Metro Cost Lead

In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day. 

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 Data Center infrastructure for Microsoft’s cloud business. The MS portfolio consists of complex, multi-disciplinary, large scale, multi-year Data Center construction projects. We are looking for a passionate, high-energy individual to help build the cloud Data Centers that power the world’s largest online services.

To help us achieve our objectives, growth, and transformation, we are looking for a Metro Cost Lead for Sydney, Australia to work alongside the Metro Construction Director to commercially manage all Data Center construction projects. Being part of this team would give you an opportunity to be part of a rapidly growing business and enable regional impact.

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 a field-based role for the Sydney metro. 100% on-site role - this role is not eligible for hybrid or remote work.

Cost Governance, Forecasting & Portfolio Commercial Management: 

• Own and maintain project and metro-level Budget at Completion (BAC), Estimate at Completion (EAC), and cashflow forecasts, ensuring alignment with approved funding and business objectives.
• Lead monthly cost reviews with project teams, Cost Management consultants, Project Controls and key stakeholders to validate forecast accuracy, risks and opportunities.
• Provide commercial oversight and governance of project contingency, including review of contingency drawdowns, change trends and forecasted exposure.
• Provide the PER (funding) team all commercial support necessary to ascertain the required timing of the funding intervals and all commercial information needed to back up these funding requests to management. This will normally involve the production of multiple option cost scenarios. 
• Establish and maintain benchmark data across the metro portfolio, utilizing historical project performance to challenge costs, improve estimate quality and drive consistency.
• Lead commercial risk identification and assessment throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring risks are quantified, tracked and reflected within project forecasts where appropriate.
• Lead commercial governance of project change management, ensuring proposed changes are appropriately evaluated, challenged, approved and incorporated into project forecasts and funding requirements.
• Review and recommend approval of pay applications, invoices and all vendor payment requests in accordance with Microsoft governance requirements.
• Partner with Cost Management firm, GC and Project Controls to ensure cost reporting, commitments, accruals, forecasts and cashflow projections are accurate, timely and aligned with corporate reporting requirements.
• Capture and apply lessons learned from completed projects to improve future estimating, procurement strategies, cost controls and commercial outcomes across the metro portfolio.

Deep understanding of the commercial management of the General Contractor (GC) from liaison with our procurement office on the Request for Proposal (RFP) documents through to the final payments and agreement of the final accounts and paperwork. This will also include: 

• Provide on-location commercial management to the projects to ensure that Microsoft is financially and contractually protected.
• Lead cost planning, estimate validation and scenario analysis, including agreement of the contract sum.
• Estimation of and commercial agreement of all change orders. 
• Review and provide commercial recommendation on subcontract Letters of Authorization (LOAs) and major subcontract package awards.
• Provide commercial support and analysis relating to project disputes and claims.

Commercial management of all other program vendors including: 

• Provide commercial leadership, performance management and functional oversight to Cost Management consultants and project commercial resources supporting the metro portfolio, ensuring consistency in governance, reporting and commercial outcomes.
• Presenting proposals to head office for purchase order approval. 
• Final account agreement & closeout for all vendor accounts. 
• Design Team commercial support: From project kick-off through to final design provide commercial support on business cases, value engineering studies and change control as the design evolves though to final decision. 

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction management, Engineering, or related field OR equivalent experience.  

• 8+ years of experience managing estimating, cost management, quantity surveying, or commercial functions on major construction projects or portfolios.

• 3+ years' experience with Data Centers, Mission-critical facilities, or similar complex infrastructure projects.

• Experience delivering major construction projects with individual build values exceeding A$300M and/or managing construction portfolios with aggregate values exceeding A$500M.

• Experience leading and managing external cost consultants, quantity surveyors, or commercial teams supporting major construction programs.

While not required, we also look for the following Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ years' experience with procurement of General Contractor contracts and other construction vendors.
• Demonstrated experience managing commercial or cost activities on major construction projects within the Sydney market.
• Comfort operating in ambiguity and cross-functional forums.
• Communication skills, ability to collaborate with all other areas of the Data Center program, think strategically, and build the trust of our construction partners and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to understand what “right” looks like contractually and financially and then negotiate with the other parties to ensure that this is the final position.
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) full membership, Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS) full membership, or equivalent.

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.

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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.