Critical Environment Program Manager - Business Operations

Microsoft is hiring a Critical Environment Program Manager - Business Operations in Des Moines, IA, to manage financial aspects of datacenter contracts, prepare financial reviews, and identify cost-saving opportunities. The role requires strong communication skills and adaptability, focusing on stakeholder needs and operational planning. This position supports Microsoft's cloud infrastructure, contributing to environmental sustainability and operational efficiency across a global network of datacenters.
Microsoft is seeking a Critical Environment Program Manager - Business Operations in Des Moines, IA, to oversee financial controllership and management of datacenter contracts. Responsibilities include preparing financial reviews, tracking maintenance activities, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and fostering partnerships within datacenter operations. The role requires strong communication skills and an ability to adapt to changing environments while focusing on stakeholder needs and operational planning.
Microsoft’s Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) is the engine that powers our cloud services. As a CO+I Critical Environment Program Manager - Business Operations, 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.

Our infrastructure is comprised of a large global portfolio of more than 200 datacenters in 32 countries 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 datacenter 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
• Provide thought leadership and subject matter expertise related to financial controllership (accuracy, forecasting & compliance) of datacenter financials.
• Manage the financial and commercial aspects of site contracts including related PO and invoice reviews.
• Prepare quarterly spend management review materials at datacenter site
• Assist with tracking of datacenter Maintenance and Repair activities
• Evaluate cost savings opportunities and implement strategic projects to realize savings
• Leverage local subject matter expert's tribal knowledge, spread adoption of best practices
• Act on opportunities to increase agility, and contribute to workstreams to evolve processes, services, and solutions for Operations and Service Level Agreements for CO+I
• Coordinate closely with datacenter field operations to foster alignment and partnerships for business success
• Operational Planning & Project Management: Show structured thinking, planning, and the ability to execute by working through others, influencing without authority, and dealing with ambiguity
• Exceptional written and Interpersonal skills: Communicate effectively and concisely with stakeholders, senior managers, and leaders about our programs and objectives
• Customer/Stakeholder Focus: Gather stakeholder impressions of services and programs, integrating this feedback into decision making. Allocate and align resources to optimize the stakeholder and partner experience.
• Performance Goal and Standards Setting: Develop and communicate to realistic timelines via plans that consider potential obstacles and immediate + long-term consequences
• Understand datacenter business objectives: Critically review multiple plans and adjust as needed. Proactively communicate and address necessary trade-offs
• Flexibility and Adaptability: Regularly scan the environment to help anticipate changes that could affect key programs and projects. Effectively changes plans, goals, actions or priorities to respond to changing situations.
• Team Player: Ability to both contribute strategically to this relatively new team and support strategic decisions once debate is over.
• Embody our culture and values

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
• High School Qualification or equivalent AND 2+ years experience supporting IT equipment or related technology or delivering server and network deployment projects in large-scale environments
• OR equivalent experience.

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.

Preferred Qualifications
• Bachelor's or Technical College Degree in Computer Science, Math, Telecommunications, Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain Management or related field AND 5+ years experience in Critical Environment infrastructures (e.g., UPS, Generator, AHU), or working in physical IT infrastructures (e.g., Servers, SANs, Networking, Capacity, DC Rack/Enclosures, structured cabling)
• OR High School Qualification or equivalent AND 7+ years experience in Critical Environment infrastructures (e.g., UPS, Generator, AHU), or working in physical IT infrastructures (e.g., Servers, SANs, Networking, Capacity, DC Rack/Enclosures, structured cabling)
• Applicable certifications: APICS/Inventory Control, CompTIA, Microsoft, Network Certifications, PMP, ITIL, CDCP.
• 2+ years experience with critical environment maintenance and repair cost management.
• 2+ years experience with industry program and project management skills.
• 2+ years experience working with collaboration platforms (e.g. SharePoint, MS Teams etc.).
• 2+ years experience with reporting and data analysis systems & platforms (e.g. PowerBI).

Data Center Operations Management IC3 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $80,000 - $159,600 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $108,000 - $180,000 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until April 9, 2025.

#COI #DatacenterOps #AI

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, 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 and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.