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Overview

Microsoft’s Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) team is seeking a visionary leader to drive Strategic Affairs for our global land acquisition and development organization. This role is pivotal in shaping the frameworks, partnerships, and governance models that enable Microsoft to scale its physical infrastructure with speed, predictability, and resilience—powering the next generation of cloud services and AI innovation.

CO+I manages the full lifecycle of Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure, from site selection and land development to operational readiness. Our global footprint spans datacenters in 34 countries and thousands of megawatts of capacity, forming the backbone of Microsoft Azure and supporting billions of customers worldwide.

As **Director, Strategic Affairs - Global Land Acquisition & Development** you will lead an exceptional team responsible for designing and implementing strategic initiatives that remove systemic barriers and optimize delivery pathways for global infrastructure expansion. This role operates at the intersection of policy, strategy, and execution, partnering closely with government affairs, legal, energy, and engineering teams to create conditions that accelerate development while maintaining compliance and sustainability commitments. You will influence global decision-making, advocate for modernization of regulatory frameworks, and build scalable processes that align with Microsoft’s long-term growth objectives.

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

+ **Lead Strategic Enablement Initiatives:** Develop and execute global strategies to streamline permitting, regulatory compliance, and land development processes.

+ **Policy & Advocacy:** Partner with Government Affairs to shape external policy environments that support hyperscale infrastructure growth.

+ **Cross-Functional Leadership:** Align priorities across land acquisition, energy, network, and legal teams to ensure integrated delivery.

+ **Risk Mitigation:** Identify systemic risks impacting infrastructure timelines and design proactive mitigation strategies.

+ **Stakeholder Engagement:** Build trusted relationships with internal executives and external partners to drive consensus on strategic priorities.

+ **Data-Driven Insights:** Establish metrics and reporting frameworks to measure impact, track progress, and inform leadership decisions.

+ **Thought Leadership:** Represent Microsoft in industry forums and regulatory discussions to advance cloud infrastructure policy.

+ **Team Development:** Inspire and grow a high-performing team focused on strategic problem-solving and operational excellence.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

+ Bachelor's Degree in Business Management, Real Estate, Public Policy, Law or related field AND 7+ years relevant experience in strategic affairs, regulatory policy, or infrastructure development within technology or industrial sectors

+ OR 10+ years equivalent experience.

+ 7+ years people management 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

+ 15+ years of experience in strategic affairs, regulatory policy, or infrastructure development within technology or industrial sectors.

+ Proven track record of influencing policy and driving systemic improvements in complex, global environments.

+ Deep understanding of land acquisition, permitting, and regulatory frameworks for large-scale infrastructure projects.

+ Exceptional leadership skills with experience managing global, cross-functional teams.

+ Effective analytical and negotiation capabilities; ability to simplify complexity and drive clarity.

+ Expertise in environmental and social impact assessments for large-scale infrastructure projects.

+ Proven ability to navigate multi-jurisdictional regulatory environments and harmonize compliance strategies.

\#COICareers

Real Estate Portfolio Management M6 - 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. (https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/accessibility.html)