Job Description

Cloud Operations + Innovation (CO+I) is the engine that powers Microsoft’s core cloud platforms and services that millions of people use every day. With more than 95% of Fortune 500 business on Azure, 180+ million using Office 365, and millions using other services – all running on Microsoft's cloud infrastructure – CO+I builds and operates the foundation upon which Microsoft’s mission to empower every person and organization comes to life.

Our focus is on smart growth, high efficiency, and delivering a trusted experience to customers and partners worldwide. We are looking for a passionate, high-energy individual to help build the network that powers the world’s largest online services.

Within CO+I, the Global Supply Chain team is responsible for establishing a supply chain that can meet the ever-growing Microsoft Cloud for our customers. We support a portfolio of complex, multi-disciplinary, multi-billion, multi-year datacenter construction and lease projects and operations of those assets. We are looking to fill the critical role of Procurement Manager

“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.”

This role will be based at our office location in Milan, Italy or Madrid, Spain.

Relocation support will be provided, and successful candidates must relocate or reside within 50 miles of the office location.

Responsibilities

Compliance

• Ensures consistency, timeliness, quality, and accuracy of deliverables, and ensures stakeholders are aware of Service Level Agreement (SLA) and/or defined milestones and deliverables terms. Communicates delays to stakeholders, and independently proposes and executes contingency measures. Leverages data to anticipate and mitigate risk and negative business impacts by ensuring compliance with agreed-upon terms, communicating delay potential to stakeholders, and supporting the execution of contingency plans cross-functionally and/or cross-regionally as needed.
• Ensures adherence to policy, educates stakeholders and suppliers on policy compliance, and manages the remediation and resolution of sourcing issues. Identifies opportunities to adapt policy as needed to mitigate risk and better enable suppliers to meet business requirements.
• Applies an end-to-end understanding of the tradeoffs between Microsoft and key suppliers to drive business impact by influencing senior managers cross-functionally, or cross-regionally to apply market intelligence and adopt practices that enable execution with consistency, accuracy, quality, and timeliness of delivery. Manages supplier scorecard process, leads strategic business reviews, educates stakeholders on policy compliance, analyzes root causes of issues, and influences change internally and/or externally to addresses issues. Facilitates periodic Microsoft-driven supplier audits against policy/contractual requirements. Ensures the governance model maintains up to date sourcing and supplier data.

Procurement and Contracts

• Route original contracts and subsequent Change Orders via workflow process or technology in support of product and service requirements. Executes contracts and complies with established control processes to ensure delivery and execution on contracts in alignment with business requirements. Identifies risks and roadblocks to contract execution and drives action internally and/or externally to resolve and/or escalate, as appropriate. Monitors the impact of change orders to the underlying business case, and partners cross-functionally to adjust impact models. Ensures supplier performs the work in accordance with requirements set forth in the contract. Supports supplier and contractor performance management, including safety deliverables, by collaborating with internal and external stakeholders and providing timely feedback.
• Route original Purchase Orders as well as any subsequent Change Orders via workflow process or technology in support of product and service requirements, independently. Manages the resolution of escalated pricing issues raised by other sourcing personnel. Ensures supplier performs the work in accordance with requirements set forth in the Purchase Order.

• Integrates business specifications for complex purchasing areas into Request for Information (RFI) and/or Request for Proposal (RFP) processes. Collaborates cross-functionally to define and manage supplier scorecard criteria (e.g., Key Performance Indicators [KPIs], Service Level Agreements [SLAs]), coordinates supplier performance reviews, and drives corrective actions. Builds and maintains strategic supplier relationships through effective Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), fostering executive alignment, collaboration, transparency, and mutual accountability to drive long-term value and business outcomes. Actively partners with suppliers to identify and drive continuous improvement, innovation, and risk management opportunities by evaluating procedural, operational, and environmental factors, analyzing root causes of issues, sharing insights with key stakeholders, and influencing the adoption of needed improvements. Evaluates and ensures suppliers' ability to maintain robust business continuity plans that mitigate risk and support supply resilience.
• Manages contract and price negotiation activities across multiple pricing models and purchasing categories, ensuring both cost competitiveness and capacity requirements are met while reflecting Microsoft's cross-functional engagement strategy with suppliers. Develops and executes supplier engagement and governance frameworks to strengthen partnerships, improve supplier performance, and support strategic business objectives. Identifies cost reduction opportunities and works closely with suppliers to continuously improve value, efficiency, and competitiveness. Leads collaboration with Legal, Corporate Affairs, and Global Procurement teams to independently negotiate Master Contract terms and conditions.
• Defines, maintains, and executes sourcing strategies for one or more complex projects and purchasing opportunities to ensure optimal cost, supplier performance, and continuity of supply and services. Leverages supplier relationship insights, market intelligence, and category expertise to influence sourcing decisions and strengthen strategic partnerships. Benchmarks internal and industry data against relevant markets, identifies emerging opportunities and risks, and drives improvements to sourcing strategies that enhance supplier value, innovation, and business outcomes.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Collaborates with suppliers and internal Microsoft compliance stakeholders and leads initial and annual refresher on-boarding processes. Serves as contact point between suppliers and multiple Microsoft accounts across one or more complex purchasing categories, developing and executing supplier account plans detailing priorities and focus for the supplier relationship for the upcoming period.
• Develops pricing and negotiation strategies for one or more complex purchasing categories, ensures that strategies clearly articulate the tradeoffs, roles, and responsibilities across parties, and gains senior executive support for strategies both internally and externally. Identifies negotiation setbacks and takes action to mitigate contract disagreements.
• Drives early business engagements for complex business areas or purchasing categories with cross-functional leadership including product design, quality, and business teams, to define and drive action on supply solutions and strategies, business requirements, optimal sourcing spend, and priorities. Shares expertise to advise cross-functional teams on sourcing decisions.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, Business, Finance or related field AND Proven experience in data science/analytics, finance, project management, supply chain, and/or operation OR Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, Business, Finance or related field AND Proven experience in data science/analytics, finance, project management, supply chain, and/or operations OR equivalent experience.

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

While not required, we also look for the following Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, Business, Finance or related field AND Proven experience in data science/analytics, finance, project management, supply chain, and/or operation OR Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, Business, Finance or related field AND Proven experience in data science/analytics, finance, project management, supply chain, and/or operations OR equivalent experience.

Sourcing and Category Management IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across Italy is € 85,700.00 - € 152,800.00 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.

Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/corporate-pay/italy-corporate-pay.html

Sourcing and Category Management IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across Spain is € 84,000.00 - € 149,500.00 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.

Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/corporate-pay/spain-corporate-pay.html

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.