Director – Development (Land)

Hines; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Hines is seeking a Director – Development (Land) to drive residential land projects in Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville. You will identify opportunities, underwrite opportunities, manage entitlements, financing, design, and dispositions of finished lots, coordinating with senior leadership and project teams.

The role emphasizes advanced financial modeling, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver complex land programs on aggressive timelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA preferred.
• 6–8 years of direct real estate experience in land development preferred.
• Strong financial modeling, underwriting, and analytical capabilities.
• Experience leading entitlement, zoning, permitting, and development approval processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead land development efforts from acquisition to finished lot delivery, including entitlements, permitting, design, construction, and dispositions.
• Assemble and manage development project teams and coordinate with investors, lenders, consultants, and government agencies.
• Foster homebuilder relationships and finished lot sales, negotiating purchase and sale agreements and securing entitlements and permits.
• Prepare investment materials for senior management and support financing activities with robust financial analyses.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Financial modeling

Underwriting

Analytical capabilities

Excel modeling

Communication skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA preferred

Tools

Excel

Job description

As the Director – Development (Land) with Hines, you will be responsible for assisting senior management with all aspects of residential land and lot development including identifying and securing new opportunities, site feasibility, underwriting, entitlements, design, financing, marketing, construction and dispositions of residential finished lot projects with a primary focus on Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Business Development & Financial Management

• Lead broad aspects of project development in partnership with the Managing Director, including feasibility, finance, zoning/land use, design, construction, and dispositions.
• Source, underwrite, evaluate, structure, and execute new land development and acquisition opportunities, including site feasibility, market research, financial modeling, due diligence, and closing.
• Identify and pursue new land development and acquisition opportunities that align with Hines' investment strategy.
• Prepare and present investment committee packages and other internal documents for review by senior management
• Support project equity, debt, and TAD/CID financing activities, oversee project funding and disbursement requirements in conjunction with project accountants, and manage investor and lender relationships and reporting.

Project Management

• Manage residential land development projects from acquisition through finished lot delivery, including predevelopment activities, entitlements, permitting, design, construction, marketing, and lot dispositions.
• Assemble and manage the development project team, including Hines support personnel, consultants, architects, engineers, contractors, and legal counsel.
• Manage project budgets, financial models, contracts, and development; while monitoring project performance and coordinating project closeout activities.
• Serve as the Owner's Representative and monitor the flow of information among project stakeholders, including investors, market research personnel, Asset Management, Property Management, construction teams, and architects.

Homebuilder Relationships & Lot Sale Execution

• Lead homebuilder relationships and finished lot sales, including negotiation and administration of purchase and sale agreements.
• Partner with city staff, governmental agencies, consultants, and legal counsel to obtain required entitlements, permits, financing, and development approvals.
• Facilitate the marketing of residential communities, oversee HOA and/or CDD management companies, and prepare project updates and reporting for senior leadership, investors, and lenders.

Minimum Requirements include:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution; MBA preferred
• Six to Eight years of direct real estate experience in areas including land acquisition, development management, construction management, architecture, and/or engineering is preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of primary aspects of residential real estate development is required.
• Experience and/or interest in sourcing development and acquisition new business opportunities.
• Experience leading entitlement, zoning, permitting, and development approval processes.
• Strong financial modeling, underwriting, and analytical capabilities.
• Ability to create complex Excel models and perform detailed financial analysis.
• Strong knowledge of project budgeting, job cost management systems, and development financial analysis.
• Ability to evaluate real estate investments from both strategic and financial perspectives.
• Demonstrated negotiation skills related to land acquisitions, purchase and sale agreements, financing, and development contracts.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting aggressive schedules and deadlines.
• Strong leadership, relationship-building, and collaboration skills with the ability to influence diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to develop and maintain productive relationships with land sellers, landowners, national and local homebuilders, investors, lenders, consultants, contractors, and governmental agencies.