Director Land Development

Weis Markets•Sunbury, PA

About The Position

The Director of Land Development leads the sourcing, entitlement, and delivery of diverse land development projects: including grocery retail, gas stations, industrial facilities, office, tenant developments, and store development initiatives such as new builds, remodels, expansions, and adaptive re‑use. Overseeing the full development lifecycle, the Director manages site selection, due diligence, permitting, infrastructure, and regulatory approvals while ensuring projects meet schedule, budget, and ROI objectives. This role serves as the primary point of accountability for external engineers and consultants and works cross‑functionally with Real Estate, Legal, Architecture, Construction, Facility Maintenance, Merchandising, Operations, and government agencies. Partnering with the VP of Store Development and Construction, the Director also helps shape annual development strategies and represents the company in negotiations with local, state, and federal regulatory authorities to secure necessary entitlements and approvals.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in architecture, Civil Engineering, Real Estate, Urban Planning, or related discipline.
7+ years of land development experience across multiple asset types.
Proven track record entitling and delivering retail, fuel, industrial, or mixed‑use projects.
Strong financial and underwriting skills related to land and site development.
Comprehensive knowledge of zoning, environmental compliance, infrastructure, and permitting processes.
Valid driver’s license; ability to travel throughout PA, MD, NJ, DE, NY, WV, and VA.

Nice To Haves

Experience with grocery retail, fuel/convenience sites, warehousing/distribution, or industrial users preferred.
Multi‑market experience within the Mid‑Atlantic or other national markets.
Familiarity with environmental standards for gas stations, distribution centers, and manufacturing uses.

Responsibilities

Land Acquisition and Site Strategy Partner with Real Estate and Legal to identify, evaluate, and secure land opportunities across all Weis Markets asset categories.
Assess site access, utilities, environmental conditions, zoning, and physical constraints.
Lead site feasibility studies, due diligence, and development underwriting.
Support due diligence for purchase agreements, options, ground leases, and development deals.
Align site strategy with tenant requirements, operational needs, and broader portfolio objectives.
Entitlements, Zoning, & Regulatory Approvals Lead rezoning, entitlement, and permitting efforts across all asset types.
Manage environmental, traffic, civil, geotechnical, and land planning consultants.
Navigate local, state, and federal regulatory processes to secure timely approvals.
Represent projects at public hearings and coordinate municipal and community engagement.
Identify and mitigate entitlement, environmental, and jurisdictional risks.
Site Development and Infrastructure Oversee site planning, grading, utilities, stormwater management, and off‑site improvements.
Coordinate infrastructure and utility requirements across development and real estate categories.
Partner with Construction to ensure seamless transition from land development to vertical build‑out.
Monitor budgets, schedules, change orders, and value‑engineering opportunities to optimize costs and timelines.
Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with retail leasing, tenant coordination, and operations to meet tenant and user requirements.
Collaborate with Finance on underwriting, capital approvals, and reporting deliverables.
Coordinate with Legal on easements, REAs, CC&Rs, agreements, and entitlement documentation.
Present site recommendations, development strategies, and project updates to senior leadership.
Leadership and External Relationships Establish and maintain strong relationships with brokers, landowners, municipalities, utilities and regulatory agencies.
Develop and implement land development standards and best practices across asset types.