Director of Entitlements

David Weekley Homes•Raleigh, NC

11d

About The Position

A Director of Entitlements oversees all aspects of the entitlement function to ensure that projects are successfully entitled and support division goals. This role leads the entitlement team responsible for due diligence support, land planning coordination, zoning/land use actions, site plan approvals, permit coordination, and related governmental approvals for new residential communities. The Director ensures the quality and timeliness of deliverables while providing clear communication of schedules, risks, and budgets to stakeholders. They manage consultant relationships and build strong relationships with municipalities and agencies. The ideal candidate is results-driven, organized, detail-oriented, and focused on leading an efficient and effective team.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred in Construction Management, Urban Design/Planning, Engineering, Business, or a related field.
Experience: Minimum of 10+ years of residential entitlement, land planning, and governmental approval experience; public agency experience preferred.
Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to develop and deliver presentations and summarize complex issues for senior leadership.
Interpersonal Skills: Ability to communicate and represent the company to various stakeholders, including municipal officials, agencies, consultants, and neighborhood groups.
Project Management: Highly organized; able to manage multiple complex projects, budgets, and schedules while meeting deadlines.
Technical Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word); familiarity with Smartsheet and/or project management software preferred.
Analytical Skills: Ability to research, interpret, and apply municipal guidelines, plans, permits, and technical documents; strong attention to detail.
Other: Valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

Partners with land team leadership during acquisition and due diligence to assess feasibility, entitlement pathways, timelines, yield impacts, and risk factors.
Directs and oversees all entitlements for new residential communities, including due diligence processes, land planning coordination, and entitlement efforts for division projects.
Maintains a robust understanding of municipal requirements, approval processes, and all relevant permits and requirements; ensures compliant and accurate submissions.
Serves as the primary liaison between the division, consultants, and public/private/quasi-public agencies to negotiate, resolve issues, and secure required permits and approvals.
Coordinates and manages entitlement work performed by outside consultants (architects, civil engineers, landscape architects, environmental and soils engineers, and other specialists).
Leads meetings with municipalities, agencies, and other stakeholders; coordinates public hearings and neighborhood meetings as required.
Coordinates with Land Development to prepare and validate preliminary site development budgets and to align entitlement decisions with downstream schedule and cost impacts.
Controls entitlement schedules, identifies constraints early, and provides regular internal communication on project status, risks, budgets, and schedules.
Ability to perform and manage all aspects of the entitlement manager role.
Leads continuous improvement initiatives within the entitlement function, implementing best practices and optimizing workflows and consultant performance.