Land Acquisition Manager

Solar Provider Group•Chicago, IL

About The Position

Solar Provider Group (SPG) is a global solar developer with active projects across North America and Europe. We identify, secure, and advance high-quality sites through the full development cycle, from early-stage origination to construction readiness. Our team combines technical expertise, financial insight, and strong local relationships to deliver projects that accelerate the clean-energy transition and create lasting value for landowners and communities. We are seeking a motivated and relationship-driven Land Acquisition Manager to represent SPG in the field and drive land origination across our target regions. Reporting to the Director of Real Estate, the Land Acquisition Manager will oversee and develop land acquisition process to acquire site control for community solar projects. This role is suited to an experienced land acquisition professional who thrives on building trust with landowners and closing high-quality site control agreements, while combining team management and hands-on execution to manage land acquisition performance, and pipelines, and ensure the Real Estate team meets and exceeds its acquisition targets with professionalism and credibility.

Requirements

Minimum 7 years of experience in land acquisition, right-of-way, agricultural real estate, or rural business development, with 3+ years in a management or supervisory capacity. Community solar or renewable-energy experience is strongly preferred.
Proven ability to secure multi-acre site control and manage negotiations from initial contact through execution.
Strong understanding of lease structures, easements, and option agreements.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build trust and credibility with landowners and stakeholders.
Proficient with GIS mapping tools, county assessor databases, and CRM systems.
Analytical mindset with the ability to evaluate site viability, infrastructure proximity, and environmental or zoning constraints.
Highly organized and data-driven, capable of managing multiple outreach efforts and documentation requirements simultaneously.
Self-motivated and comfortable working independently across multiple states.
Valid driver’s license, insurable driving record, and ability to walk uneven or agricultural terrain.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with farm operations, drainage systems, title commitments, and recording procedures is an asset.

Responsibilities

Coach and develop land acquisition team members, establishing clear performance expectations, accountability, and professional growth.
Establish weekly priorities, call goals, and outreach strategies to align team activity with portfolio targets.
Conduct regular one-on-one and team meetings to review performance metrics, conversion rates, and pipeline health.
Help foster a positive and performance-driven culture that reflects SPG’s values of Tenacity, Team Play, Ownership, Sharing, Sustainability, and Passion.
Develop, maintain, and oversee a structured outreach plan for assigned regions, focusing on areas with strong solar development potential.
Identify and prioritize suitable parcels using GIS tools, assessor databases, referrals, and community connections.
Conduct proactive outreach through phone calls, door-knocks, farm visits, and attendance at local agricultural and community events to build a steady pipeline of qualified land opportunities.
Present SPG’s value proposition clearly, outlining the solar development process, project timeline, and benefits for landowners.
Personally engage with high-priority or complex landowners to secure key agreements.
Review and support negotiations to ensure commercial terms align with SPG’s criteria business objectives.
Qualify landowner interest and gather key site details such as acreage, access, drainage, crop patterns, title history, and nearby infrastructure.
Present and explain proposed deal terms and support the negotiation of leases, easements, and option agreements in collaboration with the Director of Real Estate and Legal Counsel.
Maintain transparent communication with landowners to address questions, clarify next steps, and build long-term relationships based on trust.
Track all engagement activities to ensure timely follow-up and consistent movement toward executed agreements.
Conduct site visits to document physical, environmental, and visibly apparent land-use factors such as wetlands, floodplains, setbacks, and adjacent property uses.
Collaborate with interconnection, permitting, and engineering teams to obtain assessments of site feasibility, access, and proximity to existing infrastructure.
Help identify potential risks early and recommend mitigation strategies to maintain a strong and viable project pipeline.
Verify that executed agreements are accurate, properly recorded, and supported by complete site and title documentation.
Oversee and maintain acquisition team pipelines in CRM (for example, Monday.com) to ensure data accuracy, consistent reporting, and timely updates.
Track and report on outreach activity, conversion rates, acres under control, and progress toward acquisition goals.
Monitor land acquisition budgets and expenses, highlighting cost efficiencies or variances that require attention.
Ensure clean and complete handoffs to the development team with all site files, agreements, and supporting data properly organized.
Represent SPG professionally in all community and landowner interactions, fostering positive relationships and trust in the company’s local presence.
Attend public meetings, community sessions, or industry events as needed to support project awareness and education.
Collaborate with external brokers or local representatives when appropriate to extend outreach coverage and maintain consistent communication.
Demonstrate SPG’s values of Tenacity, Team Play, Ownership, Sharing, Sustainability, and Passion in every engagement.
Follow all company safety procedures, vehicle policies, and ethical standards.
Travel regionally several days per week during active acquisition periods, with occasional evening or weekend meetings to accommodate landowner availability.