Construction Project Manager

Microsoft · Johor

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Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO&I) is the team behind the cloud.  Within CO&I, the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) team is responsible for delivering core datacenter infrastructure for Microsoft’s cloud business. The MS portfolio consists of complex, multi-disciplinary, large scale, multi-year datacenter construction and lease projects. We are looking for a passionate, high-energy individual to help build the cloud datacenters that power the world’s largest online services.  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. 

The Project Construction Manager leads the deployment of large-scale, campus, and regionally based datacenter delivery solutions, with accountability for safe, predictable, compliant, and high-quality construction, integration, commissioning, and handover.

The Project Construction Manager combines technical, commercial, organizational, and people leadership capability. The role partners with regional leaders, local project teams, internal stakeholders, consultants, authorities, general contractors, and vendors to make timely data-based decisions and deliver complex, multi-disciplinary projects in line with DCD guidelines, approved baselines, contracted milestones, and Microsoft values.

Responsibilities:

The Project Construction Manager is the accountable site leader for construction execution and team performance across safety, quality, schedule, cost, risk, compliance, technical delivery, stakeholder coordination, and vendor performance. The role directs delivery priorities, confirms resources, drives corrective action, and develops employees while maintaining an inclusive, collaborative, and safety-led culture.

Safety, Health, Worker Welfare, and Compliance

• Act as a visible Microsoft safety leader and advocate on the project site.
• Promote an injury-free environment and reinforce Microsoft safety values through daily actions, mentoring, and contractor engagement.
• Review, recommend, monitor, and support implementation of EHS plans, high-risk activity planning, safety-in-design, site logistics, and energy isolation controls.
• Conduct daily site walks and routine safety audits with the GC, packaged contractors, and Microsoft safety representatives.
• Participate in incident reporting, investigation, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and lessons learned sharing.
• Monitor compliance with applicable safety standards, local regulations, Microsoft policies, security requirements, and project governance.
• Support worker welfare initiatives and inclusive site culture activities.

Project Delivery and Construction Management

• Manage the team’s deployment of large-scale, campus, and regionally based new-build and retrofit datacenter solutions, aligning execution with regional leaders and local project stakeholders.
• Drive datacenter construction, fit-out, integration, commissioning, and close-out activities, making timely data-based decisions to protect scope, schedule, cost, quality, and contracted milestones.
• Set goals for internal and external project teams, monitor responsibilities against contracted KPIs, provide feedback, and hold teams accountable for on-schedule delivery.
• Confirm that scoped people, materials, equipment, specialist support, and storage capacity are available for current and future works.
• Orchestrate internal and external partners to resolve complex issues, maintain schedule predictability, and implement lessons learned across local, campus, regional, and global projects.
• Attend and advise at owner, architect, contractor, and other project governance meetings, maintaining accurate progress, decision, change, and close-out records.

Schedule, Cost, Budget, and Project Controls

• Develop, manage, and report project scope, schedule, estimates, budget, change orders, forecasts, and key performance indicators.
• Partner with Cost and Project Controls teams to monitor the approved budget and recommend adjustments to PERs, PSRs, change orders, pay applications, invoices, and related controls.
• Hold delivery teams accountable for progress reporting covering scope, schedule, resources, budget, safety, quality, risk, and vendor performance.
• Provide accurate project data supporting cost metrics, invoices, processes, policies, and client-partner status reporting.
• Identify cost-effective strategic and tactical delivery solutions while maintaining commercial governance, cash-flow visibility, and schedule predictability.

Quality, Technical Acumen, and Constructability

• Review engineering documentation, designs, site plans, building plans, specifications, and technical submissions by examining and analysing technical information.
• Recommend delivery options based on technical best practice, trends, constructability, value engineering, quality, efficiency, and delivery certainty.
• Provide key input on datacenter fit-out and integration activities and ensure organizational procedures and technical standards are followed by teams and vendors.
• Attend CSA, MEP, design, coordination, OAC, and technical workshops to resolve design, site, and construction issues.
• Oversee QA/QC procedures, inspection and test plans, non-conformance remediation, commissioning, snag closure, documentation, and final handover sign-off.

Stakeholder Coordination and Collaboration

• Serve as the senior site interface for regional leaders, Microsoft project stakeholders, client partners, and external delivery partners.
• Manage day-to-day coordination with vendors, cost managers, consultants, authorities, utilities, and owner, architect, and contractor teams.
• Facilitate collaboration with Security, IT, Legal, Project Engineering, Business Risk Management, Operations, Commissioning, Safety, Quality, Procurement, and Project Controls to maintain a shared project vision and goals.
• Communicate progress, performance, decisions, issues, risks, and escalations through reliable data, dashboards, scorecards, and site evidence.

