Sr. Land Development and Permitting Program Manager - USA

Microsoft’s Datacenter Development Land Development Organization supports the development and delivery of our data center portfolio from site identification and selection through to design, construction and operation. The Microsoft Data Center development portfolio consists of complex, multi-disciplinary, large scale, multi-year data center construction and lease projects.  

Microsoft is seeking a Sr. Land Development and Permitting Program Manager with experience in real estate development and an analytical mindset to support our global land development strategy for our data center portfolio. This role is central to merging in-depth data analysis with extensive real estate insights, thereby refining strategic planning and enhancing decision-making across diverse international markets. The successful candidate will be proficient in gathering and interpreting data pertinent to real estate development, including market trends, regulatory frameworks, and land use policies, with an emphasis on identifying opportunities for expedited permitting. This role demands an individual capable of managing complex data sets to deliver insights that will inform both strategic direction and operational objectives for the team.

In this capacity, the Sr. Land Development and Permitting Program Manager will work alongside real estate professionals, urban planners, and data analysts, contributing essential support through diligent data collection, analysis, and synthesis to guide strategic coherence. Effective communication skills are crucial, as the Land Development Program Manager will be tasked with clearly conveying research results and strategic advice to team members and external stakeholders, presenting data-driven insights, and participating in policy debates to promote an informed approach to global land development. Through this role, the Americas Land Development Program Manager will act as a pivotal supporter in the company's strategic expansion, enabling informed decision-making grounded in thorough research and analysis, and a deep comprehension of global market dynamics and regulatory landscapes.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Manage the permitting and approvals process for a portfolio of projects to enable new datacenter development and construction throughout
• Conduct comprehensive assessments during due diligence and throughout design and construction to identify permit requirements and associated risks.
• Coordinate with key internal counterparts including land development, design, construction, operations and environmental team leaders to develop comprehensive and integrated permitting and project delivery strategies.
• Communicate key risks, mitigations, and policies to internal Microsoft stakeholders.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to Identify innovative solutions to resolve delays to construction or other activities due to permitting delays. 
• Identify permitting agency engagement strategy and represent Microsoft in key meetings with applicable Authorities with Jurisdiction (AHJ), regulatory agencies, external stakeholders, and the public to facilitate datacenter development.
• Own key strategic relationships with AHJs, regulatory agencies, government officials and other key external stakeholders and act as a single point of contact for all discussions around permitting, planning approvals, and pre-construction delivery.
• Support the development of program tools and processes to continuously improve the delivery of permits, approvals and entitlements for datacenter development.
• Educate the project team on permitting requirements to ensure timely approvals and compliance.
• Manage permit approval conditions to ensure compliance.
• Key Metrics will include permitting and delivery timeline predictability.
• Embody our Culture  &  Values

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:  

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Management, Real Estate, Project Management