Data Center Project Manager
Microsoft
As a Microsoft Data Center Project Manager (DCPM),you will be accountable for planning, coordinating, and delivering projects inside live datacenter environments, ensuring work is executed safely, on time, within scope, and in alignment with Microsoft standards and operational requirements. The role bridges datacenter operations, engineering, construction, IT/network, and external vendors, translating business and technical objectives into executable project plans.
Microsoft’s Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) is the engine that powers our cloud services. As a CO+I DCPM, you will perform a key role in delivering the core infrastructure and foundational technologies for Microsoft's online services including Bing, Office 365, Xbox, OneDrive, and the Microsoft Azure platform. As a group, CO+I is focused on the personal and professional development for all employees and offers trainings and growth opportunities including Career Rotation Programs, Diversity & Inclusion trainings and events, and professional certifications.
Our infrastructure is comprised of a large global portfolio of more than 400 data centers in 70 regions and millions of servers. Our foundation is built upon and managed by a team of subject matter experts working to support services for more than 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 90 countries worldwide.
With environmental sustainability and optimization at the forefront of our data center design and operations, we continue to grow and evolve as we meet the ever-changing business demands that hold Microsoft as a world-class cloud provider.
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.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities:
- Owns end-to-end project execution for datacenter initiatives from intake through close-out, holding self-accountable for service quality, completeness, and the resulting customer experience across IT, network, infrastructure, remediation, and modernization projects.
- Builds and manages project plans, schedules, milestones, and dependencies across multiple parallel workstreams, proactively reviewing schedules to avoid conflicts and offering alternatives when defining customer solutions.
- Executes projects inside live production datacenters in strict adherence to safety, security, and change-management standards, including MOP/SOP compliance and access controls; follows and reports any safety or security issues or concerns immediately.
- Recognizes and communicates the potential customer impact of operational events such as lock-downs and maintenance windows, planning accordingly to minimize disruption to clients and the business.
- Acts as the single coordination point between Datacenter Operations, Engineering, Construction, IT/Network teams, vendors, integrators, and contractors, managing relationships to ensure all expectations are clarified, documented, and met.
- Manages stakeholder expectations, resolves conflicts, and maintains alignment across all parties, identifying and coordinating solutions while communicating alternatives where needed.
- Proactively identifies schedule, technical, safety, and operational risks, suggests ways to reduce maintenance risk, and develops mitigation and contingency plans in collaboration with relevant teams.
- Performs troubleshooting for service incidents and escalates appropriately to meet SLAs and OLAs with minimal disruption to clients and the business.
- Demonstrates conscientiousness around cost, tracks project costs and resource utilization, and contributes to keeping work within approved budgets and timelines.
- Balances speed of execution with operational stability and quality, in alignment with management priorities and company culture and values.
- Embody our culture and values.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- High School Qualification or equivalent AND experience supporting IT equipment or related technology or delivering server and network deployment projects in large-scale environments OR equivalent experience
Background Check 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.
Additional or preferred qualifications
- Bachelor's or Technical College Degree in Computer Science, Math, Telecommunications, Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain Management or related field AND experience in working in physical IT infrastructures (e.g., Servers, SANs, Networking, Capacity, DC Rack/Enclosures, structured cabling) OR High School Qualification or equivalent AND experience working in physical IT infrastructures (e.g., Servers, SANs, Networking, Capacity, DC Rack/Enclosures, structured cabling) OR equivalent experience.
- Applicable certifications: APICS/Inventory Control, CompTIA, Microsoft, Network Certifications, CCNA Certifications, ITIL v3 Foundation, Microsoft Operations Framework (MOF) Certifications.
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.