Vendor, Contractor, and Resource Management

• Lead day-to-day vendor and contractor management, ensuring compliance with contracts, prior audit results, safety, quality, schedule, cost, documentation, and performance commitments.
• Monitor vendor performance, cash flow, budget summaries, change orders, pay applications, and invoices; provide internal reporting and escalate or direct corrective action as required.
• Manage preparation of RFPs, SOWs, PERs, and other approval tools, including definition of vendor scope, design reviews, change orders, and invoices.
• Review and advise regional management on procurement, allocation, and human-capital requirements for upcoming projects.
• Confirm availability of site resources, materials, equipment, storage space, and specialist support for current and future work.

Risk, Change, and Continuous Improvement

• Establish, review, and communicate risk-mitigation goals, metrics, dashboards, scorecards, and accountable action plans.
• Review root-cause analyses, safety metrics, audit findings, and relevant legislation, and translate results into project action, individual development, and vendor improvement.
• Implement and manage safety performance improvement plans and required mitigations, aggressively managing risk and regulatory compliance.
• Lead organizational policy and process implementation with CO+I partners, focusing on cost savings, schedule optimization, value engineering, customer service, and asset management.
• Capture, integrate, and share lessons learned across project teams and relevant stakeholders.

Reporting, Governance, and Culture

• Provide regular reports on performance, insights, issues, site visits, scope, schedule, resources, budget, safety, quality, risk, and vendor performance, including photographic evidence where appropriate.
• Protect Microsoft intellectual property and ensure compliance with procurement, payment, governance, ABAC, security, training, and site-access requirements.
• Represent Microsoft as a visible safety leader and advocate, ensuring adherence to organizational, industry, regulatory, and global safety requirements.
• Embody Microsoft culture and values, including inclusive leadership, collaboration, accountability, and customer focus.

People Leadership and Performance

• Lead, coach, and develop employees by setting clear goals, providing timely feedback, supporting career growth, and managing performance.
• Drive project execution through effective delegation, accountability, capability development, and alignment of individual and team priorities to regional and business goals.
• Review team capacity and capability with regional management and recommend resource procurement, allocation, succession, and workforce plans for upcoming projects.

Key Interfaces

• DCD Project Manager / Lead PM / Construction Lead / Site Director
• Data Center Engineering (DCE)
• Data Center Operations and commissioning teams
• Project management, cost management, and project controls teams
• Safety, quality, security, legal, IT, procurement, supply chain, and business risk teams
• Architect/Engineer design teams and site supervision teams
• General contractor management, construction, MEP, QA/QC, planning, contracts, safety, and coordination teams
• Packaged contractors, specialist vendors, equipment suppliers, and consultants
• Local authorities, utilities, estates, PLN, and other external parties as applicable

Required Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in project construction management, architecture, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering or a related field.
• 10+ years of related construction project management experience, or equivalent experience.
• Strong background in project management, construction management, controls, engineering coordination, and operational delivery requirements.
• Experience delivering large-scale, complex, multi-disciplinary projects with localized and virtual teams.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, initiatives, and deadlines.
• Ability to work independently while supporting cross-functional project teams.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent client relationship, stakeholder management, collaboration, and influencing skills.
• High personal standard for thoughtful, polished, and quality work products.
• Construction health and safety knowledge.

Additional or preferred qualifications:

• 10+ years people management experience.
• 10+ years project management experience.
• 10+ years experience working on data center or mission-critical facility projects.
• Experience with 150kV substation, off-site cable, utility, or enabling infrastructure projects where applicable.
• Experience working for or with general contractors, trade contractors, consultants, and major vendors.
• Knowledge of construction cost management, planning, controls, procurement, logistics, quality assurance, and commissioning.
• Knowledge of ISO-accredited safety and quality management systems.
• Familiarity with OSHA/OHSA or equivalent safety requirements, NFPA 70E, energy isolation, and high-risk activity controls.
• Strong problem solving, decision making, negotiation, multitasking, risk analysis, and scope management skills.
• Experience with vendor selection, vendor evaluation, and vendor management.
• English proficiency required; Malay language capability preferred.

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.

#COICareers | #EPCCareers | #DCDCareers

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.

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