Sr. Land Acquisition Manager

RWE Americas, LLC To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent Functional area: Project Development Remuneration: Exempt Job Overview Senior Land Manager in the renewables industry is a regional leadership position responsible for supporting land acquisition, management, and optimization of land assets for renewable energy projects, such as wind, solar, storage, and hydrogen facilities. This role involves strategic planning, negotiation, and coordination to secure and manage land resources effectively. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in surface and mineral title, due diligence, and curative processes. Role Responsibilities Assist and support a comprehensive land acquisition strategy aligned with the organization’s renewable energy project goals Develop best practices and execute a comprehensive strategy for title tasks Manage the LRF process and team for title review and document preparation Coordinate title curative efforts to ensure all documents are ready for development Collaborate with legal teams to structure land agreements that meet legal and regulatory requirements Conduct thorough due diligence on potential land acquisitions, including title searches, environmental assessments, and permitting requirements Coordinate title curative efforts with legal and development to help prepare projects for development Build and maintain positive relationships with land owners, local communities, government authorities, and other stakeholders Understand relevant aspects of renewable energy projects and can successfully educate consultants and other stakeholders as needed Address concerns and provide information about project plans and benefits to Central Region Team Execute and follow process for onboarding land agents and/or brokers, creating work orders, tracking purchase orders, approving invoices Track land title expenses associated with land agents and 3rd party consultants Develop and execute comprehensive strategies aligned with the organization’s renewable energy project goals Assist development to identify suitable land parcels for renewable energy development through title support Lead negotiations for land acquisition, lease agreements and easements, ensuring favorable terms and conditions Collaborate with legal teams to structure land agreements that meet legal and regulatory requirements Conduct thorough due diligence on potential land acquisitions, including title searches, environmental assessments, and permitting requirements Evaluate land owner’s willingness to participate in renewable energy projects Build and maintain positive relationships with land owners, local communities, government authorities, and other stakeholders Understand relevant aspects of storage and renewable energy projects and can successfully educate land owners and other stakeholders as needed Address concerns and provide information about project plans and benefits to stakeholders Travel, as required, to facilitate land acquisition efforts and foster positive relationships with land owners and other stakeholders Identify and mitigate potential risks related to land acquisition, land use and project development Develop contingency plans for unforeseen challenges related to land assets Develop and manage budgets for land acquisition and management activities Monitor expenses and optimize land assets for cost-effective project development Manage third party land acquisition resources to achieve the land resource objectives through a combination of internal and external resources Lead and mentor a team of land acquisition professionals, providing guidance and support in their roles Foster a collaborative and high-performance work environment within the Land team and with Development Maintain accurate records of land agreements, permits and regulatory compliance Provide regular reports to senior management on land acquisition progress and issues Perform additional job-related duties as assigned Job Requirements and Experience Bachelor’s degree in business, real estate, environmental science or a related field (Master’s Degree preferred) Ten or more years of experience in land acquisition, real estate, land management, or a combination thereof, with a strong background in renewables (solar, wind and battery storage) preferred Thorough knowledge of land-use regulations, permitting processes and real estate law Exceptional negotiation and contract management skills Strong analytical and financial acumen for budgeting and cost optimization Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for stakeholder engagement Ability to lead and manage a team effectively Proficiency in geographic information systems (GIS) and related land management software Strong interpersonal skills, with ability to manage customer relationships Demonstrated desire to learn about the Company and the renewables space Excellent proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Teams Strong leadership and communication, and ability to meet deadlines Strong organization skills and ability to coordinate multiple tasks and deliverables Ability to multi-task, while working independently and as part of a team Motivated self-starter, goal-oriented, and strong problem‑solving abilities Proven ability to empathize, build relationships, and effectively communicate with people from a diverse set of backgrounds Responds well to direction, is easy to challenge and develop, and is coachable Is detail‑oriented, has strong business acumen, and a sound understanding of business concepts This position is a remote/hybrid role, based out of the Chicago office Some travel and visits to other RWEA offices and field locations Must be able to sit, walk, or stand for long durations of time Applicants Eligibility Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. RWE Americas is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time. Pay Range The annual base salary range for this position in Illinois is $130,000 - $175,000. The listed salary range represents our good faith estimate for this position and reflects the range for new hire salaries across all U.S. locations. Salary is a general guideline only. Benefits Offered Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short‑Term Disability, Long‑Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays. Eligible employees also participate in short‑term incentives, in addition to salary. Equal Employment Opportunity All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status. #J-18808-Ljbffr RWE Gruppe