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Strategic Cost Estimator

Microsoft

Microsoft

Redmond, WA, USA
Posted on Feb 12, 2024
Cloud Operations + Innovation (CO+I) is the team behind one of the world’s largest cloud infrastructures, responsible for powering all Microsoft online Products and Services as well as powering Microsoft’s “Cloud First” mission. Our focus is on smart growth, high efficiency, and delivering a trusted experience to customers and partners worldwide. We are looking for a passionate Strategic Cost Estimator to help achieve that mission.

Within CO+I, the Infrastructure, Planning and Acquisition team is responsible for supporting delivery of datacenter capacity for Microsoft’s cloud business. We have a portfolio of complex, multi-disciplinary, multi-million, multi-year datacenter construction and lease projects with specific safety, quality, schedule, and cost goals.

The Strategic Cost Estimator is responsible for the development and maintenance of estimates for all new Technology & Innovative Datacenter builds globally. This role will concentrate on strategic & innovative projects as well as annual baselining of our standard Datacenter (DC) model which will entail Cost Estimating and Cost management as the overall role. The Strategic Cost Estimator will manage cost data, communications, schedule meetings and be a point of contact between internal and external parties for specific projects being supported. The Strategic Cost Estimator will work closely with engineering, construction, security, networking, and operations teams throughout each project and ensure cost information is developed and managed meet the requirements of those specific project needs. The Strategic Cost Estimator will report directly to the Global Estimating Manager and will have dotted-line interactions with Regional Project Estimators & Cost Manager to continue implementing lessons learned.

Being part of this team would give you an opportunity to be part of a rapidly growing business and enable global impact.

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.

Responsibilities

  • Estimate the cost of our datacenter projects to support the short- and long-term plans for the corporation.
  • Partner collaboratively with cross-functional teams (design engineering, construction, cost controls functions, scheduling, finance, etc.) to understand requirements and ensure alignment to scope, schedule, and budget.
  • Develop and maintain estimating databases and templates specific to the role.
  • Report out to senior managers on estimate data, project cost progress and assumptions to ensure a clear and concise message is sent and understood.
  • Perform different types of estimates and projects, while keeping delivery dates as a top priority.
  • Provide day-to-day Cost Management activities, as required, to maintain the projects financial reporting and logging systems i.e. a good understanding of commitments & forecasting spends for monthly, quarterly & the fiscal year.
  • Support, develop and improve estimating and cost management processes and procedures.
  • Drive standardization and consistency throughout the group.
  • Management of all commercial issues on all current, future, and past projects and report on these issues through the Project Controls & Datacenter Delivery (DCD) head office in Redmond on a regular basis

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Construction Project Management, Architecture, Engineering, or related field AND 10+ years related experience
    • OR equivalent experience.
  • 5+ years’ experience managing the estimating or commercials on a major construction portfolio.
Other Requirements

The 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/Additional Qualifications

  • RICS full membership (MRICS or FRICS) or equivalent
  • Deep commercial knowledge of construction internationally.
  • Effective communication skills and ability to collaborate with all other areas of the data center program, being able to think strategically, ability to build the trust of our construction partners needed to agree very large construction contracts.
  • Possess a clear understanding of the full Construction Life Cycle.
  • Capability to perform all forms and types of estimates from parametric to bottoms up and high level what-if scenarios.
  • Analytical, problem-solving skills beyond estimating practice.
  • Develop, maintain, and report out on project scope, schedule, and budget with cost as the main driver in those conversations.
  • Cross-group collaborator and influencer across teams and organizations with proven success in participating in cross-functional teams to deliver on key projects.
  • Should be able to work within a dynamic team of full-time employees and consultants.
  • High personal standard to deliver a thoughtful, polished, and quality work estimate &/or any other report-out deliverable.

Construction Project Management IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $112,200 - $194,800 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 $142,200 - $213,200 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

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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.