Overview

Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO&I) is the team behind the cloud. Within CO&I, the Engineering Procurement & Construction (EPC) organization is responsible for delivering core datacenter infrastructure for Microsoft’s cloud business. The MS portfolio consists of complex, multi-disciplinary, large scale, multi-year datacenter construction and lease projects. We are looking for a passionate, high-energy individual to help build the cloud datacenters that power the world’s largest online services.

The role of the Regional Sourcing Manager will focus on the following key areas:

Developing sourcing strategies across several key construction professional services categories, such as Architect / Engineer, Commissioning Agents, Project Management, Cost Management, Environmental Consultants, etc.

Establish and continuously improve standard templates for data collection and breakdowns, and work with stakeholders to improve data quality and governance standards.

Collate data and report to our Leadership Team on key performance metrics and category health.

Establish and maintain regional benchmarking tools to support cost, performance, and supplier comparisons.

Provide insights and recommendations based on benchmarking outcomes.

Support the consolidation of regional sourcing and spend data

Support should-cost modelling and comparative analysis

Enable better visibility and reporting through structured, well-maintained datasets

Establishment of appropriate sourcing strategies alongside relevant internal stakeholders to drive long term goals of Continuity of Supply, Cost, Quality, Safety, Diversity & Inclusion and Sustainability.

Manage the sourcing, assessment, and onboarding of potential new suppliers.

Gather internal and external market data to inform sourcing strategies

Own the RFI / RFP process for the establishment of regional framework agreements to drive appropriate competition and reduce procurement timelines at the project execution stage.

Oversee supplier performance and compliance including the development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) in collaboration with key stakeholders.

Conduct quarterly business reviews.

Develop and maintain category management and allocation plans for the planned portfolio of construction projects across the region.

Manage the drafting, negotiation, and execution of contracts.

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.

This role is located in Dublin.

Relocation support will not be provided, and successful candidates must relocate or reside within 50 kms of the hub office location.

This role is eligible for hybrid or remote work, up to 50%.

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.

This role is located either in one or all hub locations - Atlanta, GA, Redmond, WA, San Antonio, TX or Phoenix, AZ.

Relocation support will be provided, and successful candidates must relocate or reside within 50 miles of the hub office location.

This role is eligible for hybrid or remote work, up to (50) %.

Responsibilities

Compliance

Applies an end-to-end understanding of the trade-offs between Microsoft and key suppliers to drive business impact by influencing senior managers cross-functionally, or cross-regionally to apply market intelligence and adopt practices that enable execution with consistency, accuracy, quality, and timeliness of delivery. Manages supplier scorecard process, leads strategic business reviews, educates stakeholders on policy compliance, analyses root causes of issues, and influences change internally and/or externally to addresses issues.

Ensures adherence to policy, educates stakeholders and suppliers on policy compliance, and manages the remediation and resolution of sourcing issues. Identifies opportunities to adapt policy as needed to mitigate risk and better enable suppliers to meet business requirements.

Ensures consistency, timeliness, quality, and accuracy of deliverables, and ensures Procurement stakeholders are aware of Service Level Agreement (SLA) and/or defined milestones and deliverables terms. Communicates delay to Procurement stakeholders, and independently proposes and executes contingency measures.

Procurement and Contracts

Processes or supports stakeholder procurement requests for complex purchasing categories via engagement and/or leveraging workflow process or technology, where applicable in support of product and service requirements. Manages the resolution of escalated pricing issues raised by other sourcing personnel.

Executes contracts and complies with established control processes to ensure delivery and execution on contracts in alignment with business requirements. Identifies risks and roadblocks to contract execution and drives action internally and/or externally to resolve and/or escalate, as appropriate. Monitors the impact of change orders to the underlying business case, and partners cross-functionally to adjust impact models.

Sourcing

Integrates business specifications for complex purchasing areas into request for information (RFI) and/or request for proposal (RFP) processes. Collaborates cross-functionally to define and manage supplier scorecard criteria (e.g., key performance indicators [KPIs], Service Level Agreements [SLAs]), coordinates supplier performance reviews, and drives corrective actions. Actively partners with suppliers to identify and drive continuous improvement and risk management opportunities by evaluating procedural, operational, and/or environmental factors, analyzing root causes of issues, sharing insights with key stakeholders, and influencing the adoption of needed improvements.

Manages contract and price negotiation activities for a single purchasing category cross-functionally and ensures that both price and capacity needs are met while also reflecting Microsoft's cross functional engagements with suppliers. Identifies cost reduction opportunities and works closely with suppliers to drive cost competitiveness.

Defines, maintains, and executes on sourcing strategies for one or more complex projects and/or purchasing opportunities to ensure optimal cost and sufficient continuity of supply and/or service, collects relevant internal and industry data to understand business requirements, benchmarks data against relevant markets, and shares industry and category expertise across stakeholder teams to develop and execute sourcing strategies.

Stakeholder Collaboration

Develops pricing and negotiation strategies for one or more complex purchasing categories, ensures that strategies clearly articulate the trade-offs, roles, and responsibilities across parties, and gains senior executive support for strategies both internally and externally. Identifies negotiation setbacks and takes action to mitigate contract disagreements.

Drives early business engagements for complex business areas or purchasing categories with cross-functional leadership including product design, quality, and business teams, to define and drive action on supply solutions and strategies, business requirements, optimal sourcing spend, and priorities. Shares expertise to advise cross-functional teams on sourcing decisions.

Collaborates with suppliers and leads on-boarding, processes. Serves as contact point between suppliers and multiple Microsoft accounts across one or more complex purchasing categories, developing and executing supplier account plans detailing priorities and focus for the supplier relationship for the upcoming period.

Culture

Embody Microsoft’s Culture and Values.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Education

A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in computer science, Computer Engineering, Software Design, Software Engineering, OR a related field, OR equivalent alternative education, skills, AND/OR practical experience is required.
Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Supply Chain, Business, Finance or related field AND
5+ years post graduate experience in construction supply chain and/or construction procurement specifically with large complex capital projects or equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Strong commercial understanding and experience of driving and developing key contractual components of categories (Architect / Engineer, Commissioning, Project Management, Cost Management and other construction services suppliers).
Knowledge of construction projects and teams is a must. Datacenter industry preferable and / or mission critical experience managing a variety of project delivery methods – ability to collaborate with a project team in defining risk and developing the appropriate contracting and compensation approaches.

Demonstrate continuous improvement and stay curious as to how to implement improvement and efficiencies into workflow.
Strong data management skillset and ability to set up new templates and tools to benefit wider team with data backed decisions.
Ability to work independently and within a matrixed environment; a self-starter and quick learner of Microsoft systems and processes.
Take ownership and accountability for scope and closing out deliverables in required timelines.
Technical ability to review contracts, ability to set up sourcing plans and negotiation strategies to execute them.
High integrity – must be ethical and strong value based individual focused on fairness and maintaining confidentiality.
Strong verbal and written communication skills for executive communication; ability to articulate points of view with executive management and stakeholders.
Ability to implement new processes and get buy in from a cross functional team.
Be a high performer – be able to fit the Microsoft “culture” by effectively multi-tasking and managing priorities; have a “sense of urgency” regarding issue resolution.
Understand the importance of relationships inside the company and with our supply chain partners.

Other Requirements

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.

#COICareers and #EPCCareers

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.

Regional Sourcing Manager

Job Description