GWS EMEA Regional Director

Overview

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more.That’s what inspires us, drives our work, and pushes us to challenge the status quo every day. At Microsoft, we also work to empower our employees so they can achieve more.We believe we should each find meaning in our work and ensure employees have the freedom and reach to help make a difference in the world.

Microsoft’s Finance vision is focused on how business partnership leads to outcomes and how we drive impact.We do this through our core values – People, Prioritization, Partnership, and Protect. Microsoft’s Global Workplace Services (GWS) organization approach compliments both visions byenabling everyperson and every organization toachieve more through delivery ofconnected, accessible, sustainable workplaces in a secure environment.

About the role

The  Director, Real Estate, EMEA , is responsible for directing the full life cycle of the real estate portfolio (strategy, planning, build / lease, operations) for Microsoft’s Europe, Middle East, and Africa region.

This role oversees managing a team of employees and vendors that deliver real estate transactions, facilities management, construction projects and workplace services while ensuring compliance with legal and financial standards in support of company goals.

The EMEA portfolio is comprised of approximately 6 million square feet of primarily leased real estate. The portfolio spreads across 62 countries and 167 sites, housing over 35,000 Microsoft employees. The position has direct management responsibility for full-time employees (17) and a vendor workforce (1000+). This individual will work proactively with the business group leaders, finance controllers and internal partners to align the portfolio with business and financial requirements and will be responsible for achieving measurable year-over-year improvements in quality, service, and business satisfaction. The Director, Real Estate EMEA must be a solid team player and leader, that thrives in a fast-paced environment.

In addition, the role is an integral part of the GWS Leadership team and has an important influencing role across the wider GWS organization. As a key GWS LT member, the role has the ability to influence global priorities, operational efficiencies, team growth & development, team culture and organisation structure.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Masters or equivalent degree in Business Administration, Finance, Engineering, Architecture, Construction / Project Management, Technology, Design or related field AND extensive experience of multinational corporate environment experience Or equivalent experience
• Successful track record working in a multi-national corporate environment and across international boundaries.
• Demonstrable people management experience
• Demonstrated experience working with senior leaders to solve complex business challenges
• Demonstrated domain experience in corporate real estate and / or facilities management

Preferred Qualifications

This role will be based in either London or Dublin and requires in person attendance at the designated place of work for a minimum of 3 days per week, subject to change.

Responsibilities

People Management :

Manage, lead, and develop direct reports including clearly communicating performance standards; ensuring that all team members have annual, measurable priorities and that all employees receive timely, performance reviews against those commitments; and ensuring that team members have updated career development plans and receive appropriate career coaching. Drive culture, values, and behaviour consistent with an "exceptional" GWS team. Identify and execute best practices within the region to support the continuous development of global knowledge base. Cultivate a culture of collaboration and inclusion. Lead as an active people developer and build a high-performing team.

Budget & Accountability :

Fully accountable for the execution of the regional budget. Oversees the budgetary execution. Authorizes spending up to the approved limit. Makes business case for budget approval. Socialize the budget and impact with key stakeholders. Establishes budget by forecasting costs and updating spending targets in partnership with the Finance team and leadership. Reviews and approves financial models to understand specific development pro forma and valuation components. Reviews and approves associated capital plans. Drives budget planning, forecasting, and tracking for facilities in collaboration with finance stakeholders. Identifies and incorporates cost-effective solutions for the delivery of construction projects. Optimizes costs to align with the allocated budget.

Client Relationship Management :

Sets the vision when partnering within one's own team and other internal teams. Builds coalitions of support across the business and industry, and holds internal teams and external partners accountable for sharing information and meeting mutual commitments. Creates clarity to operate the business and manage the organizational resources. Partners with senior business group leaders to identify strategic requirements. Accountable for real estate & facilities commitments to the business based on a large-sized portfolio.

Construction and Real Estate Project :

Oversees and guides the team of construction and project management (e.g., letters of intent, contract negotiations). Sets the overall project strategy. Reviews and provides feedback internally to help ensure approval of projects and the mitigation of risk. Guides cross-team delivery in the review, due diligence, design, and entitlement to allow for the construction. Seeks and provides approval in line with corporate policy.

Continuous Improvement / Innovation :

Oversees continuous process-improvement programs. Coaches staff to act on program, account, and service-delivery feedback. Evaluates new global internal and external automation solutions and vendor recommendations to enhance efficiency and employee experience. Drives and delegates the development and implementation of efficient process updates and optimizations. Champions the innovation process and promotes initiatives for their team.

Facilities and Services Management :

Ensures the team delivers strategic lifecycle planning for employee services and facilities management for a select district. Work with business groups and partners to align facility services and performance levels with business goals and drivers. Partners with vendors to drive strategic initiatives, ensure technology is leveraged appropriately, and look across Facility Management performance at a regional level. Reviews the team's performance (e.g., customer satisfaction) and creates strategic performance goals. Seeks and provides approval in line with corporate policy.

Partnership Management :

Engages with and manages the relationship and performance with service providers on a quarterly basis. Establishes goals and tracks key performance indicators (KPIs) to gauge vendors' performance. Resolves escalated issues from service providers. Creates contracts in partnership with Legal. Prepares Request for Proposal (RFPs), reviews vendor proposals, helps to select a vendor, and negotiates pricing in partnership with Legal and procurement teams. Develop long-term relationships with industry vendor-leading companies.

Real Estate Evaluation :

Reviews the team's location assessment results and recommendations and provides feedback. Oversees strategic acquisition opportunities and facilitates executive proposals aligned with regional strategies and new site acquisitions. Provides final approval for the evaluation.

Real Estate Program Management :

Program manages and owns a complex portfolio of regional real estate activities by leading the team in evaluations, selection, development, and management of real estate transactions for property, office, etc. Provides strategic guidance for the team's portfolio of regional real estate activities. Develops and presents regional long-term plans and defines resources needed to accomplish the plan. Updates for Microsoft stakeholders, government entities, economic development agencies, and new business partners. Oversees execution of strategic goals in partnership with global and regional leadership. Collaborates with Microsoft executives to update and operationalize the global strategy and communicates plan to team and stakeholders.

Real Estate Transactions :

Provides the team with oversight and guidance of all broker transactions (e.g., letters of intent, contract negotiations). Reviews and provides feedback internally to help ensure approval of projects. Oversees the team through the development, negotiation, documentation, and approval of complex acquisition agreements, business cases, and deal summaries. Guides cross-team delivery in the review, due diligence, design, and entitlement to allow for the construction. Seeks and provides approval in line with corporate policy.

Benefits / perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.Industry leading healthcareEducational resourcesDiscounts on products and servicesSavings and investmentsMaternity and paternity leaveGenerous time awayGiving programsOpportunities to network and connect