improve project management processes and tools to increase efficiency and effectiveness. 

General Contractor (GC) Procurement & Construction Schedule Baseline Management:

• Facilitate and support the development of a detailed Project Schedule along with project team, GC and Sub-Contractor vendors. 
• Work closely with the Regional Planning Lead to ensure the GC Baseline Schedule meets the standards and requirements defined within the DIV1 Specification.  
• Complete the GC Baseline Evaluation process and provide recommendations.  
• Carry out the GC Proposal Schedule Evaluations and provide evaluation narrative and scores.  

Schedule Analysis and Reporting:

• Facilitate and participate in weekly schedule reviews onsite with GC schedule teams to analyze and validate progress onsite. 
• Proactively analyze project schedules by; comparing cost/resource curves to actuals, tracking float consumption, perform schedule integrity (health) checks, carry-out delay impact analysis, monitor monthly performance and carry out variance analysis supporting Baseline Management and Change Control processes throughout the Project Lifecycle 
• Carry out and communicate Schedule Time Impact Assessments of schedule delay events and recommend mitigation strategies to recover and/or control the impacts.  
• Ensure GC compliance with Microsoft Monthly and Weekly reporting cadence and Rhythm of Business requirements.  
• Evaluate GC Weekly and Monthly Schedule Reports, validate progress, review insights and provides feedback and recommendations to GC where necessary.    
• Validate schedule updates along with a narrative for submission to the project team and Microsoft  stakeholders. 
• Identify and mitigate threats to the project's schedule and initiate corrective actions through field staff.  
• Analyze resource loading and recommend adjustments / corrective action as appropriate. 
• Assess impacts of design and/or long lead equipment changes and provide recommendations to mitigate/recover the schedule. 
• Provide final review of schedules for estimating as requested. 

Collaboration:

• Support Collaborative Planning workshops by using the Schedule to help facilitate planning, coordination, and accurate progress reporting.   
• Interface with site management regarding critical schedule activities, change, impacts to schedule, change orders, project progress, and claims analysis. 
• Provide planning and schedule management support to cross-functional PMs, Microsoft stakeholders, project teams and Redmond-based hub. 
• Support the Regional and Global Scheduling Leads with the formulation, implementation and ongoing development of scheduling processes and procedures.    

Rhythm of Business:

• Adhere to Microsoft Rhythm of Business deliverables for your project. 
• Review and evaluate GC Schedule submittals.  
• Complete on-time Month End Project reports and review with cross functional PMs. 
• Review Month End Project Report and evaluation findings with the GC and follow up on action items.  
• Support the Regional Schedule Lead in preparing for Monthly Regional Review. 

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