Sr. Director, AI Data Acquisition and Operations

At Microsoft AI, we're on a mission to train the world's most capable AI frontier models. We're seeking a Senior Director to lead AI data acquisition and operations.

This role involves sourcing, negotiating, and delivering training data for frontier models. You'll work directly with AI scientists to understand data needs, sourcing it globally and ethically, negotiating deals, and managing operations to get data delivered, validated, and into training runs.

Responsibilities

• Partner with researchers to initiate and monitor critical pre- and post-training data collections.
• Oversee data operations for AI training data, including validation workflows and delivery tracking.
• Manage procurement processes, including spend tracking and milestone delivery.
• Help govern a centralized data catalog for validated datasets.
• Coordinate cross-functional initiatives across various teams.
• Advance the AI frontier responsibly and embody Microsoft's culture and values.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 8+ years of experience in strategy, finance, data operations, or related fields.
• 2+ years of management experience in large-scale data operations.
• Experience building and leading a team, and track record of building operational systems that scale.
• Ability to operate in a rapidly shifting research environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in technical data operations, procurement, or finance systems integration.
• 3+ years of management experience in large-scale data operations.
• Fluency with data rights and licensing terms.

The typical base pay range for this role is USD $155,800 – $277,200 per year. In certain locations, such as the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, the base pay range is USD $202,400 – $303,600 per year.