Lease Construction Manager

Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO+I) is the team behind Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure, responsible for delivering global online services with security, compliance, operational excellence, and smart growth. Within CO+I, the EMEA Data Centre Delivery (DCD) team leads end to end EPC delivery of Microsoft data centres across the region.  We are seeking a passionate, high energy Lease Construction Manager (LCM) to help build and deliver the infrastructure that powers some of the world’s largest online services. 

The Lease Construction Manager serves as Microsoft’s Employer’s Representative, overseeing the construction of one or more leased data centre projects across a metro or country.  LCM is responsible for ensuring that the lease provider is complying with the MSFT requirements in the lease contract when delivering a project. This position requires strong communication skills, technical depth in data centre design and construction, and the ability to lead in a fast paced, highly technical environment. 

This role is based near Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and relocation support is provided.  

Role Overview 

As a Lease Construction Manager, you are responsible for driving safe, high quality, predictable, and efficient delivery across all assigned projects. You will set clear and ambitious goals, ensure alignment with EPC regional OKRs, and proactively identify and mitigate risks. 

The LCM will coordinate with Microsoft’s Subject Matter Experts (SME) and the Lease Providers to support the efforts of achieving Ready For Service for each lease data centre project. In managing the delivery of projects, this position aligns team objectives, business processes, vendor management strategies, and cross-group collaboration efforts.  This role demands high judgment, negotiation skills, strong analytical capability, and the ability to lead multidisciplinary, highly technical teams. The LCM also provides support for regional DCD initiatives and must excel in both strategic planning and handson execution. 

The Key Responsibilities of the LCM includes, but not limited to: 

• The LCM will be a relentless advocate for managing a safe worksite.  

• The LCM will be responsible for identifying and managing stakeholder dependencies and construction deliverables and hand-offs with the following Microsoft teams: E2E (End-to-End), Security (DCPS), Data Center Engineering (DCE), Data Center Operations (DC Ops), Site Selection and Acquisition (SSA), Environmental Health & Safety (EHS).  

• The LCM will manage lease providers and support associated teams & partners in the delivering RFS “Ready for Service” 

• This position will require travel up to 50% of the time to data center sites 

• Manage & support vendor contracts  

• The LCM will be responsible for ensuring regional goals of delivering capacity are aligned to business OKRs 

• Identify and track KPI to help with improvement in delivery of RFS. Provide feedback and insight to leadership on areas of improvement 

Business Processes:  

• To maintain the requirements stated in the lease contract using MSFT best practices 

• Manage Lease Providers and associated internal partners to deliver RFS 

• Drive deployment of solutions that can be socialized globally across MSFT DCD Organization. 

• Facilitate decision-making to drive solutions, schedules, and manage change as required 

• Apply influence, strategies and negotiation skills to identify options and recommend solutions  
   

Communication:  

• Provide project single point of contact for project development and delivery 

• Coordinate meetings and activities of Lease Providers and internal MSFT SME.  

• Attend scheduled owner/architect/contractor (OAC) and other project meetings, and report as necessary 

• Report Project Progress on scope, schedule, and budget weekly or as required 

• Provide weekly project status reporting to DCD standards 

Accountability:  

• Responsible for managing the construction process of achieving RFS.  

• Track lessons learned and identify improvements to share across groups 

• Route RFS approval to all stakeholders and regional approvers 

• Ensure lease provider’s compliance to lease agreement contract 

• Drive the business OKR for region capacity delivery goals 

•  Assess resourcing and forecasting business needs to meet demands 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Construction Management or an equivalent engineering science OR significant related construction management experience in lieu of a degree. 

• Solid recent experience in construction management of large, complex projects involving large-scale mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) plants. 

• Strong Verbal and Written Communication Skills 

• Self-starter with demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and deadlines simultaneously 

• Ability to independently manage deadlines and support staff  

• Ability to influence cross-discipline teams 

• Construction Health & Safety Knowledge.  

• Ability to read and understand commercial lease agreements preferred