Microsoft Cloud Operations & Innovation seeks new Program Manager in Energy Markets, focused on the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), with an emphasis on Southern Europe (Spain, Italy, Greece). The candidate will manage a portfolio of activities to optimize and execute opportunities in datacenter energy supply and technology, including: support site selection efforts and datacenter interconnection strategy and execution in partnership with utilities, develop business cases for new technology applications at the datacenters, communicate project needs and manage relationships across internal and external stakeholders, negotiate energy supply agreements, identify regulatory and policy opportunities for Microsoft, and identify market conditions material to our business.

The candidate will have the ability to develop creative solutions that combine knowledge of regulated and deregulated power markets to deliver power to Microsoft datacenters. In addition, the candidate should be capable of developing commercial applications for advanced energy technologies which support energy transition principles and Microsoft’s sustainability goals. The candidate will need to understand the dynamics of energy markets and Microsoft’s own unique position in the energy sector. This necessitates that the candidate brings an innovative, collaborative presence to the role towards driving commercial & technology execution to realize business goals, lower costs, and meet sustainability targets.

In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day.

Responsibilities

• Lead datacenter interconnection and energy supply contract development with utilities and third-party energy suppliers in support of Microsoft’s datacenter businesses in EMEA, with a primary focus on Southern Europe.
• Lead or assist in the analysis of energy industry trends, market policy and regulations to proactively identify opportunities to reduce cost, minimize risk, and advance sustainability goals. 
• Partner with globally distributed internal stakeholders on site selection and energy project development, e.g. distributed energy, land acquisition, construction. 
• Work collaboratively with external vendors and consultants on regional energy market research, distilling key insights material to Microsoft’s cloud business growth. 
• Develop internal business cases including providing input on financial models and regional strategies. 
• Build relationships with external suppliers and partners, particularly electric utilities, local and regional regulatory agencies, customers, and energy technology providers. 
• Identify, monitor, and mitigate key risks relating to power delivery for the Southern Europe cloud portfolio.
• Business travel required (10%-25%, subject to fluctuation with business tempo). 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, finance, engineering disciplines, business, operations
• Extensive experience in project management.
• Broad understanding of the European power industry, with specific focus on the mechanics of deregulated power markets.
• Strong commercial and technical analysis capabilities to support review of utility tariffs, power contracts, and power market fundamentals.
• Possess an entrepreneurial, self-directed spirit and proven track record of project execution.
• Team player capable of adapting to ambiguous environments with cross-group collaboration and problem-solving abilities.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communications (verbal and written) skills.
• Growth mindset with high attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Understanding of and experience from working within Italy, Spain, or Greece’s energy and utility industry.
• General understanding of data centers and cloud services.
• Post-graduate degree in relevant fields a plus, though experience in consulting and power/energy industries may substitute for relevant graduate education in this regard. 

The ideal candidate 

The ideal candidate has experience working within or alongside utilities to drive commercial energy project execution. They can assess commercial and policy scenarios, identifying key value drivers, uncertainties, and areas requiring additional stakeholder engagement. They are also able to navigate diverse and complex internal and stakeholder maps, working collaboratively and proactively with these partners to execute on a broad spectrum of strategic and operational objectives. These key results may span capacity delivery, innovative commercial energy agreements, and/or policy initiatives.

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Background Check Requirements:

Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements is 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.