Continuous Improvement Lead

Microsoft•Redmond, WA

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO&I) is the team behind the cloud and AI infrastructure. Within CO&I, the Engineering Procurement & Construction (EPC) organization is responsible for delivering core datacenter infrastructure for Microsoft’s cloud and AI business. The Microsoft portfolio consists of complex, multi-disciplinary, large scale, multi-year datacenter construction and lease projects. If you want to have fundamental impact on how Microsoft’s Cloud Infrastructure is built and operated globally and want to be part of a strategic team within Microsoft, this job is for you! We are looking for a passionate and high-energy Continuous Improvement Lead to help accelerate the construction process, drive operational excellence, and strengthen the knowledge base for our Datacenter Construction organization. Your role will focus on both performance improvement and knowledge management across the Datacenter Construction organization. Successful candidates will have a combination of technical and business acumen, coupled with experience in driving large-scale programs across multiple stakeholder groups. This role is located either in one or all hub locations - Atlanta, GA, Redmond, WA, San Antonio, TX or Phoenix, AZ. Relocation support will be provided, and successful candidates must relocate or reside within 50 miles of the hub office location. This role is eligible for hybrid or remote work, up to (40) %. Relocation support will be provided, and successful candidates must relocate or reside within 50 miles of the hub office location.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree AND 6+ years experience in engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development OR equivalent experience.
3+ years of experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects.
Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role.
Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's Degree AND 12+ years experience engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development OR equivalent experience.
8+ years of experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects.
Proven experience in Construction Project Management (min. 8 years experience), preferably in Data Centers
Strong problem-solving capabilities and experience driving Continuous Improvement initiatives
Demonstrated track record of working cross-functionally and across geographies to drive impact and deliver results
Ability to influence others without having direct authority over them
Self-driven individual who can define and implement roadmap with minimal guidance

Responsibilities

Identify, prioritize, and structure improvement opportunities that drive measurable gains in schedule, quality, cost, safety, or reliability.
Apply disciplined continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., PDCA, root cause analysis) to diagnose issues and develop sustainable solutions.
Partner with cross functional teams to redesign processes, eliminate waste, and improve end-to-end execution.
Lead workshops, working sessions, and forums to capture learnings, align stakeholders, and drive adoption of improvements.
Lead requirements gathering with internal teams to define functional needs for new and evolving internal tools
Establish governance, tracking, and reporting mechanisms to monitor progress, benefits realization, and recurrence reduction.
Enable teams through targeted training, coaching, and just-in-time guidance to embed continuous improvement into daily operations.
Maintain and evolve roadmaps, tools, and knowledge repositories to ensure scalability and long-term impact.
Own and operate the EPC Lessons Learned program from end to end, including intake, quality review, governance, tooling, and resolution of entries.
Chair regular Lessons Learned sessions, preparing materials, facilitating discussions, and managing all pre- and post-meeting communications.
Review new submissions regularly and engage directly with originators to validate context, root cause, and intent prior to SME assignment.
Lead program communications and recurring community meetings to drive awareness and adoption.
Identify, plan, facilitate, and synthesize Lessons Learned workshops and retrospectives, translating outcomes into actionable insights.
Compile and curate lessons to deliver targeted, just-in-time training sessions.
Coordinate closely with partner programs to ensure alignment, integration, and shared insights.