Principal Land Acquisition Manager

Microsoft • Redmond, WA

7d • $130,900 - $303,600

About The Position

Microsoft’s Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) team manages the full lifecycle of Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure, from site selection and development through operations. As part of the CO+I Cloud Infrastructure Acquisition team, this role sources, negotiates, and closes strategic land transactions to support cloud growth. The manager develops market-entry and expansion strategies and works with legal, finance, energy, engineering, and community engagement teams to enable site readiness and optionality. The position calls for deal-making expertise, the ability to navigate varied regulatory and cultural environments, and leadership in building trusted partnerships. It also requires managing complexity, establishing accountability systems, and delivering results at scale.

The role leads land acquisition across AMERS, develops regional market strategies, negotiates complex transactions, manages external relationships, and coordinates due diligence and site readiness with internal partners. It also establishes portfolio metrics, represents Microsoft with market and government stakeholders, and supports the development of a high-performing regional acquisition team.

Candidates must meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements, including passing the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire or transfer and every two years thereafter. The position is classified as Real Estate Portfolio Management IC6. The typical U.S. base pay range is USD $130,900–$277,200 per year; the range for specific work locations in the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City metropolitan area is USD $165,600–$303,600 per year. The position will be open for at least five days, with applications accepted until filled.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Real Estate, Project Management, or a related field and 7+ years of relevant experience, or 10+ years of equivalent experience.
• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements, including the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire or transfer and every two years thereafter.

Nice To Haves

• 15+ years of experience in real estate acquisitions, land strategy, or large-scale infrastructure development.
• Demonstrated success sourcing and negotiating high-value, complex real estate transactions across multiple jurisdictions.
• Demonstrated understanding of land use, zoning, permitting, and entitlement processes in U.S. markets.
• Ability to develop and execute regional strategies aligned with global objectives.
• Effective stakeholder management skills, including the ability to build relationships and influence decision-making across leadership levels, external partners, and government agencies.
• Analytical thinking, negotiation, and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to navigate complex situations and make informed decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the identification, evaluation, and acquisition of strategic land parcels across AMERS to meet Microsoft’s cloud growth needs.
• Develop regional market strategies informed by business demand, competitive dynamics, and regulatory landscapes.
• Negotiate complex real estate transactions in alignment with Microsoft’s financial, legal, and operational requirements.
• Manage relationships with brokers, landowners, developers, and government authorities to accelerate deal execution.
• Partner with engineering, energy, community affairs, legal, and finance teams to ensure acquired sites can advance to development on schedule.
• Establish and track portfolio-level metrics for deal velocity, pipeline health, and transaction risk.
• Drive due diligence and proactively identify and mitigate legal, zoning, and entitlement risks.
• Represent Microsoft in market engagements, industry forums, and with government stakeholders to advance Microsoft’s position as a trusted, long-term partner.
• Support leadership and development of a high-performing regional acquisition team, fostering collaboration and operational excellence.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal