Principal Construction Project Manager

Microsoft • Columbus, OH

1d • $130,900 - $303,600

About The Position

Microsoft Cloud Operations + Innovation (CO+I) builds and operates the infrastructure powering 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 aligns projects 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.

The position represents CO+I and DCD as a senior individual contributor with broad influence across internal and external partners. It owns major program packages or multi-building deployments, resolves complex blockers, and standardizes practices that can scale across regions and portfolios. The role also shapes future delivery methods, creates repeatable processes, and improves execution quality across multiple sites.

The Project Manager drives campus-based delivery solutions, manages project scope, schedule, and budget, and serves as the primary point of contact for project development and delivery. The role maintains relationships with implementation partners, Operations, Security, authorities having jurisdiction, regional leadership, and vendor leadership. It interprets safety standards and regulatory requirements, enforces compliance, and establishes risk mitigation goals and progress measures. The role requires working on active construction sites with required PPE and coordinating 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.
• Strong 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.

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.

Responsibilities

• Develop and report on project scope, schedule, and budget; implement project controls such as project expenditure requests, professional service requests, change orders, and pay applications.
• Reduce cycle time, improve quality, and identify and implement cost-reduction opportunities.
• Analyze industry practices and internal processes to recommend changes that improve cost savings, customer service, or asset management.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for project development and delivery, and shape and implement regional construction execution plans.
• Integrate lessons learned and advocate for a safe, secure, security-first mindset during project planning.
• Participate in or lead partner engagement, communications plans, and community events.
• Make decisions and influence partners to resolve complex issues affecting global construction projects and deliver against project strategy, milestones, and priorities.
• Develop and apply best practices to drive cost-effective strategic and tactical construction project solutions.
• Maintain productive relationships with implementation partners, Operations, Security, authorities having jurisdiction, and regional corporate leadership.
• Engage internal teams and specialty consultants to support the corporate vision and project goals, and advise teams on updates to the Basis of Design.
• Manage project scope changes and adjust the overall plan to accommodate them.
• Drive deployment of large-scale campus-based delivery solutions, including new or retrofit datacenter facilities.
• Establish program and project goals, assign responsibilities, define performance measures, and provide feedback to support timely, security-focused delivery.
• Review cost and KPI metrics, invoices, processes, and policies; communicate project status and provide progress reports on 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, and reinforce safety routines, security practices, and project and contractor audits.
• Provide guidance, corrective action, and expertise on delivery options.
• Manage relationships with vendor leadership and establish and monitor vendor performance goals, including compliance with security policies, non-disclosure agreements, contracts, and audit results.
• Present cash flow and budget summaries to delivery and executive teams.
• Develop, review, and approve vendor scopes of work, site and building plan design reviews, pay applications, and invoices.

Benefits

• Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation; additional benefits and pay information is available through the provided Microsoft careers link.

What This Job Offers

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