Vice President of Land Acquisition & Development

Buckingham Companies • Indianapolis, IN

2d

About The Position

The Vice President, Land Acquisition & Development will be the leader in sourcing and execution of real estate development opportunities. The Vice President, Land Acquistion & Development will be responsible for meeting fund deployment expectations in terms of markets, throughput, product types, approvals, delivery, financing and overall accountability of the projects while supporting the organization’s mission, vision and values.

Requirements

• College degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business, or law.
• Minimum of seven to ten years of experience in residential or commercial real estate with demonstrated experience and working knowledge of underwriting, site selection, performing feasibility analysis, market evaluation, Entitlements and Zoning, underwriting/financing of deals and business/project planning
• Strong technical knowledge of underwriting/financing of deals, institutional investor needs, design, construction and
• High degree of experience in budget planning, expense monitoring and profit and loss responsibility
• Excellent computer skills, with emphasis on Microsoft Office; other construction or real estate software a plus
• Big picture and strategic thinking skills
• Exceptional financial acumen, ability to problem solve project challenges by understanding levers available
• High degree of professionalism
• Transparency, reporting and sharing of information effectively across all departments
• Proven record of successful negotiation skills
• Exceptional leadership, management, communication and collaboration skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Results oriented and solution focused
• High degree of accountability and ownership
• Excellent judgment and decision making skills
• Ability to multitask, prioritize and meet changing deadlines
• Excellent internal and external customer service skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment

Nice To Haves

• MBA, MAI, JD, AIA professional designation, or other graduate or professional degree preferred
• Preferred experience in single-family home development, including land acquisition, entitlement processing, site planning, and coordination with design and construction teams through project completion

Responsibilities

• Leads the sourcing, evaluation, and execution of land acquisition opportunities aligned with company and fund-level investment strategies
• Builds and maintains a robust pipeline of land opportunities through market research, broker relationships, landowner outreach, and strategic partnerships
• Identifies, vets, and pursues land sites in both existing and new markets suitable for development, ensuring alignment with fund objectives and balance sheet targets
• Oversees due diligence activities related to land acquisitions, including zoning, entitlement risk, environmental factors, title review, and utility availability
• Negotiates and secures purchase agreements for approved land sites, partnering with Legal on all contracts and related documentation
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with landowners, brokers, municipalities, economic organizations, and other strategic partners
• Conducts in-depth market research, including demographic trends, rental comparables, competitive supply analysis, and absorption forecasts to inform land acquisition and development strategy
• Partners with Capital Markets, CIO, CFO, and Fund Managers to underwrite land deals and support financing efforts
• Creates, reviews, and maintains financial proformas to support investment decisions, including sensitivity analysis and risk mitigation planning
• Serves as the accountable lead for advancing select land acquisitions into full development projects, managing early-stage development efforts through entitlements and pre-construction
• Collaborates with internal design, construction, and operations teams to ensure feasibility of development plans on acquired land
• Leads pursuit of public-private partnerships and negotiations for development incentives such as TIF, tax abatements, grants, and infrastructure reimbursements
• Oversees site design and works with third-party consultants and internal staff to complete comprehensive feasibility assessments, including traffic impact, infrastructure, and permitting
• Collaborates with internal departments – finance, operations, construction, legal, marketing – to align land and development opportunities with long-term company goals
• Works cross-functionally to validate development assumptions, including achievable rents, operating expenses, and construction costs
• Prepares and presents project recommendations to the Executive and Investment Committees, supported by market and financial analyses and visual exhibits
• Delivers timely, accurate, and professional reports, presentations, and communications to stakeholders
• Ensures all acquisition and development activities comply with internal policies and procedures and algin with company values
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of land use trends, local market dynamics, and relevant regulatory changes impacting development
• Willingness to travel as required for site visits, relationship management, and deal execution
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive