Data Center Inventory & Asset Technician Manager

Overview

As a Microsoft Data Center Inventory & Asset Technician Manager (DIAM), you will lead a team of Inventory & Asset Management technicians responsible for inbound/outbound logistics tasks, inventory cycle audits, and Data Center regulatory compliance activities. You will guide your employees to effectively run warranty processes and data bearing device (DBD) destruction. This opportunity will allow you to model leadership principles, drive focus on accurately and efficiently completing Inventory and Asset Management (IAM) tasks, and work with stakeholders to manage escalations as they arise.

Microsoft's Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) is the engine that powers our cloud services. As a CO+I DIAM, you will perform a key role in delivering the core infrastructure and foundational technologies for Microsoft's online services including Bing, Office 365, Xbox, OneDrive, and the Microsoft Azure platform. As a group, CO+I is focused on the personal and professional development of all employees and offers training and growth opportunities including Career Rotation Programs, Diversity & Inclusion training and events, and professional certifications.

Our infrastructure is comprised of a large global portfolio of more than 200 Data Centers in 32 countries and millions of servers. Our foundation is built upon and managed by a team of subject matter experts working to support services for more than 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 90 countries worldwide.

With environmental sustainability and optimization at the forefront of our data center design and operations, we continue to grow and evolve as we meet the ever-changing business demands that hold Microsoft as a world-class cloud provider.

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.

Responsibilities

People Management

• Managers deliver success through empowerment and accountability by modeling, coaching, and caring.
• Model - Live our culture; Embody our values; Practice our leadership principles.
• Coach - Define team objectives and outcomes; Enable success across boundaries; Help the team adapt and learn.
• Care - Attract and retain great people; Know each individual's capabilities and aspirations; Invest in the growth of others.

Safety Practices

• Runs daily safety topic huddles. Manages and coordinates any escalated task risks and reported issues. Trains employees on safe and effective rack moving. Ensures team is in compliance with heavy-lifting equipment requirements. Leads by example of all safety standards.

Tactical Shift Management

• Supports the planning, management, and communication of end-to-end project plans with applicable stakeholders and teams. Assesses resource and workflow patterns to determine any needed changes in work assignments to ensure timelines are met and work is completed accurately and efficiently.

Inbound and Outbound Logistics

• Leads a team of technicians responsible for preparing and executing incoming/outgoing deliveries and documenting inbound/outbound packages (e.g. purchase order [PO] receiving, Rack Movement Supervisor [RMS] activities).
• Responsible for overall day-to-day operations and ensures inbound and outbound measuring processes are running smoothly and effectively. Deals with the escalated issues.

Customer Service

• Ensures that all issues are documented, tracked, discussed, and resolved with internal and external stakeholders as well as suppliers with consistent and complete communication. Drives focus on accurately and efficiently completing Inventory and Asset Management (IAM) tasks through a team of up to 12. Engages with internal and external stakeholders to manage issues as they arise.

Inventory Management

• Leads a team of technicians responsible for providing support guidance to third-party personnel, including material movement (e.g., inventory management/tracking, inventory staging), inventory cycle audits, and Data Center regulatory compliance or certification control audit activity.

Warranty Process Management

• Drives the direction to make sure the expectations are met handling high level escalations. Empowers less experienced employees to effectively process Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) warranties. Works with internal stakeholders as needed related to finances around incorrectly handled RMA warranties.

Data Bearing Device (DBD) Destruction

• Ensures all data bearing devices (DBDs) are destroyed. Ensures all data bearing devices leaving premises do not contain customer information. Handles any escalations. Coordinates with and oversees any third-party vendors who perform DBD destruction as necessary. Maintains responsibility for any security investigations. Manages external vendor relationships.

Procurement

• Provides thought leadership on established methodologies and monitors outcomes for the overseen region(s). Prepares and presents internal and external briefings detailing current and projected procurement execution models. Ensures Data Center has what it needs to be successful to meet new demands. Complies with established methodologies and approaches to ensure delivery and execution on contracts and purchase orders (POs). Works directly with the supply base to process price validation and deliver a single, accurate price to draft the PO in conjunction with senior leadership and procurement team.
• Processes price and procurement requests received via ticket, email or as otherwise requested by Microsoft management in support of server, network, Storage Area Network (SAN), and spare requirements. Contributes to risk management standards with appropriate internal teams for assigned equipment, organization, or services to improve processes or stakeholder satisfaction. Coordinates with internal stakeholders, such as Engineering and Global Procurement Team, to order major equipment. Identifies roadblocks to contract execution and escalates to senior procurement staff as needed.

Operational Excellence

• Serves as subject matter expert and models compliance to less experienced team members. Drives the consistency in processes and services to align with defined policies and procedures in order to meet expectations for accuracy and timeliness of delivery. Collaborates with internal stakeholders to influence workstreams towards a more simplified and/or automated approach by evolving processes, services, and solutions to increase efficiency and manage costs.

Embody our culture and values .

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma AND 3 years experience in warehouse/supply chain in an information technology (IT) environment, logistics, supply chain, inventory management, or a related field OR equivalent experience.

Other 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 2+ years experience leading a diverse team of inventory and asset personnel within a datacenter environment.
• Ability to work 12 hours shifts, including shift assignments during non-standard business hours that may include evening, nighttime, weekends, and/or holidays.
• 5+ year(s) experience in warehouse/supply chain in an information technology (IT) environment, IT, and/or logistics, operating heavy-load movement equipment (e.g., forklift, pallet jacks, chassis lifts) for a large corporation
  • OR equivalent experience.
• 1+ year(s) project management experience.
• Certification in American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS)/Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM), International Association of Information Technology Asset Managers (IAITAM), Inventory Control, OR equivalent.

Materials Handling M3 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $59,900 - $123,600 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $77,600 - $135,100 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:


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.