New

Principal Program Manager - Front End Planning

Microsoft
$142,800.00 - $274,800.00 / yr
remote work
United States, Washington, Redmond
Jul 14, 2026
Overview Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO&I) is the team behind the cloud.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 buildthe clouddatacenters that power the world's largest online services. The Principal Program Manager - Front-End Planning will lead the overall front-end planningfunctionfor AMERS Lease delivery,establishingthe operating model, governance framework, and cross-functional intake processrequiredto position leased data center projects for successful execution.This role will provide broad program leadership across lease construction management, ITIM, scheduling, cost, and technical readiness workstreams. We areseekinga strategic, senior program leader to develop and lead a multidisciplinary Front-End Planning function that provides comprehensive lease intake analysis, delivery governance, execution prepositioning, and risk-based recommendations before lease projects transition into execution. This leader will build and coordinate a team of lease construction management, ITIM, schedule, and cost personnel to assess project readiness,validateassumptions,identifygaps, and ensure scope, budget, schedule, safety, and operational requirements are clearly understood before execution handoff. Microsoft's mission is to empower every person andevery organization on the planet to achieve more. Asemployeeswe 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 islocatedeither in one or all hub locations - Atlanta, GA, Redmond, WA, San Antonio, TX or Phoenix, AZ.Relocation support will be provided, and successful candidates must relocateorresidewithin 50 miles of the hub office location.This role is eligible for hybrid or remote work, up to (40) %. Responsibilities ThePrincipal Program Manager -Front-End Planning is asenior leader withinMicrosoft's Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I)organizationresponsible forestablishingand leadingthefront-end planning capability for leased data center delivery. This role provides program leadership across lease constructionmanagement, ITIM, schedule, cost, technicalintegration,andreadiness planning to ensure proposed lease projects are fully assessed, governed, and positioned for execution. The role owns the end-to-end front-end planning operating model, including intake standards, governance forums, decision support, readiness criteria, andexecutionturnover expectations. The Principal Program Manager will lead a multidisciplinary team and partner with internal stakeholders, lessors, and subject matter experts to convert early lease opportunities into actionable execution inputs with clear alignment on scope, budget, schedule, risks, assumptions, and delivery responsibilities. Key Responsibilities Lead the overall Front-End Planningfunctionfor AMERSLeasedelivery,establishingthe framework, governance, standards, and cadence for intake analysis andexecutionreadiness. Develop and lead a multidisciplinary team of lease construction management, ITIM, schedule, and cost personnel to evaluate lease opportunities beforeexecutionhandoff. Provide comprehensive lease intake analysis, including assessment of scope completeness, lessor obligations, Microsoft fit-out requirements, technical readiness, constructability, schedule feasibility, cost exposure, and execution risks. Translate business, operational, technical, and commercial requirements into actionable pre-lease planning inputs and decision-quality recommendations for leadership review. Establish governance mechanisms to track readiness, assumptions, gaps, risks, decisions, and owner accountability across lease intake and pre-execution milestones. Partner with lease delivery, ITIM, networking, security, telecom, cost management, scheduling, procurement, engineering, operations, safety, and lessor stakeholders to align execution requirements and handoff expectations. Validate integrated schedule logic, PO need-by dates, long-lead constraints, and Ready for Service assumptions against project scope, procurement strategy, and lessor delivery commitments. Drive early identification, escalation, and mitigation of scope, schedule, cost, safety, constructability, and integration risks before projects move into execution. Own development of execution turnover packages that provide the delivery team with clear lease requirements, technical assumptions, stakeholder commitments, risk registers, governance decisions, and open actions. Champion continuous improvement of front-end planning processes, tools, templates, and metrics to improve consistency, predictability, and execution outcomes across the lease portfolio. Qualifications Required/minimum qualifications: Bachelor's Degree AND 6+ years experience in engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development OR equivalent experience. 3+ years of experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects. Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree AND 12+ years experience engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development OR equivalent experience. 8+ years of experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects. 1+ year(s) of experience reading and/or writing code (e.g., sample documentation, product demos). Proven success in leading integration delivery ona portfolio ofmedium-to-large-scale projects across industries Creative problem-solving, analytical skills to drive keen insights and collaboration acrossteams within and outside the organization. Experience with mission-critical facilities and vendor management. Demonstrated ability to operate in highly collaborative, cross-functional environments. Growth mindset with a commitment to continuous improvement and inclusion. 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 Technical Program Management IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $274,800 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 $188,000 - $304,200 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 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.