Senior Commercial Contract Manager - Azure Vanguard Program

Azure Vanguard: Microsoft has the unique privilege of being the preferred technology and innovation partner to the largest and most forward-thinking customers and partners. These customers’ scenarios will be lighthouses for their markets and present an opportunity for Azure and Microsoft to learn and grow, create transformative technology offerings, build businesses, create market opportunity and expand share, and advance competitive advantages. These “vanguard” customers require a distinct end to end customer experience that we are calling the Azure Vanguard Program.
The Azure Vanguard Program is looking for a dynamic, skilled leader to join the team, and be a part of the creation, implementation and successful execution of this program – specifically in support of one of our founding Vanguard customers. Our UK customer is engaged in a highly complex, multi-year program to deliver world leading scientific research and operational forecasting in meteorology and climate research, mitigation and adaptation. This program has genuine world-changing credentials.
Commercial Contract Manager role: The Commercial Contract Manager role will play a pivotal role in being the ‘glue’ between the various Microsoft business areas and the delivery of the program contracts. Being capable of working at a detail level within contract management as well as at a strategic level to drive commercial operation across business functions is key. The role will support program leadership team to ensure commercial insights contribute to the strategic direction and overall health of the contract and relationship with our partners.
Bringing broad and deep business acumen, sound decision-making and operational excellence to bear is essential to this role. These capabilities are key to effectively and efficiently delivering on the core priorities of Azure and our Vanguard customer.
This position requires continuous cross-Microsoft, cross-time-zone coordination and the ability to prioritize and manage high impact work effectively and efficiently.
Microsoft is on a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Our culture is centered on embracing a growth mindset, a theme of inspiring excellence, and encouraging teams and leaders to bring their best each day. In doing so, we create life changing innovations that impact billions of lives around the world. You can help us to achieve our mission. #azurecorejobs Responsibilities

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  Work alongside the Commercial Director to shape the strategic approach to commercial contract management across the program.
• Manage contracts and contractual processes to meet contractual obligations of the Vanguard customer (frequently to very short timeframes).
• Ensure contract management is compliant with internal processes, and where necessary gain business support for new practices to be implemented.
• Manage suppliers to meet and exceed contractual obligations.
• Support and lead commercial negotiations including work order and contract variation approvals.
• Mitigate and manage supply risk.
• Work with project managers, procurement, legal and finance to ensure new suppliers and/or opportunities are smoothly transitioned into the program.

Qualifications Required Qualifications:

• Commercial contract management experience including negotiation, drafting of contracts, dispute resolution, business problem solving and strategy setting to drive compliance and business outcomes with vendors and customers.
• Knowledge of government contracting, ideally UK
• Can achieve results in midst of ambiguity and matrixed organization.
• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. This requirement includes BPSS clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MCIPS, Consulting experience or MBA qualification highly desirable.
• Strong negotiation and drafting skills with experience in managing complex commercial agreements, preferably in the technology sector.
• Decision making, and problem solving in a cross-functional environment.
• Strong analytical and operational skills; strategic and growth mindset.
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with commercial contracts, including financial, operational, and legal risks.
• Effective in dealing with senior stakeholders (both internal and external).
• Track record of building strong internal business and supplier relationships at all levels.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, oral and written communication skills at all levels of an organization.
• High personal accountability for self and others.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and dynamic environment with multiple priorities and stakeholders
• Experience of large scale, complex programs preferred.
• Self-managing leader who takes initiative.
• Attention to detail and process.
• Strong attention to workflows and deadlines.
• Software/Cloud services industry, consulting, and support experience preferred.

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.

Additional Details: Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, 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 and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.