Sourcing and Category Management - EMEA Metro Contracts Leader / Manager

Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO+I) is the team behind the cloud.  We are responsible for delivering over 200 Microsoft web portals, Live and Online Services around the world including infrastructure, security and compliance, operations, globalization, and manageability. Our focus is on smart growth, high efficiency, and delivering a trusted experience to customers and partners worldwide. We are looking for a passionate, high-energy individual to help build the network that powers the world’s largest online services. 

Within CO+I, the Contracts Management team is responsible for establishing a construction services supply chain that can meet and deliver services to support the continuing growth of the Cloud, developing the construction infrastructure to service our customer needs. We support a portfolio of complex, multi-disciplinary, multi-billion, multi-year datacenter construction projects.  

We are looking to fill a number of critical roles in our Execution Contracts Management Function to lead the procurement and contracts management of multiple data center build projects in Ireland, UK and South Africa as we continue to develop our build program across the Europe Middle East Africa (EMEA) region. 

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. 

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond. 

• Procurement Planning:  Develop and implement procurement plans to effectively deliver project goals on schedule and budget. 

• Negotiation:   Implement appropriate negotiation strategies for the specified scope, incorporating cross functional perspectives as necessary to build a holistic plan together with clear allocation of roles and responsibilities. 

• Supplier Selection: Participate in supplier selection and performance management; ensure alignment to Microsoft business goals throughout. 

• Contracting: Deep understanding of industry contracting norms in Europe and ability to rapidly develop understanding of Microsoft contracting requirements; Lead / participate in negotiation of contracts that meet business goals. 

• Contract Oversight: Monitor key elements of supplier performance to contracted requirements; implement corrective actions and lessons learned.  Manage the administration of the contract with our stakeholders as the Subject Matter Expert and the appointed person to manage all notices, changes, claims and other Contractual Matters. 

• Strategic Thinking: The ability to examine and understand the organization's competitive strengths and weaknesses. This includes the ability to: look for opportunities to grow the business and reduce costs; monitor the environment for opportunities; formulate strategies that provide distinct competitive advantages; and consider problems and opportunities from a broad, multi-functional perspective. 

• Continuous Improvement: Always seek ways to streamline, automate, and simplify processes; includes deployment of tools, using data analytics and working with IT groups to define system requirements. Can create clarity, generate energy, and deliver success; always be planning for the future. 

• High Integrity – must be ethical and be a strong value-based individual focused on fairness and maintaining confidentiality. 

Required/minimum qualifications  

• Bachelor's Degree in Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, Business, Finance or other construction related field. 

• Deep Construction Execution Experience in Supply Chain and Contracts Management is an absolute requirement for this role. 

• Experience delivering large-scale mission critical construction projects - sourcing, managing, and administering contracts greater than USD $100M. 

• Experience leading procurement planning, RFP bidding, analysis and contract award on mission critical construction projects. 

• Previous experience of coordinating commercial / contractual teams on major construction projects in Europe. 

Preferred Qualifications  

• Management and / or delivery experience on largescale data center construction projects 

• Master's Degree in Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, Business, Finance or other construction related field. 

 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.   

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