Director, Cost Management - Air Gap Cloud
Construction, Engineering & Trades · Architecture & Planning · Construction Management · Structural Engineering · Mechanical Engineering
In short
Microsoft is seeking a Director, Cost Management - Air Gap Cloud to lead cost and estimation functions for their air-gapped cloud operations. This role involves establishing strategy, methodologies, and governance for cost management throughout the project lifecycle, from feasibility to execution. The position requires strong leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insights.
Responsibilities
- Lead the Air-Gapped Cloud Cost and Estimation function, establishing strategy, operating rhythms, standards, priorities, and measurable outcomes.
- Establish consistent estimating methodologies from feasibility and conceptual planning through progressively refined construction estimates.
- Drive development and governance of Basis of Estimate documentation.
- Establish consistent Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) and Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) alignment.
- Lead estimate validation using quantity analysis, unit-rate analysis, historical data, benchmarking, market intelligence, and risk analysis.
- Develop scalable cost models and estimating approaches supporting scenario planning, feasibility analysis, design alternatives, value engineering, and portfolio planning.
- Establish the operating framework connecting estimates, budgets, forecasts, Estimate at Completion (EAC), cash flow, risk, changes, commitments, and actual costs.
- Lead portfolio-level analysis to identify cost trends, variance drivers, systemic risks, opportunities, and corrective actions.
- Establish benchmarking and cost-performance capabilities that improve future estimates and inform investment decisions.
- Partner with Finance to strengthen portfolio forecasting, EAC accuracy, cash-flow visibility, and cost governance.
- Present executive-level cost information that translates complex construction and financial data into clear risks, decisions, and recommendations.
- Lead development and continuous improvement of estimating standards, templates, cost models, reference data, benchmarks, and controls.
- Ensure estimates appropriately capture project scope, quantities, labor, materials, equipment, indirects, escalation, procurement assumptions, construction strategy, and risk.
- Partner across Design, Construction, and Procurement to identify scope gaps, overlaps, assumptions, exclusions, and cost ownership early in the lifecycle.
- Establish effective cost benchmarking using historical project and market information.
- Evaluate escalation, commodity, labor, and market impacts and translate those findings into actionable cost insights.
- Promote early identification and quantification of cost and scope risks to reduce avoidable downstream changes.
- Provide leadership for cost management throughout procurement and construction execution, including change evaluation, forecasting, payment review, and financial closeout.
- Establish mechanisms for evaluating cost impacts associated with design development, procurement decisions, field changes, schedule impacts, and construction risk.
- Ensure accurate and timely visibility into project and portfolio financial performance.
- Provide cost information and recommendations that support project governance, funding, and business decisions throughout delivery.
- Recruit, lead, coach, and develop a diverse team of cost-management and estimating professionals.
- Establish clear roles, responsibilities, goals, decision rights, and accountability across the organization.
- Build technical depth and succession capability through coaching, standards, knowledge sharing, and structured development.
- Create an environment where people surface risks early, challenge assumptions constructively, collaborate effectively, and continuously improve.
- Foster a culture of growth mindset, inclusion, customer focus, accountability, and One Microsoft collaboration.
- Serve as a Cost and Estimation leader across Air-Gapped Cloud Delivery & Execution.
- Build strong partnerships across Engineering, Design, Construction, Procurement/Supply Chain, Finance, E2E Program Management, Security, and business leadership.
- Lead resolution of complex and ambiguous cost issues through quantitative analysis and clear decision frameworks.
- Represent Cost and Estimation in portfolio governance and executive reviews.
- Balance construction-industry practices with the specialized execution requirements of Air-Gapped Cloud.
Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree AND 8+ years experience in engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Architecture, Finance, Business, Project Management and experience in construction estimating, cost management, project controls, commercial management, or major capital programs.
- OR equivalent experience
- 3+ years people management experience.
- 6+ years of experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects.
- This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.
- This position requires verification of U.S. citizenship due to citizenship-based legal restrictions.
- Specifically, this position supports United States federal, state, and/or local United States government agency customer and is subject to certain citizenship-based restrictions where required or permitted by applicable law.
- To meet this legal requirement, citizenship will be verified via a valid passport, or other approved documents, or verified US government Clearance.
Desired Qualifications
- Proven experience leading cost estimating and/or cost-management activities for large-scale capital construction or infrastructure programs.
- Experience leading and developing people, setting organizational priorities, establishing accountability, and delivering results through teams.
- Experience developing or governing construction estimates across multiple stages of project maturity.
- Experience in several of the following areas: Basis of Estimate development, Quantity-based estimating, Cost planning and budgeting, Forecasting and EAC, Cost benchmarking, Change management, Cash-flow forecasting, Construction risk and contingency, Procurement and contract cost analysis, Cost reporting.
- Experience influencing senior stakeholders and navigating complex or ambiguous business requirements.
- Advanced experience leading Cost Management or Estimating within hyperscale datacenters, mission-critical infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, energy, semiconductor, industrial construction, or similarly complex capital programs.
- Experience managing a Cost and/or Estimating function across a portfolio of concurrent projects.
- Experience developing enterprise estimating standards, cost models, benchmarking datasets, and governance frameworks.
- Experience with quantitative cost-risk analysis.
- Experience evaluating escalation, commodity pricing, market conditions, labor productivity, and supply-chain impacts.
- Experience with multiple construction contracting and commercial models.
- Demonstrated ability to convert large volumes of technical and financial information into concise executive insights and recommendations.
Benefits
- 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
Skills
Cost ManagementEstimatingProject ControlsFinancial AnalysisCost BenchmarkingChange ManagementCash Flow ForecastingRisk AnalysisData Analysis
#Cost Management#Estimating#Program Management#Cloud#Infrastructure#Technical Program Management#Air Gap Cloud#Cost Control#Estimation
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Company
MicrosoftJob Posted
3 weeks ago
Employment Type
Full Time
Work mode
Remote
Salary
US$142,800–274,800 · Negotiable
Experience Level
Executive
Locations
United States
Qualification
Bachelor
Applicants
Be an early applicant
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