Metro Contract Lead

Microsoft • Charlotte, NC

3d • $116,900 - $203,600 • Onsite

About The Position

Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation’s Engineering Procurement & Construction organization delivers datacenter infrastructure for Microsoft’s cloud business. The Global Supply Chain team supports complex, large-scale, multi-year datacenter construction and lease projects, as well as the teams that operate cloud assets. The Metro Contract Lead will lead a program of build projects in North Carolina as part of the Global Contracts Management team. The role is located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The successful candidate must relocate or reside within 50 miles of the office; relocation support is provided.

The role leads execution of General Contractor (GC), commissioning (Cx), architect/engineering (AE), and other service contracts for regional construction projects. It partners with legal, procurement, project management, and other cross-functional teams to align contracts with project objectives, manage risks, ensure compliance, and deliver project outcomes. The role also coordinates suppliers and contractors, monitors budgets and change orders, maintains schedules and contract documentation, and provides performance updates to stakeholders and senior management.

The position requires a relevant master’s degree with at least four years of related experience, a relevant bachelor’s degree with at least six years of related experience, or equivalent experience. Preferred qualifications include greater experience, construction or hyperscale data center experience, and expertise in negotiating and managing contracts across their lifecycle. Candidates must meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements, including the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire or transfer and every two years thereafter.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, Business, Finance, or a related field and 4+ years of experience in data science/analytics, finance, project management, supply chain, and/or operations; or bachelor’s degree in one of these fields and 6+ years of such experience; or equivalent experience.
• 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.
• Must relocate to or reside within 50 miles of the Charlotte, North Carolina office location.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, Business, Finance, or a related field and 8+ years of relevant experience; or bachelor’s degree in one of these fields and 12+ years of relevant experience; or equivalent experience.
• Hyperscale data center or large-building construction experience in an owner or general contractor capacity.
• Experience developing and negotiating contract terms and conditions for service, construction, engineering, materials, and equipment-installation contracts.
• Understanding of the full lifecycle of contracting principles and legal terms and conditions.
• Detail-oriented approach and ability to manage multiple contracts simultaneously.
• Proficiency with contract management software and tools.
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and deliver results.

Responsibilities

• Oversee execution of GC, Cx, AE, and other service contracts and ensure compliance with contractual terms and conditions.
• Collaborate with legal, procurement, and project management teams to align contract execution with project objectives.
• Serve as the primary regional point of contact for contractual matters related to GC, Cx, and AE projects.
• Support negotiation and issuance of GC contracts in alignment with regional project requirements and timelines.
• Identify and mitigate contract execution risks and develop strategies for contractual and operational challenges.
• Coordinate suppliers and contractors to support timely service delivery, manage vendor relationships, resolve issues, and promote high-quality outcomes.
• Monitor and control budgets, manage change orders, and prepare forecasts and variance analyses.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations, standards, and corporate policies, and report contract performance, progress, and issue resolution.
• Develop and maintain project schedules and coordinate cross-functional activities to meet contract requirements and project milestones.
• Ensure regional GC contracts are issued in accordance with established RFP standards.
• Ensure contractors manage system startup and commissioning according to the approved CxPOR, and coordinate safety compliance during commissioning with the GC.
• Manage issuance of AE contracts in alignment with project requirements and collaborate with sponsor teams, contractors, and leadership to support communication and timely delivery of AE services.
• Maintain accurate, current records of contracts, amendments, change orders, and correspondence, and provide updates to stakeholders and senior management.
• Manage sponsor-team meetings with contractors and plan and manage executive sponsor meetings with key stakeholders.
• Drive engagement and partnership with Planning, Strategic Sourcing, Cost Management, Engineering, Quality, Construction, and Project Managers.
• Drive commercial compliance and problem resolution with general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers.
• Partner with suppliers to identify and drive continuous improvement and risk-management opportunities, analyze root causes, share insights, and influence adoption of improvements.

Benefits

• Relocation support is provided.
• Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation; additional information is available through Microsoft’s pay and benefits page.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior