[Hiring] Regional Managing Director, Data Center Community @Microsoft

Role Description

The Regional Managing Director, Data Center Community is an externally facing leadership role responsible for earning and sustaining trust in a major Microsoft data center community or regional cluster of communities. The role serves as Microsoft’s local community leader, local stakeholder point of contact, and chief spokesperson for the assigned region, representing the company with civic leaders, elected officials, business organizations, education and workforce partners, nonprofits, media, and community stakeholders.

This position is designed for a high-visibility data center environment where local trust, transparent communications, public engagement, and community benefit are central to Microsoft’s long-term license to operate. The Managing Director leads a regional team that includes a Community Manager and a Communications Manager and works in close partnership with the local data center operations, as well as Microsoft legal, government affairs, philanthropic and communications teams to deliver a coordinated, locally empowered, and campaign-ready approach.

Responsibilities

• Own and accountable for the integrated community engagement strategy for the assigned data center region.
• Build and sustain trusted relationships with local elected officials, civic leaders, business organizations, education and workforce institutions, nonprofits, labor partners, community advocates, and other priority stakeholders.
• Represent Microsoft as a trusted local leader in public forums, community meetings, advisory boards, chambers of commerce, business councils, nonprofit coalitions, and other high-impact venues.
• Anticipate community risks and opportunities, maintain a clear stakeholder map, identify emerging sentiment, and escalate issues quickly with recommendations for action.
• Ensure community engagement begins early, remains transparent, and continues through the full data center lifecycle.
• Serve as Microsoft’s chief local spokesperson for the assigned data center community.
• Guide the local narrative across community engagement, media, social sentiment, public meetings, and stakeholder communications.
• Prepare for and lead public-facing engagements such as town halls, hearings, office hours, tours, and community benefit discussions.
• Work with the Communications Manager to develop talking points, FAQs, briefings, local proof points, media materials, and storytelling.
• Lead the regional team’s budget communications and community engagement operating rhythm.
• Oversee local communications strategy, including proactive storytelling, local media engagement, and crisis-response readiness.
• Guide community programming and philanthropic investments.
• Ensure the regional team maintains accurate data, metrics, outcomes, and qualitative feedback.
• Serve as the central coordinator for community-facing work across various cross-functional internal Microsoft teams.
• Leverage clear escalation paths for operational, reputational, policy, permitting, media, and community issues.
• Support local government relations by aligning stakeholder engagement, meeting preparation, follow-up, and messaging.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree AND 6+ years work experience in corporate social responsibility (CSR), philanthropies, corporate affairs, government affairs, business and international development, or related area OR Bachelor's Degree AND 8+ years work experience in the same fields OR equivalent experience.
• 4+ years of experience serving as a public spokesperson or external representative.
• 4+ years of experience leading high-visibility community engagement in complex environments.
• Ability to travel frequently within the assigned region and participate in evening or weekend community events as needed.

Additional or Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree AND 8+ years work experience in corporate social responsibility (CSR), philanthropies, corporate affairs, government affairs, business and international development, or related area OR Bachelor's Degree AND 12+ years work experience in the same fields OR equivalent experience.
• 4+ years experience managing a corporate social responsibility (CSR) or related program.
• 3+ years people or team management experience.
• Experience working in or with data center, infrastructure, energy, construction, technology, or other highly visible capital investment environments.
• Experience navigating local permitting, zoning, public meetings, community benefits discussions, coalition-building, or issue advocacy.
• Knowledge of AI infrastructure, cloud technology, workforce development, digital skilling, sustainability, electricity, water, construction, or local economic development issues relevant to data center communities.
• Experience designing community investment strategies, advisory boards, nonprofit partnerships, workforce pathways, AI skilling programs, grants, sponsorships, employee volunteer engagement, or local impact campaigns.
• Experience working effectively across large, matrixed organizations.
• Proven ability to manage or guide cross-functional teams, consultants, or pods.

Background Check Requirements

• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role.
• This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.
• This position requires verification of citizenship due to citizenship-based legal restrictions.

Compensation

• The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $132,200 - $258,000 per year.
• For specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, the base pay range is USD $165,800 - $278,900 per year.
• The typical base pay range for Corporate Social Responsibility M6 across the U.S. is USD $160,700 - $284,400 per year.
• For specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, the base pay range is USD $207,700 - $311,500 per year.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.