Principal Construction Manager

Microsoft Cloud Operations + Innovation (CO+I) is the team behind the cloud. CO+I is responsible for delivering over 200 Microsoft web portals, Live and Online Services around the world 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.

The role of the Principal Construction Manager requires interpersonal, communication and organizational skills, ability to self-direct, background in datacenter design and construction, engineering, controls, and operational requirements and an emphasis on project/construction management with a focus on the organizational and valuational components of the construction process.

The Principal Construction Manager is responsible for taking a leadership role as second in command of a large multi-billion dollar industrial construction program. The individual will be responsible for planning, organizing, structuring logical construction sequence and flow from project inception through Commissioning and closeout. The individual will need to be skilled, and able to handle resolving complex emergent situations that arise out of unforeseen conditions (site design / equipment / permitting etc). As well as planning out, key future critical activities in order to maintain critical path driven out of project need.  The Principal Construction Manager is responsible for ensuring the overall construction of the project meets Microsoft guidelines and standards, which may be adjusted from time-to-time based on best practices and lessons learned drawn from previous projects as well as industry changing best practice.

The Principal Construction Manager  will report directly to the Construction Program Director and will be working with the site development team, general contractor team, commissioning team as well as coordinating with various internal stakeholders i.e. the Data Center Engineering (DCE) team among others.  In supporting the delivery of projects, this position aligns team objectives, business processes, vendor management strategies, and cross-group collaboration efforts with the DCD project strategy. This will result in effective customer relationship management, build quality and efficiency in cost management and project delivery.

The Principal Construction Manager will be a relentless advocate for managing a safe site. This person will also collaborate with Microsoft Security, Integration, Project Engineering, Risk Management, Building Information Modeling (BIM) coordination, Quality control and other internal groups to maintain the corporate vision and goals for the Project.

In addition, this position will be responsible for coordinating and reviewing contractor/vendor performance relative to cash flow and budget summaries and will clarify those reports in presentations to the delivery and executive chain. Other responsibilities include oversight and project controls, Professional Services Request, Change Orders, Pay Applications, etc. Additional tasks include MS partner engagement, as well as participation in communications plans, and community involvement with support from Datacenter Operations (DCOPs) and Corporate Communications teams.

This leader supports the strategic and tactical delivery of an existing datacenter project, as well as looking forward strategically and leaning in to plan future projects within the portfolio.

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 6+ years experience in Construction Project Management, Architecture, Engineering, or related field. 
  • OR equivalent experience.
• 3+ years experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects.
• 6+ years of progressive responsibility in development of Datacenter construction or other large, complicated infrastructure programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• 15+ years experience working on data center projects. Bachelor's Degree in Construction Project Management, Architecture, Engineering, or related field AND 15+ years related experience OR equivalent experience.
• Ability to build teams / manage large budgets / work effectively across teams / effectively manage schedules / equipment coordination and delivery and turnover processes.
• Experience managing large multi-faceted construction projects.
• Ability to independently manage deadlines and support staff.
• Ability to influence cross-discipline teams.
• Construction Health & Safety Knowledge.

Technical Program Management IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $137,600 - $267,000 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 $180,400 - $294,000 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 December 16th, 2024.

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Business Processes:

• Create and maintain best practices to identify and incorporate cost-effective solutions.
• Manage General Contractors GC(s) and vendor performance along with their integration with internal partners to ensure project delivery on time and on budget.
• Facilitate decision-making to drive solutions, schedules, and manage change as required.
• Apply influence, strategies, and negotiation skills to identify options and recommend solutions.

Communication:

• Effectively communicate key needs to the engineering, design, and sourcing teams.
• Regularly review cost and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) metrics, invoices, process/policy communications to client partners.
• Provide the project with a single point of contact for development, quality control and delivery.
• Coordinate meetings and activities of vendors, cost managers, and integration of lessons learned.
• Attending scheduled owner/architect/contractor (OAC) and other project meetings, and report, as necessary.
• Report Project Progress on scope, schedule, and budget weekly or as required.
• Provide weekly project status reporting to DCD standards.

Accountability:

• Responsible for supporting senior Director on emergent issues and business critical events.
• Responsible for contributing to a safe & effective site culture.
• Responsible for development, managing, and reporting on safety, scope, schedule, and budget.
• Contribute to fiscal responsibility for the approved project budget.
• Work independently in support of the DCD project.

Vendor Management and contract compliance:

• Provide Vendor oversight and performance management by walking the construction sites daily.
• Preparation of Request for Proposal (RFP’s) and other project approval tools & templates.
• Review and approval of vendor scope of work, and design review of site and building plans.
• Validate vendor pay-application and invoice review and approval.
• Manage compliance with prior audit results and recommendations.

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