Sustainability Program Manager, Carbon Reduction Strategy & Market Development/
MicrosoftOverview
As the environmental challenges facing the world grow, so has Microsoft’s commitment to ensuring that the company’s activities are in-line with the best available science and the expectations of leading stakeholder communities. The Corporate External and Legal Affairs (CELA) Environmental Sustainability (ES) team coordinates overall science-based, measurable, and scalable sustainability investments and outcomes across the company – engaging with business groups to set goals related to reductions in the environmental impacts of business operations and positive environmental outcomes resulting from technology and policy development.
On Microsoft’s Carbon Reduction Strategy & Market Development Team, we seek a curiosity-driven individual in the role of Sustainability Program Manager, Carbon Reduction Strategy & Market Development. This role will focus on industrial decarbonization in the building materials sector, including market development and related carbon accounting methodologies, as well as working across internal Microsoft teams to identify decarbonization solutions and drive transformation. This position requires extensive cross-group coordination, carbon accounting acumen, a deep understanding of decarbonization and carbon markets, excellent communication skills, a sharp focus on business and process improvements, the ability to develop and apply compelling data-driven insights to cross-industry initiatives, and personal commitment to meaningful climate action. This role will directly contribute to Microsoft’s carbon negative goal.
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.
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
Market Development:
- Identify the right market building and accounting mechanisms to spur building material decarbonization, build subject matter expertise in building decarbonization approaches and review external and internal proposals, working closely with third-party advisors to ensure scientific/technical integrity throughout the procurement process
- Surface, structure and implement measurable direct and indirect interventions for building materials that can reduce Microsoft’s upstream Scope 3 footprint in support of 2030 Carbon Negative goals
- Execute all phases of sourcing strategy for building decarbonization solutions, ranging from direct offset procurement to strategic origination partnerships, and including identification, evaluation, and prioritization of opportunities through negotiation, execution, and monitoring
- Track and analyze relevant global trends related to building decarbonization, including technical innovations, deployment cycles, and regulatory developments.
Carbon Accounting:
- Support internal and external carbon accounting methodologies related to building materials
- Supporting carbon accounting industry engagement, including engagement on quality criteria and voluntary carbon markets.
- Work with external standards bodies to advance a common and well-defined framework for climate change-related metrics and methodologies.
Special Projects:
- Drive high-impact cross-team projects as needed to meet the changing business environment and ensure the team is achieving its commitments.
- Successful project management, including work with strategy consultants and other external agencies, on strategic efforts requiring hands-on experience across multiple functional disciplines and business organizations.
- Support team rhythm of business: coordinate regular reviews of carbon reduction project pipeline and progress against annual objectives and key results (OKRs).
- Keep track of budget to ensure appropriate use of program funding and achievement of annual objectives.
- Contribute to carbon reduction program strategy and develop presentations to inform internal and external stakeholders on team progress and market developments.
Environmental justice:
- Embed environmental justice considerations into programmatic activities, where relevant.
Other
- Embody our culture and values
Qualifications
Required/Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Materials Science, or related field AND 4+ years experience in sustainability, climate, construction, Engineering, building materials manufacturing or related field
- OR Master’s Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Materials Science, or related field AND 3+ years experience in sustainability, climate, construction, Engineering, building materials manufacturing or related field
- OR equivalent experience.
- Experience in corporate carbon accounting.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Advanced degree in business, economics, finance, sustainability, environmental science, or equivalent experience
- Program management experience, including governance, and change management expertise
- Experience negotiating long-term purchase agreements (e.g. offtakes) for environmental market products & services
- Interest in and aptitude for diving into ambiguous, but exciting challenges across a wide range of decarbonization topics (industrial materials, electricity, technology hardware)
- Skilled at achieving successful outcomes via influencing without authority
- Excellent business acumen and entrepreneurial, self-directed spirit
- Growth mindset with problem solving skills, including keen data insights
- Experience working with sustainability professionals
- Track record of driving results through deep and resourceful collaboration
- Clear understanding of carbon accounting practices and/or carbon market standards
- Experience working in or with a large, matrixed organization.
