Senior Land Project Manager

MDC Holdings, Inc.; Folsom (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Life insurance

EAP

Homeownership discounts

Pet insurance

Job summary

Sekisui House U.S., Inc. seeks a Senior Land Project Manager to lead land development from entitlement through construction readiness. You will guide cross-functional teams, coordinate with municipalities, and ensure regulatory compliance, budgets, and schedules are met.

The role requires 5+ years in land development or related fields, a Bachelor’s in a related discipline, and strong leadership and communication skills in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, planning, real estate development, or related field or 9–11 years equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant land development/project management experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple land development projects from entitlement through construction readiness.
• Own forward planning/entitlement activities with municipalities and regulatory agencies.
• Develop and communicate detailed project schedules and progress updates to leadership.
• Coordinate engineering plans, environmental studies, and reports for regulatory compliance.
• Manage consultant/contractor engagement including RFPs, contracts, and scope changes.
• Oversee HOA formation, CC&Rs, and DRE/Public Report requirements.
• Mentor project managers and staff to strengthen delivery capabilities.
• Identify process improvements across land development functions.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Scheduling

Budgeting

Regulatory permitting

Cross-functional collaboration

Documentation

Decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, planning, or related field

9–11 years equivalent experience

Tools

Project management software

Spreadsheets

Engineering software

Job description

Senior Land Project Manager

Location: US-CA-Folsom

Contract Type: Regular Full Time

BREAK GROUND ON A REWARDING CAREER WITH US!

The Sekisui House U.S. team is a proud builder of the SHAWOOD, Richmond American Homes, Woodside Homes, Holt Homes, Hubble Homes, and Chesmar Homes brands. We take great pride in being a member of Sekisui House, a global leader in homebuilding. This impressive, 60+ year old company has built over 2.6 million new homes designed to reflect and adapt to the changing needs of today's homebuyers. Drawing on Sekisui House's unparalleled history and superior service, we commit ourselves to a future where people around the world can live joyful lives in homes that are safe, secure, stylish and comfortable.

We encourage a company culture that promotes professionalism, teamwork, health & wellness and work-life balance. If you are a results-driven professional with a passion for success, consider building a career with us.

Positive Work Environment & Culture

• Collaborative Team Culture: Join a supportive environment where teamwork and the open exchange of ideas are highly valued.
• Team Engagement: Participate in a variety of team-building events and social gatherings, such as company outings, holiday celebrations, and regular office socials. We support a healthy work-life balance and recognize the importance of time outside of work commitments.

Overview & Position Summary

This role provides senior-level leadership and project management for land development and forward planning activities, guiding projects from entitlement through infrastructure delivery and community readiness. Operating with limited supervision, the position applies broad technical, regulatory, and operational expertise to manage complex, multi-phase projects, resolve issues, and ensure alignment with business plans. The role serves as a central liaison among internal teams, consultants, municipalities, and contractors, while providing mentorship, technical guidance, and execution leadership to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in compliance with all regulatory requirements.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of multiple land development projects from entitlement through construction readiness, ensuring schedule adherence, budget control, and quality standards.
• Own and manage forward planning and entitlement activities, including zoning actions, mapping, final plats, public hearings, and coordination with municipalities and regulatory agencies.
• Develop, maintain, and communicate detailed project schedules, milestones, forecasts, and progress updates to leadership and cross‑functional partners.
• Coordinate the preparation, review, and approval of engineering plans, improvement plans, grading plans, environmental studies, and technical reports to ensure constructability and regulatory compliance.
• Manage consultant and contractor engagement, including RFPs, contract execution, scope review, change management, and performance oversight.
• Oversee HOA formation, CC&Rs, DRE/Public Report requirements, bonding, CFDs, and related compliance activities to support sales readiness and community operations.
• Serve as a primary point of coordination with internal teams to align development assumptions, timelines, and execution needs.
• Conduct regular site visits to monitor progress, resolve field issues, ensure safety and quality standards, and support issue resolution.
• Manage project‑related financial controls, including budget tracking, invoice review and approval, AP coordination, and supporting documentation in accordance with approval matrices.
• Maintain accurate, organized project documentation using standardized systems, templates, and file structures to ensure accessibility and audit readiness.
• Lead community kickoff meetings, track milestones through pre‑open and opening phases, and support smooth transitions to construction and HOA management.
• Provide mentorship, coaching, and technical guidance to project managers, coordinators, and support staff to strengthen project delivery capabilities.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements, best practices, and efficiencies across land development and forward planning functions.

Education & Experience

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, planning, real estate development, or a related field; or 9-11 years equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in land development, project management, civil engineering, or related areas.

Preferred:

• Experience managing complex, multi‑phase residential development projects for a homebuilder or land development firm.
• Prior experience leading cross‑functional coordination and contractor oversight.

Skills & Competencies

• Broad technical understanding of land development engineering, horizontal construction, and regulatory processes.
• Strong project management skills, including budgeting, scheduling, forecasting, and reporting.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, grading plans, utility layouts, and environmental documents.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills for collaborating with contractors, consultants, municipalities, and internal teams.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities to resolve complex issues across multiple disciplines.
• Organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and multiple active projects.
• Knowledge of permitting, entitlement requirements, and applicable regulatory standards.
• Proficiency with project management software, spreadsheets, and engineering‑related applications.
• Leadership skills with the ability to coach and mentor team members.
• Sound judgment and decision‑making in dynamic project environments.

Working Conditions

Work occurs in both office and field environments. Field visits may involve exposure to varying weather conditions, uneven terrain, dust, noise, and active construction activities. Travel to job sites, consultant offices, municipalities, and regional meetings is required.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to walk and navigate uneven or undeveloped terrain on active construction sites.
• Ability to lift and carry materials, plans, or equipment up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to stand, walk, or sit for extended periods during site visits, meetings, or project work.
• Ability to bend, stoop, or reach as needed during field inspections.
• Ability to use standard office and field equipment.

Compensation

• Base Salary: $135,000 - $150,000
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Bonus Type: Year End Discretionary

Comprehensive Benefits Package

We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families:

• Competitive Compensation: We provide a competitive compensation structure that rewards performance and results.
• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive coverage includes medical, dental, and vision insurance options, as well as Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• Financial Future: Access a 401(k) retirement savings plan.
• Time Off: Our time‑off benefits include vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, and other leave types (bereavement, jury duty, FMLA, military leave).
• Insurance & Protection: Company‑provided life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, and short‑ and long‑term disability coverage are included. An employee assistance program (EAP) is also available.
• Exclusive Perks & Discounts
• Homeownership & Financing: Take advantage of exclusive home purchase and financing discounts.
• Pet Insurance: Enjoy discounted group pet insurance rates.

Sekisui House U.S., Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.