Lease Commissioning Director

Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO+I) is the team behind the cloud. Within CO+I, the Engineering Procurement & Construction (EPC) organization is responsible for delivering core datacenter infrastructure for Microsoft’s cloud business. The Microsoft portfolio consists of complex, multi-disciplinary, large-scale datacenter construction and lease projects across the globe. We are looking for a passionate, high-energy individual to help deliver the leased datacenter capacity that powers the world’s largest online services.   The CO+I Commissioning team is responsible for managing the end-to-end delivery of new data center capacity. Through development of industry-leading commissioning, program management, and operational readiness processes, the team ensures that new infrastructure is validated, tested, and ready to support Microsoft’s cloud operations.   The Lease Commissioning Director is responsible for the strategy, program management, and execution of lease commissioning across the Americas sub-regional portfolio. This position leads a team of Lease Commissioning Managers responsible for ensuring leased capacity achieves operational readiness and is delivered in alignment with Microsoft standards, contractual requirements, commissioning objectives, and business schedules.   The successful candidate will partner closely with Lease Delivery, Lease Providers, Global Commissioning, Data Center Operations, Networking, Engineering, and Finance organizations to ensure leased facilities are commissioned, validated, and ready for service. This role requires leadership across multiple metros and lease providers while driving consistency, governance, readiness, risk management, and continuous improvement throughout the lease commissioning lifecycle.   The Commissioning Director will establish strategy, standards, processes, and execution frameworks that ensure leased capacity transitions into reliable operational capacity that can be safely and confidently consumed by Microsoft services.   This role is eligible for remote work and requires travel to lease provider facilities and Microsoft project locations throughout the Americas.

Leadership & People Management Reports to the CO+I Regional Commissioning Director – AMERS Leases Lead, manage, coach, and develop a high-performing team of Lease Commissioning Managers. Drive accountability, capability development, succession planning, and performance management across the lease commissioning organization. Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, talent reviews, and employee development discussions. Create and sustain a culture focused on safety, inclusion, operational excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement. Ensure consistent execution and alignment of commissioning practices across all assigned metros and lease providers. Support organizational growth through recruiting, onboarding, and development of commissioning talent. Lease Commissioning Program Management Own the Americas Lease Commissioning program, including commissioning governance, readiness strategy, execution standards, metrics, and performance reporting. Establish and maintain commissioning processes that ensure leased facilities are delivered in accordance with Microsoft commissioning requirements and operational readiness expectations. Oversee commissioning activities from design reviews through Integrated Systems Testing (IST), operational turnover, and Ready for Service (RFS) milestones. Drive consistency in commissioning execution across multiple lease providers, geographies, and delivery models. Lead resolution of complex technical, schedule, operational, and contractual risks impacting lease readiness. Ensure commissioning scope, schedules, risks, milestones, and dependencies are actively managed throughout project execution. Operational Readiness & Capacity Delivery Champion the delivery of operationally ready capacity that can be safely accepted and