Director, Land & Development

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Director, Land & Development based in the United States.

This leadership role offers the opportunity to shape land acquisition and development strategy for a growing residential and manufactured housing business. You will lead the identification, evaluation, acquisition, and planning of land and finished-lot opportunities across priority markets. From initial market research and site sourcing to feasibility assessments, due diligence, negotiations, and development planning, you will oversee the early stages of the real estate development lifecycle. Working closely with executive leadership and teams across finance, legal, construction, and business development, you will help ensure investments align with strategic and financial objectives. You will also play a key role in expanding internal capabilities in horizontal land development and strengthening the long-term project pipeline. This position is ideal for an experienced real estate professional who combines strategic vision, financial expertise, and strong negotiation skills.

As Director, Land & Development, you will lead land acquisition and development planning activities, manage investment risks, and establish processes that support sustainable business growth. Your responsibilities will include:

• Identify and evaluate land, finished-lot, and development opportunities in targeted geographic markets.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with landowners, developers, brokers, municipalities, engineers, consultants, and other real estate partners.

• Establish and manage a pipeline of acquisition opportunities aligned with business growth priorities.

• Assess potential acquisitions based on market demand, location, lot characteristics, development requirements, timing, costs, and strategic fit.

• Lead land and finished-lot acquisition negotiations in collaboration with legal, finance, and business leadership.

• Oversee due diligence for prospective acquisitions, including zoning, entitlements, utilities, infrastructure, environmental conditions, title, access, development costs, schedules, and associated risks.

• Partner with finance and executive leadership to develop acquisition models, project pro formas, financial assumptions, sensitivity analyses, and investment recommendations.

• Identify financial, development, entitlement, construction, and market risks before capital commitments are made.

• Prepare clear recommendations to proceed with, modify, or decline proposed acquisitions, ensuring all required analysis and documentation are completed for capital approval.

• Develop internal capabilities for horizontal land development and assess when to acquire finished lots versus purchasing and developing raw land.

• Manage external engineers, consultants, developers, contractors, and other specialists involved in development activities.

• Oversee preliminary development schedules, budgets, entitlement strategies, and infrastructure requirements.

• Monitor project performance against approved assumptions and identify emerging risks, delays, or cost pressures.

• Coordinate the transition from land acquisition and development planning to project execution and construction.

• Work with construction teams to align build schedules, lot readiness, infrastructure requirements, and project sequencing.

• Collaborate with legal teams on purchase agreements, development agreements, easements, title matters, and other transaction documents.

• Partner with finance to ensure acquisition and development decisions meet investment criteria and expected returns.

• Prepare executive presentations and approval materials for significant land investments.

• Monitor land availability, development costs, entitlement conditions, competitive activity, and market trends across priority markets.

• Maintain visibility into acquisition costs, land inventory, development schedules, key risks, and projected lot availability.

• Recommend geographic expansion strategies and emerging land-development opportunities to senior leadership.

• Establish disciplined acquisition and development processes, tools, approval standards, and reporting practices.

• Provide regular updates on the land pipeline, capital requirements, development risks, and significant transactions.

• Serve as the subject matter expert for land acquisition and development, fostering strong collaboration across internal teams and external partners.

Requirements:

The ideal candidate brings substantial experience in residential real estate, land acquisition, or development, supported by strong financial judgment, negotiation capabilities, and cross-functional leadership skills. The following qualifications are required:

• Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business Administration, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Land Development, or a related field.

• At least 8 years of progressively responsible experience in land acquisition, residential development, real estate development, homebuilding, or a closely related field.

• Demonstrated experience evaluating and acquiring residential land and/or finished lots.

• Strong understanding of land development processes, entitlements, zoning, infrastructure, utilities, environmental considerations, and real estate due diligence.

• Experience developing, reviewing, and evaluating financial models, acquisition analyses, and project pro formas.

• Proven ability to negotiate complex real estate transactions.

• Strong business and financial acumen, with the ability to assess significant capital investments and development risks.

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.

• Excellent executive communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-management skills.

• Strategic thinking, sound judgment, and strong decision-making abilities.

• Ability to manage complexity, drive results, adapt to changing circumstances, and build effective professional networks.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with a national or regional homebuilder, residential developer, manufactured housing organization, or land-development company.

• Experience overseeing horizontal development from initial land acquisition through finished-lot delivery.

• Experience managing projects across multiple geographic markets.

• Familiarity with residential communities incorporating manufactured or modular housing.

• Experience managing external engineers, land planners, environmental consultants, developers, contractors, and municipal stakeholders.

Benefits:

• 401(k) retirement plan with company match.

• Paid vacation.

• Paid holidays.

• Medical insurance.

• Prescription drug coverage.

• Dental insurance.

• Vision insurance.

• Life insurance.

• Opportunity to take on a strategic leadership role with significant influence over land acquisition and development initiatives.

• Travel required as business needs dictate.

• Work location to be determined.

We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team.

We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!

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