Microsoft’s Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) is the engine that powers our cloud services.
APAC Business Operation Director has three main scopes under responsibilities. Financial Budgeting & Analysis, Sourcing & Procurement and Operational Efficiency Improvement. Finance Budgeting & Analysis plays a crucial role by managing its financial resources, supporting strategic planning and maintaining financial health. Sourcing and Procurement is responsible for acquiring the goods and services to operate efficiently and cost-effectively. This includes everything from maintenance & repair to office supplies and outsourced services. Operational Efficiency Improvement plays a critical role in driving continuous improvement and efficiency across APAC DC Operation. The focus is on streamlining processes, reducing waste, and building a culture of performance and innovation.
Responsibilities
Financial Budgeting & Analysis
- Prepare annual budgets and forecasts for Opex and Capex
- Monitor actual performance against budget.
- Analyse financial trends and variances.
- Thorough financial analysis to identify opportunities for improvement.
Sourcing and Procurement
- Identify and evaluate potential suppliers.
- Develop sourcing strategies aligned with business goals.
- Analyse market trends to find cost-saving opportunities.
- Build and maintain relationships with suppliers.
- Negotiate contracts, pricing, and service-level agreements (SLAs).
- Monitor supplier performance, compliance, and risk.
- Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
- Ensure purchases are within approved budgets.
- Support just-in-time procurement to reduce carrying costs.
- Ensure compliance with company policies, legal standards, and ethical practices.
- Conduct due diligence on suppliers for quality, sustainability, and ethical sourcing.
Efficiency Improvement
- Define performance metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Identify opportunities for improvement across APAC Data Center Ops.
- Deploy continuous improvement initiatives using methodologies like Lean, Six Sigma and Kaizen.
- Facilitate workshops and cross-functional teams to solve complex operational challenges.
- Support cross-departmental alignment and efficiency.
- Coach teams on problem-solving, root cause analysis, and decision-making frameworks.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with finance, data center operations, legal, logistics and Central Teams in HQ.
Qualifications
Educational Qualifications
- Required:
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance or Engineering.
- Lean or Six Sigma Certification.
- Preferred :
- Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP)
- Certified in Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)
Experience
- Experience in financial budgeting and financial analysis.
- Minimum: 5 years of experience in sourcing, procurement, or supply chain.
- Experience managing global or multi-regional functions is a strong advantage.
- Minimum: 5 years of experience in continuous improvement roles leading and coaching Lean Sigma projects.
✅ Core Skills and Competencies
- Leadership and Team Management
- Financial Acumen
- Analytical Skills
- Excellent Communication
- Strategic Sourcing Expertise
- Negotiation Skills
- Risk and Compliance Knowledge
- Supplier Relationship Management
- Process Optimization Expertise
- Training and Coaching
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.
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