Contract Lead Special Projects

Overview Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO+I) is the team behind the cloud. We are 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 a trusted experience to customers and partners worldwide.

We are looking for a passionate, high energy individual to help build the network that powers the world’s largest online services.

Within CO+I, the Global Supply Chain team is responsible for establishing a supply chain that can meet the ever-growing growth of the Cloud and our customers. We support a portfolio of complex, multi-disciplinary, multi-billion, multi-year datacenter construction and lease projects. Furthermore, we support the Operations team that manages and runs the cloud assets.

We are seeking a Contract Lead for our Supply Execution Chain team to lead a program for Special Projects in USA.

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.

As a Contract Lead for Special Projects leading GC, Cx , AE and other service contracts you will play a critical role in ensuring the successful execution of contracts related to Special construction projects in the region.

You will be an influential leader and collaborate with cross-functional teams, legal experts, and external stakeholders to manage contractual agreements, mitigate risks, and drive compliance at the job site. Your attention to detail, negotiation skills, and ability to navigate complex contractual landscapes across the lifecycle of the project will be essential for this role.

You will be part of the High-Performance team to execute projects in the region.

Responsibilities

As a Special Projects Contract Lead for GC, Cx , AE and other service contracts you will play a critical role in ensuring the successful execution of contracts related to construction projects in the region. You will be an influential leader and collaborate with cross-functional teams, legal experts, and external stakeholders to manage contractual agreements, mitigate risks, and drive compliance at the job site.

Your attention to detail, negotiation skills, and ability to navigate complex contractual landscapes across the lifecycle of the project will be essential for this role. You will be part of the High Performance team to execute Special projects and Power Harvesting Projects in the region.

Contract Management:

• Oversee and manage all aspects of execution of GC, Cx,AE and other service contracts, ensuring compliance with terms and conditions.
• Collaborate with legal, procurement, and project management teams to align contract execution with project objectives.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for contractual matters related to GC, Cx, and AE projects for the region
• Support in Negotiating and issue GC contracts in alignment with project requirements and timelines for the region

Risk Management:

• Identify and mitigate risks associated with contract execution, ensuring project objectives are safeguarded.
• Develop and implement risk management strategies to address contractual and operational challenges.

Supplier/Contractor Coordination:

• Coordinate with suppliers and Contractors to ensure timely delivery of services
• Manage vendor relationships, addressing issues and ensuring high-quality outcomes.

Budget and Change order Management:

• Monitor and control budgets, ensuring expenditures remain within approved limits.
• Manage the Change order and ensure proper change order management
• Prepare and submit reports, including forecasts and variance analyses.

Compliance & Reporting:

• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, standards, and corporate policies.
• Generate regular reports on contract performance, including progress updates and issue resolution.

Project Management:

• Develop and maintain project schedules, ensuring milestones and deadlines are achieved.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to align all activities with contract requirements.

Contractor Compliance

• GC Contracts
• Ensuring that the contracts are issued in the region in accordance with the standard and RFP’s
• Commissioning (Cx) Execution
• Ensure that the contractors are Overseeing the startup and commissioning of systems per the Commissioning Plan of Record (CxPoR).
• Ensure safety compliance during commissioning activities in collaboration with the General Contractor (GC)
• Manage the issuance of AE contracts, ensuring alignment with project requirements.
• Collaborate with sponsor teams, contractors, and leadership to facilitate communication and ensure on-time delivery of AE services.

Documentation & Communication:

• Maintain accurate, up-to-date documentation of contracts, amendments, change orders, and correspondence.
• Provide regular updates to stakeholders, including senior management, on contract performance and project progress.
• Manager Sponsor team meetings with the contractors.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Drives business engagement and partnership with cross-functional teams including Planning, Strategic Sourcing, Cost Management, Engineering, Quality, Construction and Project Managers.
• Drives commercial compliance and problem resolution with General Contractors, Subcontractors and Suppliers.
• Actively partners with suppliers to identify and drive continuous improvement and risk management opportunities by evaluating procedural, operational, and/or environmental factors, analyzing root causes of issues, sharing insights with key stakeholders, and influencing the adoption of needed improvements.
• Plan and manage the executive sponsor meeting with key stakeholders for the successful execution of the project.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, Business, Finance or related field AND 6+ years’ experience (including internships) in Data Science/Analytics, Finance, Project Management, Supply Chain, and/or Operations
• OR Master’s degree in engineering, Computer Science, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, Business, Finance or related field AND 5+ years’ experience in Data Science/Analytics, Finance, Project Management, Supply Chain, and/or Operations
• OR equivalent experience.
• 10+ Years experience in Project Contract Management in Large Complex projects in the field
• Expertise in GC and AE contracts, with a proven track record of delivering complex projects.
• Familiarity with commissioning standards (ASHRAE, NETA) and building codes.
• Proven experience in negotiating various types of large-scale construction contracts through its lifecycle including BATNA and other methodologies in owners interest.
• Proven experience managing various contract types; Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP), Stipulated Sum, Unit Rate Contracts, T&M, Incentive Fees, etc.

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 every two years thereafter.

Preferred Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, Business, Finance or related field AND 8+ years experience in Data Scienc