Land Development & Permitting Program Manager

Microsoft•Redmond, WA

About The Position

Microsoft’s Cloud Infrastructure Acquisition (CIA) Land Development Organization is seeking a Land Development & Permitting Program Manager to support datacenter development across markets in the Western United States. In this key role, you will coordinate across internal teams - including Environment, Engineering & Design, Construction, Government Affairs, and Community Engagement - to ensure the delivery and pre-positioning of operation-ready datacenter sites. You will help drive the development and execution of Microsoft’s datacenter portfolio from site selection through design, permitting, construction, and delivery. The Microsoft datacenter development portfolio consists of complex, multi-disciplinary, large-scale, multi-year construction and lease projects. The Land Development team plays a critical role in supporting the development and delivery of this portfolio—from site selection through design, construction, and handover to operations.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Business Management, Real Estate, Project Management, or related field AND 5+ years relevant experience OR 7+ years equivalent experience.
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.
Citizenship & Citizenship Verification: This position requires verification of citizenship due to citizenship-based legal restrictions. Specifically, this position supports United States federal, state, and/or local United States government agency customers and is subject to certain citizenship-based restrictions where required or permitted by applicable law. To meet this legal requirement, and as a condition of employment, the successful candidate’s citizenship will be verified with a valid passport.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's Degree in Business Management, Real Estate, Project Management, or related field AND 7+ years Portfolio Management, Real Estate, or Office management experience OR 10+ years equivalent experience.
Community Engagement and Stakeholder engagement experience.
Mission critical design and/or construction experience.
Experience delivering projects in multiple jurisdictions.
Demonstrated portfolio management, real estate, or office management experience.
7+ years of experience delivering large-scale and/or complex land development projects.
Demonstrated experience securing permits, planning approvals, and other entitlements for large-scale construction initiatives.
Demonstrated ability to manage a portfolio of projects, including associated budgets and schedules.
Demonstrated ability to build and maintain cross-functional relationships with internal teams and external partners such as environmental consultants, attorneys, contractors, and regulatory agencies.

Responsibilities

Manage the permitting and approvals process for a portfolio of datacenter projects across the region to enable timely development and construction.
Conduct comprehensive assessments during due diligence, design, and construction phases to identify regulatory requirements and associated risks.
Lead and contribute to land development and permitting strategies, ensuring alignment with Microsoft’s broader datacenter delivery goals.
Engage with internal and external stakeholders to align on project objectives, timelines, and risk mitigation strategies.
Manage utility connections, construction agreements, and development contracts to support project execution.
Oversee integrated project planning, ensuring coordination across land development, design, construction, operations, and environmental teams.
Administer contracts and budgets throughout the datacenter development lifecycle.
Communicate key risks, mitigations, and permitting policies to internal Microsoft stakeholders.
Collaborate with stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that address schedule delays and permitting challenges.
Represent Microsoft in meetings with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), external stakeholders, and the public to facilitate project approvals.
Own and manage strategic relationships with AHJs, government officials, and other key external stakeholders as the primary point of contact for permitting and pre-construction discussions.
Support the development and continuous improvement of program tools and processes to streamline permitting, approvals, and entitlements.
Educate project teams on permitting requirements to ensure compliance and timely approvals.
Monitor and manage permit approval conditions to maintain regulatory compliance.
Track and report on key metrics, including permitting and delivery timeline predictability.