Sr. Land Acquisition Manager

Rückbauanlage Gundremmingen•Chicago, IL

22h•$130,000 - $175,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Land Manager in the renewables industry is a regional leadership position responsible for supporting land acquisition, management, and optimization of land assets for renewable energy projects, such as wind, solar, storage, and hydrogen facilities. This role involves strategic planning, negotiation, and coordination to secure and manage land resources effectively. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in surface and mineral title, due diligence and curative. The Senior Land Manager reports to the Director of Land Acquisition. You will be responsible for supporting land acquisition, managing 3rd party brokers/agents as needed to support the RWE company goals in the Central Region of the United States with an emphasis on surface and mineral title, lease prep and curative efforts. This role will include developing and implementing strategic processes and procedures, to support land, legal and development while ensuring compliance with all relevant standards.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, real estate, environmental science or a related field (Master’s Degree preferred)
Ten or more years of experience in land acquisition, real estate, land management, or a combination thereof, with a strong background in renewables (solar, wind and battery storage) preferred
Thorough knowledge of land-use regulations, permitting processes and real estate law
Exceptional negotiation and contract management skills
Strong analytical and financial acumen for budgeting and cost optimization
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for stakeholder engagement
Ability to lead and manage a team effectively
Proficiency in geographic information systems (GIS) and related land management software
Strong interpersonal skills, with ability to manage customer relationships
Demonstrated desire to learn about the Company and the renewables space
Excellent proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Teams
Strong leadership and communication, and ability to meet deadlines
Strong organization skills and ability to coordinate multiple tasks and deliverables
Ability to multi-task, while working independently and as part of a team
Motivated self-starter, goal-oriented, and strong problem-solving abilities
Proven ability to empathize, build relationships, and effectively communicate with people from a diverse set of backgrounds
Responds well to direction, is easy to challenge and develop, and is coachable
Is detail-oriented, has strong business acumen, and a sound understanding of business concepts
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
RWE Americas is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree preferred

Responsibilities

Assist and support a comprehensive land acquisition strategy aligned with the organization’s renewable energy project goals
Develop best practices and execute a comprehensive strategy for title tasks
Manage the LRF process and team for title review and document preparation
Coordinate title curative efforts to ensure all documents are ready for development
Collaborate with legal teams to structure land agreements that meet legal and regulatory requirements
Conduct thorough due diligence on potential land acquisitions, including title searches, environmental assessments, and permitting requirements
Coordinate title curative efforts with legal and development to help prepare projects for development
Build and maintain positive relationships with Land, Development, Legal, landowners, local communities, government authorities, and other stakeholders
Understand relevant aspects of renewable energy projects and can successfully educate consultants and other stakeholders as needed
Address concerns and provide information about project plans and benefits to Central Region Team
Execute and follow process for onboarding land agents and/or brokers, creating work orders, tracking purchase orders, approving invoices
Tracking land title expenses associated with land agents and 3rd party consultants
Develop and execute comprehensive strategies aligned with the organization’s renewable energy project goals
Assist development to identify suitable land parcels for renewable energy development through title support
Lead negotiations for land acquisition, lease agreements and easements, ensuring favorable terms and conditions
Collaborate with legal teams to structure land agreements that meet legal and regulatory requirements
Conduct thorough due diligence on potential land acquisitions, including title searches, environmental assessments, and permitting requirements
Evaluate landowner’s willingness to participate in renewable energy projects
Build and maintain positive relationships with landowners, local communities, government authorities, and other stakeholders
Understand relevant aspects of storage and renewable energy projects and can successfully educate landowners and other stakeholders as needed
Address concerns and provide information about project plans and benefits to stakeholders
Travel, as required, to facilitate land acquisition efforts and foster positive relationships with landowners and other stakeholders
Identify and mitigate potential risks related to land acquisition, land use and project development
Develop contingency plans for unforeseen challenges related to land assets
Develop and manage budgets for land acquisition and management activities
Monitor expenses and optimize land assets for cost-effective project development
Manage third party land acquisition resources to achieve the land resource objectives through a combination of internal and external resources
Lead and mentor a team of land acquisition professionals, providing guidance and support in their roles
Foster a collaborative and high-performance work environment within the Land team and with Development
Maintain accurate records of land agreements, permits and regulatory compliance
Provide regular reports to senior management on land acquisition progress and issues
Perform additional job-related duties as assigned