Senior Land Development & Permitting Program Manager

Microsoft•Phoenix, AZ

About The Position

Microsoft’s Cloud Infrastructure Acquisition Land Development Organization is seeking a Land Development & Permitting Program Manager to support datacenter development across markets in the Western United States. Microsoft’s datacenter development portfolio includes complex, multidisciplinary, large-scale, multiyear construction projects. The Land Development team supports the portfolio from site selection through entitlements, design, permitting, construction, and handover to operations. In this role, you will coordinate across internal teams—including Environmental, Engineering & Design, Construction, Legal, Government Affairs, and Community Affairs—to help deliver and pre-position operation-ready datacenter sites. You will support the development and execution of Microsoft’s datacenter portfolio from site selection through delivery.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Real Estate, Project Management, or a related field and 5+ years of relevant experience, or 7+ 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

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Engineering, Construction, Urban Planning, Architecture, Land Use, Law, Real Estate, or a related field.
10+ years of experience delivering large-scale and/or complex land development projects.
Proven 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.
Ability to build and maintain cross-functional relationships with internal teams and external partners such as environmental consultants, attorneys, contractors, and regulatory agencies.
Mission-critical design and/or construction experience delivering projects in multiple jurisdictions.
Community engagement and stakeholder engagement experience.
Substantial portfolio management, real estate, or office management experience.

Responsibilities

Manage the permitting and approvals process for a regional portfolio of datacenter projects to enable timely development and construction.
Conduct assessments during due diligence, design, and construction to identify regulatory requirements and associated risks.
Lead and contribute to land development and permitting strategies aligned with Microsoft’s broader datacenter delivery goals.
Engage internal and external stakeholders to align on project objectives, timelines, and risk mitigation strategies.
Manage utility connections, construction agreements, and development contracts.
Oversee integrated project planning and coordinate 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 solutions to 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 contact for permitting and pre-construction discussions.