Pre-Construction Manager, Data Center (AMERS)

Overview

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.

Responsibilities

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 con