Senior Director Land Acquisition

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Land Acquisition is responsible for leading the identification, evaluation, negotiation, and acquisition of land opportunities that support the company's strategic growth objectives. This role oversees the land acquisition function, manages relationships with landowners, brokers, developers, municipalities, and consultants, and works closely with land development, finance, legal, and operations teams to ensure a robust pipeline of future communities.

The ideal candidate possesses extensive experience in residential land acquisition, market analysis, entitlement processes, and contract negotiations, with a proven track record of sourcing and securing profitable residential development opportunities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Land Acquisition

• Develop and execute land acquisition strategies aligned with the company's short- and long-term growth objectives.
• Identify, evaluate, and pursue potential land acquisition opportunities through direct sourcing, broker networks, landowners, developers, and strategic partnerships.
• Maintain a consistent pipeline of land opportunities to support annual and long-range business plans.
• Analyze market trends, demographic shifts, competitive activity, and economic conditions to identify high-potential growth areas.

Due Diligence and Financial Analysis

• Lead comprehensive due diligence efforts, including environmental, engineering, zoning, entitlement, utility, and market assessments.
• Evaluate land opportunities through financial modeling, residual land valuation, and investment return analyses.
• Prepare acquisition packages and investment recommendations for executive leadership and investment committees.
• Assess development risks and recommend mitigation strategies.

Negotiation and Transaction Management

• Negotiate purchase agreements, letters of intent, option contracts, joint ventures, and other acquisition-related documents.
• Partner with legal counsel and internal stakeholders to structure transactions and manage contract execution.
• Oversee transaction timelines from initial pursuit through closing.

Entitlements and Development Coordination

• Collaborate with land development teams to assess entitlement feasibility, infrastructure requirements, and development schedules.
• Support entitlement and annexation efforts through coordination with municipalities, regulatory agencies, and consultants.
• Monitor entitlement progress to ensure acquisition assumptions remain aligned with project objectives.

Relationship Management

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with landowners, brokers, developers, municipalities, engineers, planners, attorneys, and industry stakeholders.
• Represent the company at industry events, community meetings, and professional organizations.
• Develop strategic partnerships that create access to off-market and exclusive acquisition opportunities.

Leadership and Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop land acquisition professionals and support staff.
• Establish performance goals, monitor results, and foster a high-performance culture.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with finance, operations, construction, sales, and land development teams to support business objectives.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Business, Finance, Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, Construction Management, or related field required.
• MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years of progressive land acquisition, real estate development, or residential homebuilding experience.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing acquisition teams and complex transactions.
• Demonstrated success acquiring residential land parcels and master-planned community opportunities.
• Strong understanding of entitlement processes, zoning regulations, and land development practices.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Expertise in land valuation, financial modeling, and investment analysis.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Deep understanding of residential real estate markets and development economics.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and transactions simultaneously.
• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen and decision-making capabilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, financial modeling tools, GIS platforms, and land acquisition software.