Principal Construction Project Manager

Microsoft•Columbus, OH

23h

About The Position

Microsoft Cloud Operations + Innovation (CO+I) builds and operates the infrastructure that powers Microsoft’s online services, with a focus on operational excellence, security, compliance, and environmental responsibility. The Principal Construction Project Manager delivers datacenter capacity by leading high-impact, multi-stakeholder construction programs across U.S. campus and metro regions. The role ensures alignment with Microsoft standards for Safety, Security, Quality, Schedule, and Cost while advancing program maturity, consistent execution frameworks, and coordination across Engineering, Operations, Security, and vendor teams. As a senior individual contributor representing CO+I and DCD, the role operates autonomously and owns major program packages or multi-building deployments. It influences cross-functional teams, resolves complex blockers, standardizes practices that scale across regions and portfolios, and shapes future delivery methods and repeatable processes. The position is accountable for technical, operational, financial, and compliance outcomes, as well as regional readiness for handover to Operations. The role leads project development and delivery, manages scope, schedule, budget, risks, vendor relationships, and project controls, and communicates progress to internal and external partners and regional executive leadership. It interprets and enforces safety standards and regulatory requirements, reinforces safety and security programs, and supports audits and governance. This position requires working on active construction sites and complying with personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, and may require coordination with teams across time zones. Candidates must be able to 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

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Project Management, Architecture, Engineering, or a related field and 12+ years of related experience, or equivalent experience.
Ability to work on active construction sites and comply with PPE requirements.
Ability to coordinate with teams across time zones.
Experience leading multi-building or campus-scale construction programs.
Experience influencing cross-functional design, engineering, or commissioning organizations.
Demonstrated progression in leadership responsibility across large technical programs.
Demonstrated executive-level communication experience, including briefings, escalations, and portfolio reporting.
Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements, including the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire or transfer and every two years thereafter.
Ability to apply analytical, compliance, project quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and risk analysis skills.
Knowledge of construction planning and logistics, construction methods and processes, construction management, and scope management.
Knowledge of budgeting, construction budgets and risk, cost-benefit analysis, financial analysis, and project cost management.
Ability to manage vendor and stakeholder relationships, resolve conflict and incidents, influence others, negotiate, facilitate teams, and manage vendors.
Ability to manage change, make decisions, handle incidents, multitask, solve problems, plan and manage projects and schedules, and evaluate vendors.
Creativity, oral communication, and presentation skills.
Demonstrates strategic agility, enterprise partnership, execution excellence, and systems thinking.
Models safety and security in decisions and demonstrates a growth mindset, inclusion, collaboration, customer focus, integrity, and sound judgment.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Project Management, Architecture, Engineering, or a related field and 15+ years of related experience, or equivalent experience.
15+ years of experience working on data center projects.
Experience leading high-impact, multi-stakeholder construction programs across U.S. campus and metro regions.

Responsibilities

Develop and report on project scope, schedule, and budget; implement project controls for project expenditure requests, professional service requests, change orders, and pay applications.
Reduce cycle time, improve quality, and identify and implement ways to lower cost.
Analyze industry best practices and internal processes to recommend improvements that reduce costs, enhance customer service, or improve asset management.
Act as the primary point of contact for project development and delivery, shape and implement regional construction execution plans, and coordinate partner engagement and communications.
Promote lessons learned and a safety- and security-first mindset in project planning.
Make decisions and influence partners to resolve complex issues affecting global construction projects, while supporting team goals, business processes, vendor relationships, and cross-group collaboration.
Develop and apply best practices to identify cost-effective construction delivery solutions and manage schedules and changes with clients, sponsors, vendors, operational units, and internal partners.
Build and maintain productive relationships with implementation partners, Operations, Security, authorities having jurisdiction, and regional corporate leadership.
Engage internal teams and specialty consultants to maintain corporate vision and project goals; advise teams on updates to the Basis of Design as needed.
Manage project scope changes and adjust plans accordingly.
Lead deployment of large-scale campus-based solutions, including new or retrofit datacenter facilities; establish project goals, assign responsibilities, set performance measures, and provide feedback to achieve timely results.
Review cost and KPI metrics, invoices, processes, and policies; communicate project status and provide progress reports covering scope, schedule, and budget.
Establish and communicate risk mitigation goals; develop metrics, dashboards, or scorecards and report safety and security progress to regional executive leadership.
Interpret safety standards and regulatory requirements, enforce compliance, manage risk, reinforce safety routines, and participate in audits, governance, policies, and risk-related decisions.
Provide technical guidance and corrective action, and advise on delivery options.
Manage relationships with vendor leadership and monitor vendor performance for compliance with security policies, nondisclosure agreements, contracts, and audit results.
Present cash flow and budget summary reports to delivery and executive teams.
Develop, review, and approve vendor scopes of work, site and building plan design reviews, pay applications, and invoices.