Director, Contract Management

Microsoft•Redmond, WA

13h

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 director will lead and develop a high-performing Contracts Management team and optimize contract management to align with evolving design requirements, support future growth, and accelerate time to market. The role combines strategic portfolio and people leadership with precise document review, preparation, and obligation management. It works closely with legal counsel and technical teams to reduce contractual risk, protect business continuity, and establish scalable contract management practices. The position calls for enterprise leadership, executive-level communication, and the ability to influence stakeholders across organizations. Microsoft emphasizes 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.
Ability to review and prepare documents with counsel, manage obligations, deadlines, and notices, maintain precise document control, and appropriately identify and escalate legal issues.
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.
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.
Ability to achieve results amid ambiguity across multiple organizations.
Ability to simplify complex ideas into easy-to-understand concepts, with strong communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Paralegal education, a paralegal certificate or certification, or equivalent substantive legal training; relevant legal education or apprenticeship is also valued. 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.
Proficiency in process improvement methodology such as Lean, Six Sigma, or DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control).

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 with business judgment.
Define programs and collaborate with executives to update and operationalize strategies, driving execution aligned with company priorities and approved timelines.
Apply substantive paralegal expertise to review and prepare complex commercial real estate agreements, leases, amendments, and related notices with CELA counsel.
Identify inconsistencies, omissions, and potential legal issues; escalate legal interpretation and advice to CELA 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 (BoD) requirements.
Build and inspire a diverse, high-performing team and foster inclusion, trust, and psychological safety.
Lead complex contract management initiatives, understand customer requests, coach team members, share information to drive action across teams, resolve obstacles, and engage stakeholders to fulfill 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.
Support team growth through career development plans, actionable feedback, and stretch assignments, preparing future leaders for expanded scope.
Identify goals and improvement opportunities, evaluate processes, collaborate with business partners and strategic vendors, and recommend, create, and implement innovative solutions.
Maintain precise document control, including current and executed versions, redlines, approvals, and supporting records.
Verify completeness and consistency of contract data and provide continuous feedback to improve contract management quality, timeliness, and efficiency.
Communicate effectively at all levels and demonstrate impact and influence across organizations and stakeholder groups.
Simplify and summarize complex, multidimensional issues into actionable strategies and recommendations for stakeholders and Microsoft senior executives.