Land Development Manager

Drees Company; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision

Life, AD&D, and critical illness

401(k) savings plan

Profit Sharing

Paid time off increasing with tenure

Tuition reimbursement

Disability and parental leave

Employee discount program

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Drees Homes is seeking a capable Land Development Manager for our Indianapolis division. You will oversee the full lifecycle of land development from site analysis and entitlement to construction coordination and HOA oversight, driving timely and cost-efficient lot delivery to support long-term growth.

Ideal candidates bring proven land development or civil engineering experience, strong budgeting and negotiation skills, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams and external consultants.

Qualifications

• Bachelor Degree in Design, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or Real Estate Development related field
• Strong technical skills including Microsoft Office - Teams, Excel, Word
• Experience with Bluebeam is helpful

Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning and Site Analysis: Collaborate with leadership to develop five-year lot forecast and evaluate sites for development feasibility and product fit.
• Entitlement and Zoning: Represent the company in zoning and entitlement matters and manage consultants for land planning and preliminary design.
• Engineering and Design: Oversee civil, soils, and environmental engineering and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Budgeting and Bidding: Prepare and manage development budgets, solicit and evaluate construction bids and negotiate contracts.
• Construction Oversight: Monitor field execution and approve change orders; track and secure permits to avoid delays.
• Bond and HOA Management: Manage bond tracking and release; draft HOA documents and chair meetings during declarant control.
• Reporting and Coordination: Maintain development documentation and lead internal meetings; approve invoices and manage subdivision restrictions

Skills

Land development

Civil engineering

Project management

Budgeting

Negotiation

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Design, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or Real Estate Development

Tools

Microsoft Office

Bluebeam

Job description

Drees Homes is a family-owned home builder with a passion for making custom homes easy. For over 95 years, we've cared for our employees and customers— earning recognition as the 18th largest privately owned builder in the country and building a culture of long-tenured employees.

We are proud to be a five‑time U.S. Best Managed Company (2022–2026), a distinction sponsored by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal, and to be Great Place to Work® certified for the past four years.

Enrich your career at a company that values integrity, excellence, opportunity, stability, and success.

Headquartered in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, Drees operates in twelve metropolitan areas: Greater Cincinnati (including Northern Kentucky), Cleveland, and Columbus, Ohio; Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, Texas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Jacksonville, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Washington, D.C.

Responsibilities/Qualifications

National homebuilder with a superb reputation as a leader and innovator in the industry is seeking a Land Development Manager for our Drees Homes Indianapolis Division.

We are seeking a highly skilled and strategic Land Development Manager to join our team. In this pivotal role, you will oversee the full lifecycle of land development—from site analysis and entitlement to construction coordination and HOA oversight. Your leadership will ensure the timely and cost‑effective delivery of finished lots that align with our division’s long‑term growth strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning and Site Analysis
  • Collaborate with leadership to develop five‑year lot forecast
  • Evaluate potential sites for development feasibility and product fit
• Entitlement and Zoning
  • Represent the company in zoning and entitlement matters
  • Manage consultants for land planning and preliminary design
• Engineering and Design
  • Oversee civil, soils, and environmental engineering
  • Ensure regulatory compliance and manage design approvals
• Budgeting and Bidding
  • Prepare and manage development budgets
  • Solicit and evaluate construction bids and negotiate contracts
• Construction Oversight
  • Monitor field execution and approve change orders
  • Track and secure permits to avoid delays
• Bond and HOA Management
  • Manage bond tracking and release
  • Draft HOA documents and chair meetings during declarant control
• Reporting and Coordination
  • Maintain development documentation and lead internal meetings
  • Approve invoices and manage subdivision restrictions

Knowledge And Skills

• Proven experience in land development, civil engineering, or a related field
• Strong knowledge of zoning, permitting, and environmental regulations
• Excellent project management, budgeting, and negotiation skills
• Ability to lead cross‑functional teams and manage external consultants
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement abilities

Requirements

• Bachelor Degree in Design, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or Real Estate Development related field
• Strong technical skills including Microsoft Office - Teams, Excel, Word
• Experience with Bluebeam is helpful

Premier Benefits to Support YOU -

We Offer a Comprehensive Benefits Package, Including

• Medical, dental and vision
• Life, AD&D, and critical illness insurance
• Wellness rewards
• 401(k) savings plan
• Profit Sharing
• Paid time off increasing with tenure
• Tuition reimbursement
• Long and short disability and Parental leave
• Employee discount program on the purchase of a Drees Home
• Employee Assistance Program and much more!

Excellent salary and bonus potential.

Join a special team what works together to make Drees Homes a successful company and a rewarding place to work!

Summary

Equal Opportunity Employer / Drug-Free Work Place

To learn more about Drees Homes, please visit our website – www.dreeshomes.com .