Risk Lead – AI / Special Projects Full-time

Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO+I) is the team behind the cloud. Within CO+I, the Global Project Controls (GPC) 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 passionate, high-energy individuals to help build the cloud datacenters that power the world’s largest online services.

The Risk Lead – AI / Special Projects will be responsible for overseeing and managing the program risk profile associated with the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) portfolio within the Global Project Controls (GPC) functional group. This role involves implementing risk management procedure, conducting project risk assessment, cost and schedule risk analysis, monitoring and reporting on program risk performance. This role requires close collaboration with a diverse group of stakeholders including engineers, construction project managers, procurement teams, planners, estimators, cost analysts, and contractors to ensure effective risk management throughout the project lifecycle.

The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of construction project risk management and thrive in a blended corporate and construction team environment.

This role is located either in one or all hub locations: Atlanta, GA, Phoenix, AZ, Redmond, WA, San Antonio, TX, or Washington, DC. Relocation support will be provided, and successful candidates must relocate or reside within 50 miles of the hub office location. This role is eligible for hybrid or remote work, up to 100%.

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:

Coordination

• Attends and advises during scheduled owner/architect/contractor and other project meetings.
• Lead risk planning activities for projects, including scheduling and coordinating workshops with stakeholders and develop appropriate risk treatment plans
• Contributes to fostering a knowledge sharing culture by actively participating in the risk knowledge networks and collaborative forums.
• Assists in the review of risk governance to ensure a particular risk area is receiving the appropriate amount of attention with minimal guidance.
• Identifies and escalates any concerns of related to risks being monitored.

Technical Acumen

• Analyze project schedules, costs, and engineering documentation to identify potential risks and gaps.
• Knowledge of statistical methods (e.g., probability distributions, correlation analysis) for assessing uncertainty in cost and schedule forecasts.
• Application of Monte Carlo simulations to predict project outcomes under uncertainty.
• Ability to integrate cost and schedule data to perform risk modelling and identify potential impacts on project baselines.
• Use technical insights to identify causes of risks and recommend solutions to project teams

Change Management

• Promote a culture of risk management and governance by educating teams on new processes and driving adherence.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to streamline processes, improve efficiencies, and ensure alignment with organizational goals.

Risk Assessment, Treatment and Control

• Execute the risk management lifecycle, including data collection, analytics, and workshop facilitation, to identify and evaluate project risks.
• Maintain and update the risk registers, ensuring risks, mitigation actions, and trigger events are accurately documented and regularly reviewed.
• Develop and implement mitigation plans in collaboration with stakeholders, ensuring accountability and progress tracking.
• Periodically re-evaluate risks and opportunities to assess relevance, priority, and the effectiveness of treatment plans.

Risk Governance and Compliance

• Present risk assessment findings to stakeholders, ensuring awareness, gaining approval, and driving informed decision-making.
• Collaborate with accountability owners to ensure alignment on mitigation plans and track their execution.
• Partner with internal teams to communicate updated risk processes, enhancing adherence to governance standards.

Data Analytics and Risk Insights

• Gather and analyze datasets to support risk modeling, ensuring the availability of accurate and relevant data.
• Build and sustain analytical models to provide insights into risk prioritization, root causes, and mitigation strategies.
• Integrate quantitative risk analysis results into portfolio-level reporting for visibility across projects and regions.

Issue Management

• Identify and prioritize issues in collaboration with cross-functional teams to develop and implement resolution / recovery plans, ensuring alignment with timelines and project goals.
• Proactive communication with stakeholders, escalation of critical issues, and continuous improvement through lessons learned and process enhancements to prevent and mitigate project disruptions effectively.

Vendor Management

• Assists with the monitoring of vendor and/or contractor performance, ensuring compliance with process and reporting
• Review vendor performance relative to risk, cost and schedule models (with cost and schedule management team) and clarifies those reports in presentations to the delivery and executive teams.

Embody our Culture and Values

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree AND 6+ years experience in Risk Management, Engineering, Project Management, Consulting, or Business Analysis in the oil and gas, mining, public infrastructure, nuclear, or energy industries
  • OR 8+ years experience in Risk Management, Engineering, Project Management, Consulting, or Business Analysis in oil and gas, mining, public infrastructure, nuclear, or energy industries
  • OR equivalent experience
• Experience with tools such as Safran, Omega Risk/ 365, @RISK, Primavera Risk Analysis (PRA), Acumen for risk simulation tools, or similar platforms for quantitative risk analysis
• Working experience of quantitative models of cost and schedule
• Experience overseeing the risk management programs of concurrent multiple projects

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.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Membership with a relevant risk domain area association including: Project Management Institute (PMP, RMP); American Association Cost Engineers (PRMP, DRMP), RICS full membership (MRICS or FRICS) or equivalent

Risk Management IC5 – The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $115,000 – $200,300 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 $146,200 – $219,200 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

Microsoft will accept applications and processes offers for these roles on an ongoing basis.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form .

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.

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