Global Lessor Relationship Manager

Microsoft•Redmond, WA

About The Position

Microsoft Cloud Operations + Innovation (CO+I) powers the backbone of Microsoft’s global cloud infrastructure. We deliver secure, compliant, and highly available services across more than 200 web portals and online platforms worldwide. Our mission is to enable smart growth, operational excellence, and a trusted experience for customers and partners everywhere. We are seeking dynamic leaders who can build strong relationships, shape strategy, and help power the world’s largest online services. This position will be working in close collaboration with our Global Leasing and CO+I organizations and our Data Center lessor partners with a key objective to elevating lessor performance management partnerships and to drive a culture of lessor relationship improvements. Supporting our global leasing team and our internal subject matter experts across engineering and operations, this team will work very closely within our LLD organization, and partner with our CO+I teams as we solidify our lessor partnerships globally. The Global Lessor Relationship Manager will lead a team of regionalized Relationship Managers and will champion the actions needed to foster a culture of continuous improvement as well as the ability to develop operational and relational strategies. Preferred candidates will be strong communicators that have proven experience supporting decision making via analytical insight, program management, and ideally operational expertise in Data Centers.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in business management, real estate, project management, or related field, AND 7+ years relevant experience. OR 10+ years equivalent experience.
7+ years people management experience.
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 upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Business Management, Real Estate, Project management, or a related field AND 10+ years portfolio management, real estate, or office management experience OR 15+ years equivalent experience.
Demonstrated experience in reporting and analytics, including performance dashboards and KPI tracking.
Demonstrated contract and commercial negotiation skills, with ability to interpret complex agreements and ensure compliance.
Demonstrated experience in risk management, SLA governance, and operational readiness frameworks.
Demonstrated knowledge of global compliance standards, security, and sustainability requirements.
Experience in data center operations, infrastructure leasing, or large-scale vendor/lessor relationship management.
Familiarity with Microsoft ecosystem and CO+I standards is advantageous.
Microsoft Core Leadership Certificate or equivalent leadership development credentials.
Project Management Professional (PMP), Lean Six Sigma, or similar process improvement certifications.
Familiarity with Microsoft Applied Skills or role-based certifications in cloud and infrastructure.

Responsibilities

Drive Strategic Partnerships: Establish a structured approach to lessor performance management, internal stakeholder management and relationship building.
Enable Operational Excellence: Proactive engagement and collaboration with internal subject matter experts and support of lessor continuous improvement.
Foster Continuous Improvement: Analyze current performance, identify gaps, and implement initiatives that enhance efficiency and resilience.
Serve as a Critical Conduit: Act as the bridge between lessors and Microsoft’s internal teams, aligning priorities and delivering exceptional outcomes.
Lead a Global Team: Recruit, develop, and inspire a high-performing team across multiple geographies, fostering collaboration and accountability.
Set Strategic Direction: Define priorities and align team objectives with CO+I’s global vision and operational goals.
Drive Partner Engagement: Oversee lessor relationship strategies, ensuring consistent performance and adherence to Microsoft standards and Lessor contracts worldwide.
Deliver Operational Excellence: Monitor global Lessor performance, implement improvement programs, and ensure seamless execution of initiatives.
Influence Across Boundaries: Partner with senior stakeholders in Global Leasing, CO+I, and other internal organizations to achieve shared outcomes.
Champion Data-Driven Decisions: Utilize analytics and insights to guide strategy, measure success, and continuously improve processes.