Director, Contract Management

Microsoft•Redmond, WA

18h•$130,900 - $303,600

About The Position

Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO+I), which plans, designs, builds, and operates Microsoft’s global cloud infrastructure, is seeking a Director, Contract Management. The role calls for substantive paralegal expertise in complex commercial real estate and lease documentation, together with enterprise leadership and executive-level communication skills. The Director will lead and develop a high-performing Contracts Management team, optimize contracts to align with evolving design requirements, support future growth, and accelerate time to market. Working closely with legal counsel, technical teams, executives, and other stakeholders, the Director will combine strategic portfolio and people leadership with detailed document review, preparation, and obligation management. The role is responsible for identifying contractual issues, escalating legal interpretation and advice to counsel, managing risk and deadlines, and establishing scalable processes that protect business continuity. Microsoft describes its culture as grounded in inclusion, collaboration, respect, integrity, accountability, and a growth mindset.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Real Estate, Project Management, or a related field and 7+ years of relevant experience, or 10+ years of equivalent experience.
7+ years of people management experience.
Substantive paralegal background in complex commercial real estate agreements, leases, and amendments.
Demonstrated ability to review and prepare documents with counsel, manage obligations, deadlines, and notices, maintain precise document control, and identify and appropriately escalate legal issues.
Demonstrated people management and team development experience, including building inclusive, high-performing teams, setting clear expectations, providing actionable feedback, developing career plans, and preparing team members for expanded responsibilities.
Established enterprise leadership capabilities and executive-level communication skills to lead cross-functional contract management initiatives and influence senior stakeholders.
Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements, including passing the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire or transfer and every two years thereafter.

Nice To Haves

Paralegal education, a paralegal certificate or certification, or equivalent substantive legal training.
Relevant legal education or apprenticeship; a law degree or attorney licensure is not required.
Paralegal or comparable substantive contract management experience supporting complex commercial real estate portfolios and cross-functional initiatives.
Experience translating lease provisions and amendments into actionable obligation registers, risk reporting, and recommendations for senior stakeholders.
A proven track record of achieving results amid ambiguity across multiple organizations.
Ability to simplify complex ideas into easy-to-understand concepts, with outstanding communication skills.
Proficiency in process improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, and DMAIC.

Responsibilities

Own strategic contract management programs, including executive monthly dashboards, risk registers, and mitigation plans that make contractual obligations, emerging exposure, and business continuity risks visible.
Lead multiple large-scale initiatives simultaneously, balancing technical leadership and business judgment; define programs, collaborate with executives to update and operationalize strategies, and drive execution aligned with company priorities and approved timelines.
Review and prepare complex commercial real estate agreements, leases, amendments, and related notices with CELA counsel; identify inconsistencies, omissions, and potential legal issues, escalating legal interpretation and advice to counsel while making informed business and project decisions with subject matter experts.
Develop a playbook for managing project intercepts as designs evolve, collaborating with technical teams and CELA counsel to align lease provisions, amendments, and approvals with evolving Basis of Design requirements.
Build and inspire a diverse, high-performing team and foster inclusion, trust, and psychological safety; coach team members, share information, resolve issues, and engage stakeholders to achieve goals.
Ensure lessor compliance with contractual obligations, standards, and regulations across a large portfolio in partnership with CELA and technical experts.
Maintain obligation registers with accountable owners, critical dates, notice requirements, and escalation paths; coordinate timely action to avoid missed deadlines and business disruption.
Develop and implement continuous-improvement strategies for contract management processes to support evolving business needs.
Invest in team growth through career development plans, actionable feedback, and stretch assignments; identify improvement opportunities, evaluate processes, collaborate with business partners and strategic vendors, and recommend and implement innovative solutions.
Maintain precise document control of current and executed versions, redlines, approvals, and supporting records; verify contract data completeness and consistency and provide feedback to improve process quality, timeliness, and efficiency.
Communicate effectively across organizations and stakeholder groups, simplifying complex issues into actionable strategies and recommendations for key stakeholders and senior executives.