Land Development & Acquisition Manager DeNardi Homes Los Altos, CA Job Details Full-time $100,000 - $150,000 a year 23 hours ago Benefits Paid time off Qualifications Pricing Teamwork Land use law in public permitting Financial model construction Environmental legislation Spreadsheets Construction plans Bachelor's degree Real Estate Zoning research Zoning regulations Contracts Valuation modeling Financial projection model development Business Administration Project stakeholder communication Land use planning Stakeholder relationship building Stakeholder management

Full Job Description Job Title:

Land Development & Acquisition Manager Location:

Los Altos, California Job Type:

Full-Time Reports To:

CEO, DeNardi Homes Position Overview We are seeking an experienced and strategic Land Development & Acquisition Manager to identify, evaluate, acquire, and help entitle prospective land parcels for residential/commercial development projects. In this role, you will lead the end-to-end land acquisition pipeline—from site sourcing and market analysis to purchase contract negotiations, due diligence, zoning approvals, and entitlement handoff to the construction team. The ideal candidate brings a strong network of local brokers, landowners, and municipal officials, paired with robust financial modeling skills and deep knowledge of land planning, zoning laws, and environmental regulations. Key Responsibilities 1. Site Selection & Deal Sourcing Proactively source and identify off-market and on-market land acquisition opportunities aligned with the company's strategic growth plan. Build and maintain relationships with landowners, real estate brokers, developers, land planners, engineers, and municipal staff. Conduct preliminary site assessments, including evaluating access, topography, utility availability, zoning restrictions, and environmental constraints. 2. Financial Analysis & Due Diligence Lead comprehensive financial underwriting, residual land value analyses, and pro forma modeling for potential land acquisitions. Manage full due diligence processes, including coordinating Phase I ESAs, geotechnical engineering reports, boundary/topographic surveys, title work, and utility capacity studies. Prepare comprehensive Land Acquisition Packages and present deal economics and risk assessments to the Executive Investment Committee. 3. Entitlements & Government Approvals Navigate municipal approval processes, including rezoning, land use plan amendments, annexation, variances, conditional use permits, and site plan approvals. Work closely with civil engineers, land planners, traffic consultants, and legal counsel to secure all necessary land usage permits and development agreements. 4. Contract Negotiation & Closing Draft, negotiate, and execute Letters of Intent (LOIs), Purchase and Sale Agreements (PSAs), option contracts, and seller financing agreements alongside legal counsel. Manage escrow, title clearing, and closing processes to ensure seamless property transfers. 5. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Budgeting Work closely with pre-construction and civil engineering teams to establish accurate land development budgets, site improvement estimates, and project timelines. Transition acquired and entitled land parcels smoothly to project managers and construction superintendents for site servicing and vertical development.

Qualifications & Requirements Education:

Bachelor's degree or certificate in Real Estate, Urban Planning, Finance, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or Business Administration.

Experience:

6-10+ years of experience in land acquisition, land planning, or land development within real estate development or homebuilding industries.

Technical Skills:

Advanced financial modeling capabilities (Microsoft Excel). Strong understanding of zoning codes, land use regulations, and municipal approval processes. Proficiency in reading site plans, utility plans, and engineering drawings.

Industry Knowledge:

Familiarity with geographic target markets, local land constraints, utility infrastructure, and market pricing dynamics.

Soft Skills:

Exceptional negotiation, public presentation, and stakeholder management skills. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Volume and density of qualified land parcels sourced annually. Return on Investment (ROI) and internal rate of return (IRR) metrics across acquired properties. Efficiency and timeline adherence during due diligence and municipal entitlement cycles. Accuracy of land development budgeting compared to final construction handoff costs.

Compensation & Benefits Base Salary:

$100,000 -$150,000 (commensurate with experience)

Incentives:

Performance-based deal bonus structure per closed acquisition / entitled unit

Benefits:

Paid time off (PTO) &

Paid Holidays Pay:

$100,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Paid time off

Work Location:

In person