Associate Corporate Counsel, North America Operations Real Estate
Amazon Jobs, Arlington, VA, United States
Amazon is seeking a strategic, business-minded real estate attorney to support the development, expansion, and management of our North American logistics network. In this role, you'll partner with Real Estate, Operations, and Construction teams on high-stakes, complex transactions—from multi-million square foot fulfillment center developments to strategically located delivery stations. You'll be a legal strategist who can spot issues before they become problems, direct outside counsel effectively, and balance legal risk with business objectives. You'll work on some of the most sophisticated real estate deals in the logistics industry, directly impacting Amazon's ability to deliver for our customers.
Key job responsibilities
Lead legal strategy on complex commercial real estate transactions including ground leases, build-to-suit agreements, purchase and sale agreements, and development contracts for large-scale logistics facilities
Serve as strategic legal advisor to business partners on real estate acquisitions and development projects across North America
Identify and proactively flag legal and business risks in real estate transactions, providing practical solutions that balance risk mitigation with operational needs
Manage and direct outside counsel on specialized matters including title review, survey analysis, environmental due diligence, and complex lease negotiations—maintaining oversight of legal strategy, quality, and costs
Advise on land use, zoning, entitlements, and permitting strategies to support facility development in multiple regulatory environments
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Operations, Finance, Tax, Construction, and Environmental to drive projects from site selection through facility launch
Structure creative deal solutions for novel legal and business challenges in Amazon's rapidly evolving logistics network
Support post-acquisition matters including construction contracts, property management agreements, and operational real estate issues
Drive process improvements and leverage technology to increase efficiency and scalability across Amazon's growing real estate portfolio
Stay current on real estate laws, regulations, and industry trends affecting logistics and industrial development
A day in the life Your day might start reviewing due diligence findings on a potential fulfillment site while preparing strategic guidance for senior leadership on a complex zoning issue. Mid-morning, you're on a call with outside counsel, directing their approach to a complex development agreement while keeping the deal on track. After lunch, you're collaborating with Operations and Finance teams to structure a creative lease solution that meets our unique logistics requirements. You spend the afternoon issue-spotting on three different purchase agreements, flagging risks and proposing business-friendly solutions. Throughout the day, you balance urgent matters with strategic work, making high-judgment calls that directly impact Amazon's ability to scale our operations network and serve customers.
About the team You'll join Amazon's North America Operations Real Estate Legal team, a dynamic group supporting one of the world's most ambitious logistics expansion programs. Our team works on real estate projects including massive fulfillment centers, urban delivery stations, and specialized logistics facilities. We value strategic thinking, business partnership, and creative problem-solving. You'll work closely with experienced real estate attorneys and have exposure to senior leadership on high-profile projects. We're looking for team members who thrive in fast-paced environments, can manage ambiguity, and are excited to shape the future of Amazon's physical infrastructure.
Required Qualifications
3+ years of legal experience
Juris Doctor and membership in one state bar or equivalent
Experience working in real estate law in private practice or in-house at a technology company or equivalent
Experience with commercial real estate transactions
Experience of a mix of corporate law firm and in-house work
Experience in development, land use or economic development
Proven ability to identify legal issues proactively and provide strategic guidance to business stakeholders
Experience managing or directing outside counsel on real estate matters
Comfortable making high-judgment decisions in ambiguous situations
Experience with industrial, logistics, or large-scale corporate campus real estate projects
Expertise in land use, zoning, entitlements, or economic development matters
Ability to drive process improvements and increase efficiency in legal operations
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to translate complex legal concepts for business audiences
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you're applying in isn't listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, VA, Arlington - 131,500.00 - 178,000.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Seattle - 131,500.00 - 178,000.00 USD annually
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Key job responsibilities
Lead legal strategy on complex commercial real estate transactions including ground leases, build-to-suit agreements, purchase and sale agreements, and development contracts for large-scale logistics facilities
Serve as strategic legal advisor to business partners on real estate acquisitions and development projects across North America
Identify and proactively flag legal and business risks in real estate transactions, providing practical solutions that balance risk mitigation with operational needs
Manage and direct outside counsel on specialized matters including title review, survey analysis, environmental due diligence, and complex lease negotiations—maintaining oversight of legal strategy, quality, and costs
Advise on land use, zoning, entitlements, and permitting strategies to support facility development in multiple regulatory environments
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Operations, Finance, Tax, Construction, and Environmental to drive projects from site selection through facility launch
Structure creative deal solutions for novel legal and business challenges in Amazon's rapidly evolving logistics network
Support post-acquisition matters including construction contracts, property management agreements, and operational real estate issues
Drive process improvements and leverage technology to increase efficiency and scalability across Amazon's growing real estate portfolio
Stay current on real estate laws, regulations, and industry trends affecting logistics and industrial development
A day in the life Your day might start reviewing due diligence findings on a potential fulfillment site while preparing strategic guidance for senior leadership on a complex zoning issue. Mid-morning, you're on a call with outside counsel, directing their approach to a complex development agreement while keeping the deal on track. After lunch, you're collaborating with Operations and Finance teams to structure a creative lease solution that meets our unique logistics requirements. You spend the afternoon issue-spotting on three different purchase agreements, flagging risks and proposing business-friendly solutions. Throughout the day, you balance urgent matters with strategic work, making high-judgment calls that directly impact Amazon's ability to scale our operations network and serve customers.
About the team You'll join Amazon's North America Operations Real Estate Legal team, a dynamic group supporting one of the world's most ambitious logistics expansion programs. Our team works on real estate projects including massive fulfillment centers, urban delivery stations, and specialized logistics facilities. We value strategic thinking, business partnership, and creative problem-solving. You'll work closely with experienced real estate attorneys and have exposure to senior leadership on high-profile projects. We're looking for team members who thrive in fast-paced environments, can manage ambiguity, and are excited to shape the future of Amazon's physical infrastructure.
Required Qualifications
3+ years of legal experience
Juris Doctor and membership in one state bar or equivalent
Experience working in real estate law in private practice or in-house at a technology company or equivalent
Experience with commercial real estate transactions
Experience of a mix of corporate law firm and in-house work
Experience in development, land use or economic development
Proven ability to identify legal issues proactively and provide strategic guidance to business stakeholders
Experience managing or directing outside counsel on real estate matters
Comfortable making high-judgment decisions in ambiguous situations
Experience with industrial, logistics, or large-scale corporate campus real estate projects
Expertise in land use, zoning, entitlements, or economic development matters
Ability to drive process improvements and increase efficiency in legal operations
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to translate complex legal concepts for business audiences
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you're applying in isn't listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, VA, Arlington - 131,500.00 - 178,000.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Seattle - 131,500.00 - 178,000.00 USD annually
#J-18808-Ljbffr