Community Affairs Manager

Microsoft’s Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) team is responsible for the full lifecycle of Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure, spanning site selection, development, and operations. Our global footprint includes more than 400 datacenters in 34 countries, supported by over 165,000 miles of fibre optic cable. These facilities form the backbone of the Microsoft Cloud and are central to our commitment to reliable, secure, and sustainable digital infrastructure.

Microsoft is looking for a Community Affairs Manager for Vienna, Austria and Warsaw, Poland. The Datacenter Community Affairs team supports the growth and operations of Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure by managing relationships with local stakeholders, bringing insights and understanding of potential new and existing communities, developing and executing a local community engagement strategy to effectively manage social impact, risks, and opportunities. It also develops a community investment strategy, including social and environmental programs, in communities that host our datacenters.

We are looking for an experienced professional with track record in community affairs, public affairs and/ or community engagement in large infrastructure projects to support the evolution of the datacenter community affairs strategy in Europe. In this role you will be responsible for creating and implementing community strategy plans, community storytelling, local government and community engagement and delivering social impact programmes in Vienna and Warsaw.   

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.  

• Serve as the primary point of contact between Microsoft datacenters and local communities in Vienna and Warsaw, building trusted relationships with residents, NGOs, businesses, municipal authorities, and other key stakeholders.
• Develop and execute location-specific community engagement and investment strategies aligned with Microsoft’s mission, CO+I priorities, and social and environmental commitments.
• Gather community feedback and data to identify local needs, opportunities, sentiment, and emerging risks, translating insights into actionable recommendations.
• Proactively manage community concerns, social risks, and reputation issues, supporting transparent communications, complaint management, local narratives, and impact storytelling.
• Lead the delivery of community programs, ensuring alignment with local needs, agreed timelines, and measurable social impact.
• Represent the voice of the community internally, partnering with CO+I, CELA, Communications, permitting, engineering, and construction teams to inform datacenter planning, construction, and operations.
• Track and report program progress, impact, risks, blockers, and outcomes to Community Affairs leadership and regional/global stakeholders; travel approximately 30% within Austria and to Poland.

• Extensive experience in community and local government affairs, preferably with a focus on large infrastructure and construction projects.
• Experience presenting/meeting and building trust with diverse stakeholders including government officials, community leaders, non-profits, environmental groups, STEM education partners and students in a variety of environments (rural, suburban and urban).
• Experience managing contractors, agencies, and/or other third parties. 
• Strong team player with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Professional fluency in German and English is required; proficiency in Polish would be an advantage.

While not required, we also look for the following Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with community and stakeholder engagement in large infrastructure and/or construction projects preferred.
• Ability to work across functions effectively within virtual and in-person teams in a fast-paced, complex and matrixed environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communications and strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong project and program management skills.

Background Check 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.

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Business Program Management IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across Austria is € 70,000.00 - € 136,600.00 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.

Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/corporate-pay/austria-corporate-pay.html

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.