Real Estate Strategy & Acquisitions Lead

TAR•Austin, TX

About The Position

TAR is building an off-grid power plant for data centers using renewable technologies and is focused on delivering gigawatt-scale power. The company combines hardware and software to develop physical infrastructure and is working with a major compute provider to scale and deploy 5 GW by 2028. The Real Estate Strategy & Acquisitions Lead will own TAR’s land function end to end, including strategy, sourcing, structuring, negotiation, diligence, and closing. The role will assemble large tracts for gigawatt-scale solar-plus-storage projects, often involving ranches, family trusts, and heirs. The successful candidate will develop new acquisition methods and deal structures, begin as a hands-on dealmaker, and build the land team as activity grows. The position requires the ability to work from Austin, Texas, and willingness to travel.

Requirements

At least 3 years of experience in real estate acquisitions, real estate private equity, infrastructure investing, or land development, with a record of deals personally led and closed.
Track record of large or complex transactions involving multiple parties, unusual structures, or hard-to-reach sellers.
Strong underwriting and financial modeling skills, including the ability to build a deal model and defend a price.
Creative problem-solving skills and ability to find alternative approaches when an obvious deal is unavailable.
Clear, direct communication skills and ability to build trust with rural landowners, local stakeholders, and leadership.
Drive and organization to manage multiple deals simultaneously without letting matters slip.
Willingness to travel.
Fluency with AI and productivity tools.
Ability to work from Austin, Texas.

Nice To Haves

Experience with rural, ranch, or large-acreage land deals, ideally in Texas.
Experience acquiring or leasing land for energy, transmission, or data center projects.
Familiarity with Texas land records, mineral and surface rights, and easements.
Experience hiring and leading a small team.
Existing relationships with West Texas landowners, ranchers, or land brokers.

Responsibilities

Own TAR’s land strategy, including acreage targets, locations, timing, and pricing aligned with the deployment schedule.
Build and manage a pipeline of large, contiguous tracts of 5,000+ acres across West Texas and other regions as the company grows.
Lead negotiations from initial discussions through letters of intent, option or purchase agreements, and closing.
Develop creative deal structures, including options, phased takedowns, seller financing, earn-outs, joint ventures, and land swaps.
Underwrite deals for price, carrying costs, schedule risk, and project value, and provide go/no-go recommendations to leadership.
Manage diligence on title, survey, mineral and surface rights, easements, environmental matters, and access through external partners; escalate deal-breakers early.
Hire and lead the land team, including the Site Selection Manager, and manage landmen, title companies, surveyors, and brokers.
Improve acquisition processes using faster methods, including data-driven screening, AI-assisted outreach, and inbound landowner programs.