Data Center Operations Manager

Job description

As a Microsoft Data Center Project Manager (DCPM), you will perform troubleshooting for service incidents, manage assigned projects to meet service delivery objectives as well escalate to appropriate stakeholders to remove obstacles. You will also follow safety policies and procedures and participate in root cause analysis (RCA) of incidents. This job will allow you to build a solid understanding of data center procedures, engage in collaboration across various teams as well as provide mentorship across data centers by sharing best practices.

Microsoft’s Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) is the engine that powers our cloud services. As a CO+I DCPM, you will perform a key role in delivering the core infrastructure and foundational technologies for Microsoft's online services including Bing, Office 365, Xbox, OneDrive, and the Microsoft Azure platform. As a group, CO+I is focused on the personal and professional development for all employees and offers trainings and growth opportunities including Career Rotation Programs, Diversity & Inclusion trainings and events, and professional certifications.

Our infrastructure is comprised of a large global portfolio of more than 200 data centers in 32 countries and millions of servers. Our foundation is built upon and managed by a team of subject matter experts working to support services for more than 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 90 countries worldwide.

With environmental sustainability and optimization at the forefront of our data center design and operations, we continue to grow and evolve as we meet the ever-changing business demands that hold Microsoft as a world-class cloud provider.

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. 

Responsibilities:

• Follows and adheres to processes and policy(ies) provided by security and safety governing partners. Reports immediately any safety or security issues or concerns. Participates in safety and security related Root Cause Analysis (RCA) processes as appropriate. Makes recommendations for improvements to safety and security processes or procedures. Fosters and exhibits a culture of safety. Ensures no unauthorized or unescorted personnel access in secured production environments, ensuring alignment with security practices and standards. Manages and regularly audits physical access lists for personnel accessing secured production environments and related systems. Conducts security risk assessments of data center operations and assesses the design, build, and delivery of technology, tools, data, and processes to meet high security standards with minimal guidance. Documents and tracks security Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and identifies and escalates action items.
• Engages with appropriate teams and resources to execute tasks or projects. Manages programs associated with area of responsibility.
• Realizes that changes impact the work of others and proactively shares relevant information to enable continued workflow efficiency(ies). Participates in change advisory board (CAB) meetings. Supports implementation of changes in accordance with documented procedures accurately and provides feedback in a timely manner. Regularly scans the internal and external environment to help anticipate changes that could affect key projects. Develops an understanding of change management principles and their varying application. (e.g., PROSCI vs. ITIL). Assesses the security implications of planned changes with guidance and identifies and escalates risks.
• Collaborates and negotiates effectively with others to identify delegates to deliver results. Seeks guidance from management on delegation of resources.
• Exercises judgment and discretion to contribute to issue tracking for supporting the overall quality of the end-to-end service and client satisfaction with complete and consistent communication. Learns the client's business and maintains a dedicated client focus and security-first approach. Considers current processes and procedures to proactively review schedules and resolve conflicts by identifying, coordinating, managing expectations, and offering alternatives when defining client solutions. Identifies risk in service delivery approach(es) while minimizing and aligning client to risk vs. impact decisions/tradeoffs. Recognizes potential client impact of other events and issues occurring across the service (e.g., lockdowns; change management). Communicates potential impact to adjust plans accordingly. Actively seeks to understand strategy adaptations, plans, and solutions, regarding insights about communicated end-customer, market, and business environment changes impacting service delivery. Adapts strategies to align with evolving security needs with minimal guidance.

Additional Responsibilities: 

• Demonstrate conscientiousness on cost adheres to budget requirements; keep costs reasonable and contribute to staying within budget.
• Follow and adhere to safety and security policies and procedures. Report immediately any safety or security issues or concerns.
• Perform troubleshooting for service incidents and escalates, as appropriate, to meet SLA/OLAs, with minimal disruption to the client/customer and business.
• Recognize potential customer impact of other events and issues (e.g., customer lockdown), communicate potential impact, and plan for impact accordingly.
• Proactively review schedules and avoid conflicts when possible. Identify, coordinate, manage expectations, and offer alternatives when defining customer solutions.
• Manage relationships with clients and suppliers to ensure that all expectations are clarified, understood, documented, and met.
• Suggest ways for reducing the risk of performing maintenance; work with others to accommodate scheduling needs.

• In alignment with management priorities, hold self-accountable for the end-to-end service quality, completeness, and resulting customer experience (including but not limited to availability, safety, security, customer service). Support escalation of issues to appropriate owner.

• Embody our culture and values.

Required Qualifications:

• High School Qualification or equivalent AND 2+ years experience supporting IT equipment or related technology or delivering server and network deployment projects in large-scale environments OR equivalent experience

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.
• Citizenship Verification: This position requires verification of US Citizenship to meet federal government security requirements.

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

• Bachelor's or Technical College Degree in Computer Science, Math, Telecommunications, Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain Management or related field AND 5+ years experience in critical environment infrastructures (e.g., UPS, Generator, AHU), or working in physical IT infrastructures (e.g., Servers, SANs, Networking, Capacity, DC Rack/Enclosures, structured cabling) OR High School Qualification or equivalent AND 7+ years experience in critical environment infrastructures (e.g., UPS, Generator, AHU), or working in physical IT infrastructures (e.g., Servers, SANs, Networking, Capacity, DC Rack/Enclosures, structured cabling) OR equivalent experience.
• Technical College degree in Computer Science, Math, Telecommunications, Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• Applicable certifications: ASICS/Inventory Control, CompTIA, Microsoft, Network Certifications, PMP, ITIL, CDCP.

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.