Senior Contracts Manager

About the role

The U.S. Government Airgap team within Microsoft’s Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) is responsible for delivering the core infrastructure and foundational technologies for Microsoft’s dedicated online services supporting the U.S. Government. This role involves end-to-end supply chain processes, including planning, sourcing, logistics, and fulfillment.

Responsibilities

• Integrate business specifications for complex purchasing areas into RFI and RFP processes
• Independently lead RFP readiness by reviewing contract documents for completeness, commercial alignment, and compliance with AGC-specific government supply chain requirements
• Coordinate timely issue of RFPs in line with program schedules across multiple concurrent workstreams
• Drive closure of technical and commercial deviations prior to contract award, escalating to senior leadership where appropriate
• Lead bid evaluations, contract strategy development, and negotiation preparation for complex, high-value engagements
• Partner closely with cost, procurement, legal, engineering, and project teams to shape and support award decisions
• Manage contracts through execution, ensuring compliance with contractual terms, governance requirements, and U.S. government supply chain integrity standards
• Lead administration of change orders and variations, maintaining clear entitlement positions and protecting Microsoft's commercial interests
• Review, approve, and where required draft contractual correspondence — including notices, cure letters, non-compliance letters, and formal communications
• Maintain rigorous contract records and ensure data integrity in contract management systems
• Change, Claims & Risk Management:
  • Identify risks and roadblocks to contract execution and drive action internally and/or externally to resolve and/or escalate as appropriate
  • Coordinate review of Time Impact Analyses (TIAs), extension-of-time requests, and schedule recovery measures; develop Microsoft's commercial position on each
  • Lead dispute avoidance strategies and drive resolution of complex commercial issues, escalating to legal and senior leadership where required
  • Identify and proactively mitigate contractual, commercial, and supply chain risks throughout program delivery
  • Ensure compliance with insurance, bonding, parent company guarantees, and other contractual risk controls
  • Apply structured risk-based decision-making to balance schedule, cost, quality, and contractual exposure
• Stakeholder & Site Engagement:
  • Lead regular commercial and contract review meetings with contractors and internal stakeholders at the program level
  • Act as the principal commercial interface between site delivery teams, the Contracts function, legal, procurement, suppliers, and cross-functional partners
  • Provide clear, structured commercial updates to the Contracts leadership team, program leadership, and AGC business stakeholders
  • Influence senior managers and engineering leads to adopt contract management best practices and ensure consistent commercial discipline across the program portfolio
• Closeout & Continuous Improvement:
  • Manage contract closeout activities, ensuring all contractual deliverables, warranties, and obligations are satisfied
  • Lead final account settlement, release of retentions, lien resolution, and documentation handover
  • Drive continuous improvement in contract management processes, tools, templates, and execution practices across the AGC program portfolio
  • Share lessons learned and contribute to playbooks, training, and the broader CO+I contracts community of practice

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or related field AND 3+ years experience in end-to-end supply chain processes (e.g., planning, sourcing, logistics, fulfillment) and working across functions to deliver program outcomes
• OR Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or related field AND 4+ years experience in end-to-end supply chain processes (e.g., planning, sourcing, logistics, fulfillment) and working across functions to deliver program outcomes
• OR equivalent experience
• Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years experience in end-to-end supply chain processes (e.g., planning, sourcing, logistics, fulfillment) and working across functions to deliver program outcomes
  • OR Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years experience in end-to-end supply chain processes (e.g., planning, sourcing, logistics, fulfillment) and working across functions to deliver program outcomes
  • OR equivalent experience
  • Category Management experience in one or more key categories including General Contractors, Mechanical & Electrical Equipment, Construction Services, Operations Services, AND/OR Systems
  • Demonstrated experience leading complex commercial negotiations and contract execution at the enterprise level
  • Skilled project management experience plus exceptional communication and influencing skills
  • Experience with global and regional planning and development
  • Strong commercial understanding and experience driving and developing contracts on key categories (Mechanical & Electrical Equipment, Power Generation, Construction Services, Operations Services)
  • Experience collaborating with key stakeholders to jointly develop and implement category strategies that drive efficiencies, improve performance delivery, and reduce costs
  • Experience developing and enhancing supplier relationships, including strategic supplier development programs
  • Data-driven mindset to support continuous improvement and accurate reporting; proficiency with spend analytics and category management tooling
  • Growth mindset to explore new technologies, new ways of working, and new contracting methods
  • Knowledge of the data center industry and experience managing a variety of project delivery methods — ability to lead a project team in defining risk and developing the appropriate contracting and compensation approach
  • Technical ability to write contracts; ability to set up sourcing plans and negotiation strategies and execute them
  • Excellent communicator who can interact with diverse groups across organizational levels, including executive leadership
  • Familiarity with common process improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, etc.) and ability to facilitate change management
  • Able to implement new processes and gain buy-in from cross-functional teams
  • Able to travel up to 25%, globally and domestically (including to secure government facilities)