Director, EMEA Land Acquisition

Microsoft Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

Microsoft’s Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) team is seeking a high-impact, strategic leader to oversee a global function that enables the timely delivery of physical cloud infrastructure across a diverse portfolio of geographies. This role is critical to ensuring Microsoft’s cloud expansion—powering everything from AI to enterprise collaboration—remains predictable, scalable, and efficient.

CO+I is responsible for the full lifecycle of Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure, spanning site selection, development, and operations. Our global footprint includes 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.

As part of the CO+I Cloud Infrastructure Acquisition team, you will lead a team of real estate professionals responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and closing strategic land transactions. You will drive market entry and expansion strategies by partnering with legal, finance, energy, engineering, and community engagement teams to enable site readiness and optionality. This role requires strong deal‑making expertise, the ability to navigate diverse regulatory and cultural environments, and leadership skills to build trusted partnerships across internal and external stakeholders. It demands an exceptional ability to manage complexity, build systems for accountability, and deliver results at scale.

Responsibilities

• Lead the identification, evaluation, and acquisition of strategic land parcels across EMEA 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, ensuring alignment with Microsoft’s financial, legal, and operational requirements.
• Manage relationships with brokers, landowners, developers, and government authorities to accelerate deal execution.
• Partner with internal teams (engineering, energy, community affairs, legal, finance) to ensure acquired sites can be advanced to development on schedule.
• Establish and track portfolio‑level metrics on deal velocity, pipeline health, and transaction risk.
• Drive due diligence processes, ensuring proactive identification and mitigation of 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.
• Build, lead, and develop a high‑performing regional acquisition team, fostering collaboration and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Experience in real estate acquisitions, land strategy, or large‑scale infrastructure development.
• Track record of building and managing high‑performing, geographically dispersed teams.
• Demonstrated success in sourcing and negotiating high‑value, complex real estate transactions across multiple jurisdictions.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across senior leadership, external partners, and government agencies.
• Proven ability to develop and execute regional strategies in alignment with global objectives.
• Strong understanding of land use, zoning, permitting, and entitlement processes in EMEA markets.
• Bachelor’s degree in real estate, law, business, or related field; advanced degree preferred.

Background Check Requirements: Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements, including the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, 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 and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.