Senior Director, Strategic Planning

Microsoft•Redmond, WA

About The Position

Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO+I) is the team behind the Microsoft’s Cloud infrastructure and is responsible for innovating, planning, designing, building and operating one of the largest data center fleets in the world. We support product teams by providing a secure and compliant, cost efficient and highly available global infrastructure that Microsoft’s customers depend on. We are seeking a Senior Director, Strategic Planning who will be instrumental in elevating Microsoft’s strategic position and fostering transformative partnerships across our CO+I organization. This dynamic leader will drive innovation and operational excellence, leveraging deep industry insights and advanced analytics to shape our strategic direction and cultivate meaningful alliances. With a passion for excellence and a commitment to Microsoft’s vision, the Senior Director will play a pivotal role in steering our organization toward new horizons of success and sustainability. Aligned with Microsoft’s values, we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every employee contributes to a culture of excellence and collaboration. The Senior Director, Strategic Planning will lead and develop a high-performing team focused on driving business resilience through effective supply and demand management across our CO+I Lease portfolio. This leader will play a critical role in anticipating and adapting to market and operational disruptions, optimizing resource allocation to sustain profitability and competitiveness, and enabling strategic decision-making through innovative solutions that balance supply optionality with evolving demand signals. The successful candidate will demonstrate established enterprise leadership capabilities, blending analytics and insight development, program management, and executive-level communication skills. As a senior leader, they will actively manage the regional growth roadmap of the Lease organization, analyzing demand growth against supply optionality across multiple programs and timeframes. They will gather and synthesize business intelligence, market intelligence, and historical trends to inform critical decision points for future growth.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree AND 6+ years experience in engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development OR equivalent experience.
1+ years people management experience.
3+ years of experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects.
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.
Bachelor's Degree AND 10+ years experience in engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, OR product development OR equivalent experience.
2+ years of datacenter domain experience or related infrastructure planning expertise.
8+ years managing complex, cross-functional projects across global teams.
Deep expertise in business strategy, market development, and financial modeling with strong 360-degree strategic thinking.
Proven ability to influence and drive results in highly ambiguous environments, including executive-level negotiations and partnership development.
Track record of achieving results amid ambiguity, demonstrating adaptability and resilience.
Experience creating end-to-end customer experiences, driving technology services that enable new growth opportunities and innovative business models.
Motivation, creativity, adaptability, unquestionable ethics, and a bias toward data-driven decision-making.
Positive attitude and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day.
7+ years of people management experience, including coaching, talent development, and building inclusive, high-performing teams.
Demonstrated success leading large-scale, cross-functional initiatives with enterprise impact.
Advanced skills in data analysis, reporting, and business modeling, with proven ability to translate insights into strategic decisions.
Outstanding ability to simplify complex concepts, communicate effectively at all levels, and influence senior stakeholders.
High integrity, transparency, and ability to build trust across diverse teams and organizations.
Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and business intelligence tools.

Responsibilities

Shape and execute global strategy by defining multi-year growth roadmaps for Lease, anticipating future business needs, industry trends, and emerging technologies.
Drive organizational-level insights by analyzing infrastructure growth across the global portfolio and translating complex data into strategic decisions that influence Microsoft’s long-term objectives.
Lead cross-functional alignment by engaging senior stakeholders across Finance, Engineering, Site Acquisition, Sustainability, and Operations ensuring decisions reflect holistic business priorities.
Optimize portfolio performance by balancing supply optionality with evolving demand signals, enabling resource allocation strategies that maximize efficiency and profitability.
Leverage advanced analytics to synthesize business intelligence, market intelligence, and historical trends, informing critical decision points and shaping future growth strategies.
Establish governance and rigor by maintaining accurate supply health and market intelligence inventories to support forecasting, scenario planning, and executive reporting.
Own fiscal accountability by managing changes to the Plan of Record (POR), ensuring demand adjustments align with performance metrics and strategic imperatives.
Develop regional strategies for AMER, EMEA, and APAC that align with global objectives, driving consistency while adapting to local market dynamics.
Drive operational excellence through process improvements, automation, and governance programs to enhance planning efficiency and accuracy.
Simplify complex business decisions into clear, actionable concepts for diverse audiences, including senior leadership.
Communicate effectively at all levels, demonstrating impact and influence across multiple organizations and stakeholder groups.
Lead multiple large-scale initiatives simultaneously, balancing technical leadership with strong business judgment.
Build and inspire a diverse, high-performing team, fostering a culture of inclusion, trust, and psychological safety.
Invest in team growth through career development plans, actionable feedback, and stretch assignments, preparing future leaders for expanded scope.