Network Acquisition Team Lead

Overview
Cloud Ops and Innovation (CO+I) is the engine that powers Microsoft's cloud services. The team is responsible for designing, building and operating our unified global datacenters; managing the demand planning and capacity utilization of our unified infrastructure; and for operating the physical infrastructure (including supply chain, hardware, power, security, and workflow teams). We focus on smart growth with an emphasis on automation, data driven engineering, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. We deliver the core infrastructure and foundational technologies for Microsoft's over 200 online businesses including Azure, Bing, MSN, Office 365, Xbox Live, Skype, and OneDrive. Our infrastructure is comprised of a large global portfolio of more than 100 datacenters and 1 million servers. Our portfolio is built and managed by a team of subject matter experts working 24x7x365 to support services for more than 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 90 countries worldwide.

The Cloud Interconnection and Acquisitions team is responsible for acquisition of Fiber, Edge, Egress and Peering solutions supporting all of Microsoft's online services infrastructure. We work with the various engineering, capacity and long-range planning teams on a collaborative basis to ensure the Microsoft network has the highest quality and availability globally.

Responsibilities
We're looking for an experienced and courageous leader that must be able support, influence and deliver network capacity in a fast-paced production environment—you must be agile and able to adapt to changing conditions and priorities. The successful candidate will need excellent analytical, communication, and collaboration skills. You will be working with people from many different teams and backgrounds requiring an open mind-set. You must be able to influence others and work cross-functionally to achieve broad goals. A proven track record of successfully managing projects, great talent and stakeholders are skillset needed to be demonstrated showing delivering measurable impact and results are skill set needed to be successful in this role.

• High energy individual to help build the network that powers the world's largest online services.
• Lead project initiatives for cloud infrastructure network in EMEA including metro, long haul, subsea and network colocation;
• Lead regional team in owning and driving commercial and contractual negotiations with vendors providing wavelength, dark fiber, subsea and colocation services (aerial, terrestrial and undersea networks).
• Support our colocation efforts within the region to ensure resiliency, diversity and quality uptime of our network services portfolio.
• Collaborate with internal teams to identify and define strategic initiatives to meet expansion and cost reduction needs
• Region and market topology expertise/SME to determine specific routes and deals that meet Microsoft network requirements
• Build strategic relationships with vendors and industry experts
• Communicate progress internally and collaborate with network deployment teams
• Collaborate with internal business and networking technical teams to identify and define strategic initiatives necessary to meet Microsoft's ongoing needs for both expansion and cost reduction.
• Build strategic relationships with vendors; Identify unique opportunities for partnership or expansion with these teams; Determine specific routes and partnerships that meet commercial, technical, and timing requirements.
• Partner and ensure contracting compliance with service suppliers, legal team and physical security teams for continuous and consistent rigor ensuring contracts contain the correct SLA's, indemnifications and such to
• Solid understanding of network strategy, topology planning and cost vectors

Qualifications

• Proven knowledge of Long Hauls and Metro acquisition and investment within EMEA
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of regional regulatory environments
• Demonstrated command of existing subsea systems topologies, cable landings and Top Interconnection facilities regionally
• Excellent communication and leadership skills
• Decision-making skills
• Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree OR (In lieu of degree, and relevant work experience)
• Experience in networking technologies
• Experience in strategic negotiations and/or business development obtaining services from technology providers in data center and Internet technologies
• BS or BA degree in technology or science
• Extensive experiences with contract development and vendor management
• Strong analysis and problem-solving skills
• Willing to travel between 25% and 50% of the time

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.

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.