Director of Land Acquisition - Data Centers

Provident; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Director of Land Acquisition to lead the charge in securing prime land for data centers across the U.S. This role involves leveraging your extensive experience in site selection and land deals to identify, negotiate, and manage acquisitions that align with the company's ambitious growth strategy. Join a forward-thinking organization that thrives on innovation and has a proven track record in real estate development. If you have a passion for strategic planning and a knack for building relationships, this is the perfect opportunity to make a significant impact in the data center sector.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in site selection and land acquisition.
• Strong understanding of land entitlements and zoning processes.
• Proven track record in negotiating large-scale land deals.

Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate potential land locations for data center development.
• Negotiate purchase agreements and manage due diligence processes.
• Work with government agencies to secure necessary permits.

Skills

Site Selection

Negotiation Skills

Analytical Skills

Problem-Solving

Project Management

Risk Assessment

Networking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Real Estate

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration

Bachelor's degree in Finance

Tools

Aerial Maps

Assessor Databases

Job description

Director of Land Acquisition - Data Centers

Director – Land Acquisition (Data Centers)

Provident is seeking an entrepreneurial Director of Land Acquisition to be responsible for identifying, researching, underwriting, investigating, qualifying, and managing the purchasing of prime parcels of land for our growing Data Centers platform across the United States.

Ideally, this individual possesses 5+ years of experience in a site selection/land acquisition role within a data center development company, other types of real estate development company, or brokerage, and strong experience with site selection and entitlements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identify potential land locations with the necessary infrastructure (power grid access, connectivity, zoning & utilities) to build a data center.
• Network with brokers, developers, engineers, planners, municipalities, and landowners for new acquisition opportunities.
• Perform preliminary due diligence and underwriting to determine the viability of each deal.
• Maintain updated land use plans and database.
• Use plans, aerial maps, and assessor databases to find vacant & semi-vacant parcels with the potential for data center development.
• Research and assess real estate markets to identify suitable locations and project viability for data center development.
• Research land ownership.
• Cold call on landowners.
• Negotiate purchase agreements with landowners and manage the due diligence process to secure land parcels.
• Work with government agencies to obtain necessary permits, development agreements, and zoning approvals for data center construction.
• Evaluate land costs, development costs, and potential return on investment for each potential site.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in the acquisition and development of real estate projects, with a strong preference for experience with data center site selection.
• A proven track record of sourcing, negotiating, and closing sophisticated, large-scale land deals.
• A working understanding of all land entitlements including, zoning & rezoning process, water & sewer agreements, development agreements with cities and municipalities, and incentive agreements.
• Experience working with hyperscalers, colocation providers, or large-scale industrial developers.
• Experience working with electrical providers.
• Familiar with site planning and engineering processes.
• Strong network of relationships within the data center market.
• Proven experience in the underwriting and valuation of development opportunities, land acquisitions, and underwriting transactions.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, strategic planning, budgeting, scheduling, and project management skills.
• Knowledge to assess and mitigate risks in the transaction, entitlement, and development processes.
• Excellent negotiation skills with the ability to sell ideas and the rationale behind them.
• Ability to travel.

Company Description:

Since its inception in 1991, Provident has developed over $5.5 Billion of real estate projects. We are disciplined and focused on executing deals that offer the best strategy for Provident and our investor partners. With over three decades of experience with opportunistic land development and vertical development in various key U.S. markets, our company thrives on an entrepreneurial spirit and an excellent track record of success.

Over the past 30+ years, Provident has executed a diversified real estate investment and development platform. Currently, the $2.9 billion portfolio includes product types such as multi-family, industrial, master-planned communities, hospitality, and data centers across the United States.

Under the leadership of Leon Backes and Jay Hawes, Provident is a respected, well-capitalized investment firm, that has thrived through three decades and multiple market cycles with foresight, depth of experience, and a unique ability to adapt to shifting demands, market trends, and challenging economic cycles. Provident is in constant pursuit of flexibility, innovation, and professionalism in its operations and investments. By maintaining a streamlined decision-making process, Provident is able to capitalize on fast-moving opportunities and rapidly adjust to dynamic market forces.

Seniority level

Director

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Strategy/Planning, Project Management, and Business Development