Overview
Microsoft's Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) team is responsible for the full lifecycle of Microsoft's cloud infrastructure, spanning site selection, development, and operations. Our global footprint includes more than 400 datacenters in 34 countries, supported by over 165,000 miles of fiber optic cable. These facilities form the backbone of Microsoft Azure and are central to our commitment to reliable, secure, and sustainable digital infrastructure. We are seeking a Principal Land Acquisition Manager - Powered Land to lead the identification and securing of high-yield, "powered land" opportunities. In this role, you won't just be contracting land; you will be the architect of complex site entries, navigating the intersection of large-scale real estate, utility-scale power availability, and bespoke contractual frameworks.
The ideal candidate possesses a creative approach for site origination and a strategist's mind for structuring deals with partner teams that de-risk power delivery in increasingly constrained markets.
Responsibilities
Strategic Site Origination: Proactively identify and secure greenfield and brownfield sites suitable for hyperscale and colocation data center development, with a specific focus on "path of power" proximity.
Bespoke Contract Structuring: Lead the negotiation of complex site control agreements, including structured land acquisitions and options, alongside alignment with Microsoft Energy team inputs for power purchase agreements (PPAs) and interconnection agreements.
Grid Interconnectivity Strategy: Familiarity with utility providers and energy consultants to discuss transmission capacity, substation proximity, and queue timelines to ensure site viability.
Due Diligence Leadership: Knowledge of the end-to-end due diligence process, including environmental assessments, zoning/entitlement hurdles, and geotechnical constraints unique to high-density compute.
Qualifications
Required/Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Business Management, Real Estate, Project Management, or related field, AND 7+ years relevant experience. OR 10+ years equivalent experience.
Other Requirements: 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. While not required, we also look for the following
Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Business Management, Real Estate, Project Management, or related field AND 10+ years portfolio management, real estate, or office management experience OR 15+ years equivalent experience. Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across senior leadership, external partners, and government agencies.
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Real Estate Portfolio Management IC6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $130,900 - $277,200 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $165,600 - $303,600 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.