Program Manager (CRADA) - CTJ - TS/SCI

Microsoft•Durham, NC

4d•$142,800 - $304,200•Onsite

About The Position

Microsoft is seeking a Program Manager to serve as the on-site representative of Microsoft engineering to a strategic government partner. The role exists because what matters most in this partnership cannot be learned at a distance: what the partner needs and what it will need next surface in hallways, in after-action reviews, and in the ordinary course of a workday spent alongside its people. You will therefore work from the partner's site five days a week, and you will own the rhythm of business that keeps our Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) healthy — coordinating across internal and external stakeholders to schedule, plan, and execute the meetings and decision forums the partnership depends on. While approximately 95% of the role follows a predictable schedule, there are occasional periods when the organization shifts into crisis-response mode and requires extended support. During these infrequent events, flexibility and a willingness to support mission-critical activities outside of standard working hours are important.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Math, Business, or related field AND 6+ years experience in engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development OR equivalent experience.
Candidates must be able to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements.
The successful candidate must have an active U.S. Government Top Secret Clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).
Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required pre-offer and post-hire for this role.
Failure to maintain or obtain the appropriate U.S. Government clearance and/or customer screening requirements may result in employment action up to and including termination.
This position requires successful verification of the stated security clearance to meet federal government customer requirements.
You will be asked to provide clearance verification information prior to an offer of employment.
This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.
This position requires verification of U.S. citizenship due to citizenship-based legal restrictions.
Specifically, this position supports United States federal, state, and/or local United States government agency customer and is subject to certain citizenship-based restrictions where required or permitted by applicable law.
To meet this legal requirement, citizenship will be verified via a valid passport, or other approved documents, or verified US government Clearance.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting or operating within a national security, defense, or special operations environment.
Familiarity with defense acquisition pathways and an understanding of how they compare to processes used across the broader defense enterprise and commercial industry.
Understanding of the distinct roles and considerations associated with enterprise technology and operational technology environments.
Knowledge of the regulations, security practices, and operational norms common within national security and defense organizations.
Experience applying user-centered design frameworks in a product engineering environment.
Experience designing products, services, or capabilities for extreme users operating at the edge of a product's intended envelope.
Ability to apply user insights and operational context to inform product, capability, or solution development.

Responsibilities

Identify partner needs, translate those needs into actionable requirements, and help deliver capabilities that make a real impact.
Guide multiple efforts through the lifecycle, helping each move forward while building trusted relationships across Microsoft and our partner organization.
Focus on customer requirements discovery using a user-centered and human-centered design framework, working closely with users to understand their environment, challenges, and goals.
Identify users, how they operate, what capabilities they need, and why those needs matter through interviews, structured observation, and day-to-day engagement.
Translate insights into clear technical requirements that engineering teams can build against.
Maintain a living body of knowledge that helps shape future innovation and informs strategic decision-making.
Help drive a portfolio of Individual Work Plans (IWPs) from concept through delivery.
Translate qualified requirements into IWP form.
Shepherd each IWP through Microsoft's internal approval process.
Project manage approved IWPs from creation through completion: standing up execution, sequencing dependencies, tracking progress and risk, and seeing the resulting capability through to delivery and adoption.
Work across Microsoft business units, including engineering, legal, trade compliance, finance, and security, to align priorities, remove obstacles, and ensure successful outcomes.
Play a key role in sustaining the long-term health of the partnership, including leading the CRADA renewal process during its five-year lifecycle.
Synthesize partner feedback, emerging requirements, market opportunities, sources of friction, and urgent needs into clear, actionable insights for executive leaders.
Communicate through written reports, presentations, or in-person discussions to ensure leaders have the context they need to make informed decisions and respond quickly when priorities evolve.