Land Acquisition

Azure Power; Gurugram District; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Azure Power in Gurugram is seeking a seasoned Land Acquisition Lead to drive end-to-end land procurement for wind and solar projects, with extensive site travel as required.

You will negotiate with landowners, government authorities, and aggregators, ensure regulatory compliance, and coordinate with legal, finance, BD&C, and project teams to close deals on time and within cost targets. This role requires 15–20 years in infrastructure with RE land acquisition expertise.

Qualifications

• 15-20 years in infrastructure with 5+ years in solar/RE land acquisition.
• Experience with private, revenue, and forest land acquisitions.
• Knowledge of MoEF guidelines and state land laws.
• Ability to negotiate and close deals with multiple stakeholders.
• Strong coordination with legal, finance, and BD teams.
• End-to-end land acquisition oversight.

Responsibilities

• Negotiation and Deal Management
• End-to-end responsibility to secure identified land
• Lead in providing competitive assumptions on process, timelines, land securing options and cost to the BD&C and PD team for pipeline building.
• Land aggregator evaluation support before finalisation of land contracts
• Lead negotiations with landowners, government authorities, and other stakeholders to secure land on favourable terms and within the estimated time
• Ensure all land acquisition deals meet the company’s legal, financial, and operational standards.
• Collaborate with land aggregators and other external stakeholders to expedite the acquisition process.
• Lead the internal team and the aggregator’s team to deliver on time & cost.
• Legal and Regulatory Compliance
• Ensure compliance with all local state regulations related to land acquisition, including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) guidelines.
• Conduct due diligence in collaboration with legal teams, ensuring all acquisitions are legally sound and risk-free.
• Oversee the preparation and review of legal documents, including MoUs, LoIs, agreements for sale, conveyance deeds, pathway agreements, Power of Attorney, lease deeds, and other relevant documents.
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Build and maintain strong relationships with landowners, government officials, local communities, and other stakeholders.
• Address and resolve concerns from internal & external stakeholders regarding land acquisition activities, ensuring smooth operations
• Provide insights to internal Business team and the management on the competition.
• Project Management
• Manage the entire land acquisition process from site identification to deal closure, ensuring timely execution.
• Coordinate & collaborate with internal teams such as legal, finance, BD&C and project development to ensure a seamless acquisition process.
• Reporting and Documentation
• Maintain detailed records of all land acquisition activities, including site evaluations and compliance documents.
• Provide regular updates and reports to senior management on the progress and status of land acquisition projects.
• Support the team in preparing board approval proposals and seeking Investment/Biding Approval process
• Effective interpersonal skills for communicating with the management and target, making presentations

Skills

Land acquisition leadership

Negotiation with landowners/government

Regulatory compliance

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Contract drafting & due diligence

Job description

Land Acquisition Lead - To be based in Gurugram

(Extensive travel to site locations)

• This position requires extensive experience in land acquisition within the 7 RE states, a deep understanding of local land laws, and the ability to navigate complex negotiations with various stakeholders. The ideal candidate will lead the land acquisition process for wind & solar projects, ensuring compliance with legal requirements, State specific regulations and supporting the overall success of renewable energy projects
• Job Responsibilities:
• Negotiation and Deal Management
• End to end responsibility to secure the identified land
• Lead in providing competitive assumptions on process, timelines, land securing options and cost to the BD&C and PD team for pipeline building.
• Land aggregator evaluation support before finalisation of land contracts
• Lead negotiations with landowners, government authorities, and other stakeholders to secure land on favourable terms and within the estimated time
• Ensure all land acquisition deals meet the company’s legal, financial, and operational standards.
• Collaborate with land aggregators and other external stakeholders to expedite the acquisition process.
• Lead the internal team and the aggregator’s team to deliver on time & cost.
• Legal and Regulatory Compliance
• Ensure compliance with all local state regulations related to land acquisition, including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) guidelines.
• Conduct due diligence in collaboration with legal teams, ensuring all acquisitions are legally sound and risk-free.
• Oversee the preparation and review of legal documents, including MoUs, LoIs, agreements for sale, conveyance deeds, pathway agreements, Power of Attorney, lease deeds, and other relevant documents.
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Build and maintain strong relationships with landowners, government officials, local communities, and other stakeholders.
• Address and resolve concerns from internal & external stakeholders regarding land acquisition activities, ensuring smooth operations
• Provide insights to internal Business team and the management on the competition.
• Project Management
• Manage the entire land acquisition process from site identification to deal closure, ensuring timely execution.
• Coordinate & collaborate with internal teams such as legal, finance, BD&C and project development to ensure a seamless acquisition process.
• Reporting and Documentation
• Maintain detailed records of all land acquisition activities, including site evaluations and compliance documents.
• Provide regular updates and reports to senior management on the progress and status of land acquisition projects.
• Support the team in preparing board approval proposals and seeking Investment/Biding Approval process
• Effective interpersonal skills for communicating with the management and target, making presentations

Desired Experience and Skills/Competencies:

• 15-20 years of Infrastructure experience with at least 5 years in solar/RE industry with land acquisition roles
• Extensive experience in private, revenue and forest land acquisition on a lease & purchase basis in Gujarat and other RE states including knowledge of State Government and MoEF processes.
• Strong understanding of state land laws, property laws, and local regulations, including those related to the conversion of agricultural land, mutation, amalgamation, and registration.
• Proven ability to negotiate effectively with landowners, government officials, and other stakeholders.
• Experience in coordinating with internal teams and managing Right of Way (ROW) issues and pathway management.
• Ability to handle internal audits and implement action plans to address audit observations.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to oversee the entire land acquisition process.

Other Responsibilities:

• Adhere to the company's Land Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and ensure full compliance with land acquisition processes.
• Coordinate with legal counsel in handling court cases and other disputes related to land.