Global Manager of Quality Assurance - Construction

Overview

Microsoft’s Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) is the engine that powers our cloud services. The Cloud Operations + Innovation (CO+I) business is critical to delivering on this mission and vision, building and operating Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure, which is growing rapidly in response to unprecedented demand for Microsoft services. CO+I operates one of the largest cloud networks on the planet – comprised of more than 160 Datacenters, 130+ edge sites, 2+ million miles of fiber, and millions of servers and network and storage devices.

The Global Manager of Quality Assurance – Construction is a functional leadership role responsible for developing, implementing, and scaling the global quality assurance systems, standards, and governance models that ensure consistent, predictable, and compliant construction execution across the global data center portfolio. This role focuses on strategy, process design, and organizational capability, enabling regional construction teams to deliver high‑quality projects through disciplined contractor management, standardized Quality Assirance (QA) practices, and proactive risk mitigation.

Reporting to the Global Director of Quality Assurance, this leader serves as a key architect of the global QA framework—driving clarity, alignment, and continuous improvement across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia.

Responsibilities

Global Quality Strategy & Framework Development

• Support the Global Director in defining the enterprise QA strategy for construction, ensuring alignment with engineering, design, safety, and project execution priorities.

• Develop and maintain the global QA operating model, including roles, responsibilities, decision rights, and interfaces with regional execution teams.

• Establish scalable frameworks for contractor quality management, inspection readiness, commissioning quality, and defect prevention.

Standards, Processes & Systems Leadership

• Create, refine, and govern global QA standards, procedures, checklists, and verification protocols used across all regions.

• Lead the development of digital QA systems, dashboards, and reporting tools that provide visibility into quality performance, trends, and systemic risks.

• Partner with Engineering, Design, Supply Chain, and Construction to ensure QA processes are integrated throughout the project lifecycle—from design through commissioning.

Quality Governance & Assurance

• Stand up and manage global QA governance forums that drive accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.

• Establish global metrics, KPIs, and scorecards that measure quality performance across contractors, regions, and project types.

• Conduct global quality audits, maturity assessments, and compliance reviews to ensure adherence to standards and identify systemic gaps.

Contractor Quality Management

• Develop and maintain global contractor QA requirements, qualification criteria, and performance expectations.

• Partner with Supply Chain and regional teams to evaluate contractor quality capability and drive corrective action plans when needed.

• Create frameworks for defect tracking, root‑cause analysis, and lessons‑learned integration.

Regional Enablement & Capability Building

• Provide training, coaching, and guidance to regional QA managers and construction teams on global standards and best practices.

• Facilitate global knowledge‑sharing, including playbooks, case studies, and technical guidance.

• Support regional execution teams in implementing QA systems, resolving complex quality issues, and improving contractor performance.

Continuous Improvement & Risk Management

• Lead global initiatives to reduce rework, improve first‑time‑quality, and strengthen construction readiness.

• Identify systemic risks and drive cross‑functional solutions that improve quality outcomes across the portfolio.

• Integrate lessons learned into standards, processes, and contractor requirements.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Construction Project Management, Architecture, Engineering, or related field AND 12+ years related experience OR equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated expertise in construction QA/QC, including inspections, commissioning quality, defect prevention, root-cause analysis, and contractor quality management.

• Experience building and scaling QA standards, processes, governance, KPIs, and systems across multiple projects, sites, or regions, not just executing an existing quality program.

• Proven ability to influence construction teams, contractors, engineering, design, and supply chain partners to improve quality performance and drive consistent execution

• Bachelor's Degree in Construction Project Management, Architecture, Engineering, or related field AND 15+ years related experience OR equivalent experience.

• 15+ years experience working on data center projects.

• 10+ years project management experience.

• 10+ years people management experience.

Other 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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Construction Project Management M6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $130,900 - $277,200 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 $165,600 - $303,600 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

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. (https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/accessibility.html)