Principal Land Acquisition Manager

Microsoft • Redmond, WA

6d

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, the Principal Land Acquisition Manager will source, negotiate, and close strategic land transactions to support Microsoft’s cloud growth across AMERS. The role develops market-entry and expansion strategies and partners with legal, finance, energy, engineering, and community engagement teams to prepare sites for development and preserve options for future growth.

The position calls for expertise in complex deal-making and the ability to work across varied regulatory and cultural environments. The manager will build trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders, manage complexity, establish accountability systems, and deliver results at scale. The role also supports the leadership and development of a high-performing regional acquisition team.

Microsoft describes its mission as empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more, and emphasizes growth mindset, innovation, collaboration, respect, integrity, accountability, and inclusion.

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 passing 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 building relationships and influencing decision-making across leadership levels, external partners, and government agencies.
• Analytical thinking, negotiation, and problem-solving capabilities, including navigating complex situations and making 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 on deal velocity, pipeline health, and transaction risk.
• Drive due diligence processes 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 the leadership and development of a high-performing regional acquisition team, fostering collaboration and operational excellence.

Benefits

• Benefits and other compensation may be available to eligible roles.

What This Job Offers

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