Senior VP, Land Acquisition & Development

Buckingham Companies; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Buckingham Companies in Indianapolis seeks a Vice President, Land Acquisition & Development to lead sourcing and execution of real estate development opportunities. The role drives market evaluation, feasibility analysis, entitlements, and financing to meet fund deployment expectations while supporting the firm's mission and values.

You will build a robust pipeline, negotiate purchase agreements, manage cross-functional teams, and lead development through entitlements and pre-construction.

Qualifications

• Minimum seven to ten years of experience in residential or commercial real estate with underwriting, site selection, feasibility analysis, and market evaluation.
• Experience with entitlements, zoning, and financing of deals; development planning experience preferred.
• Strong leadership, negotiation, and collaboration skills; ability to manage complex development projects.

Responsibilities

• Leads sourcing, evaluation, and execution of land acquisitions aligned with investment strategies.
• Builds a robust pipeline through market research, broker relationships, and partnerships.
• Oversees due diligence including zoning, entitlement risk, and permitting; negotiates purchase agreements with Legal support.
• Develops and maintains relationships with landowners, municipalities, and strategic partners.
• Conducts market research and financial analyses to support development strategy and financing.
• Leads development through entitlements and pre-construction with internal teams.

Skills

Real estate underwriting

Site selection

Feasibility analysis

Market evaluation

Entitlements & zoning

Land acquisition

Negotiation

Leadership

Financial analysis

Communication

Education

Bachelors/Master's in Real Estate or related field

MBA/MAI/JD/AIA or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Real estate software

Job description

The Vice President, Land Acquisition & Development will be the leader in sourcing and execution of real estate development opportunities. The Vice President, Land Acquistion & Development will be responsible for meeting fund deployment expectations in terms of markets, throughput, product types, approvals, delivery, financing and overall accountability of the projects while supporting the organization’s mission, vision and values.

Training/Education

College degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business, or law.

MBA, MAI, JD, AIA professional designation, or other graduate or professional degree preferred

Experience/Skills

Minimum of seven to ten years of experience in residential or commercial real estate with demonstrated experience and working knowledge of underwriting, site selection, performing feasibility analysis, market evaluation, Entitlements and Zoning, underwriting/financing of deals and business/project planning

Preferred experience in single-family home development, including land acquisition, entitlement processing, site planning, and coordination with design and construction teams through project completion

Strong technical knowledge of underwriting/financing of deals, institutional investor needs, design, construction and

High degree of experience in budget planning, expense monitoring and profit and loss responsibility

Excellent computer skills, with emphasis on Microsoft Office; other construction or real estate software a plus

Special Requirements

Big picture and strategic thinking skills

Exceptional financial acumen, ability to problem solve project challenges by understanding levers available

High degree of professionalism

Transparency, reporting and sharing of information effectively across all departments

Proven record of successful negotiation skills

Exceptional leadership, management, communication and collaboration skills

Strong analytical skills

Results oriented and solution focused

High degree of accountability and ownership

Excellent judgment and decision making skills

Ability to multitask, prioritize and meet changing deadlines

Excellent internal and external customer service skills

Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment

Land Acquisition Strategy & Execution

• Leads the sourcing, evaluation, and execution of land acquisition opportunities aligned with company and fund-level investment strategies
• Builds and maintains a robust pipeline of land opportunities through market research, broker relationships, landowner outreach, and strategic partnerships
• Identifies, vets, and pursues land sites in both existing and new markets suitable for development, ensuring alignment with fund objectives and balance sheet targets
• Oversees due diligence activities related to land acquisitions, including zoning, entitlement risk, environmental factors, title review, and utility availability
• Negotiates and secures purchase agreements for approved land sites, partnering with Legal on all contracts and related documentation
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with landowners, brokers, municipalities, economic organizations, and other strategic partners
  
  
  

Market & Financial Analysis

• Conducts in-depth market research, including demographic trends, rental comparables, competitive supply analysis, and absorption forecasts to inform land acquisition and development strategy
• Partners with Capital Markets, CIO, CFO, and Fund Managers to underwrite land deals and support financing efforts
• Creates, reviews, and maintains financial proformas to support investment decisions, including sensitivity analysis and risk mitigation planning
  
  
  

Development Strategy & Oversight

• Serves as the accountable lead for advancing select land acquisitions into full development projects, managing early-stage development efforts through entitlements and pre-construction
• Collaborates with internal design, construction, and operations teams to ensure feasibility of development plans on acquired land
• Leads pursuit of public-private partnerships and negotiations for development incentives such as TIF, tax abatements, grants, and infrastructure reimbursements
• Oversees site design and works with third-party consultants and internal staff to complete comprehensive feasibility assessments, including traffic impact, infrastructure, and permitting
  
  
  

Internal Collaboration & Communication

• Collaborates with internal departments - finance, operations, construction, legal, marketing - to align land and development opportunities with long-term company goals
• Works cross-functionally to validate development assumptions, including achievable rents, operating expenses, and construction costs
• Prepares and presents project recommendations to the Executive and Investment Committees, supported by market and financial analyses and visual exhibits
  
  
  

Reporting & Compliance

• Delivers timely, accurate, and professional reports, presentations, and communications to stakeholders
• Ensures all acquisition and development activities comply with internal policies and procedures and algin with company values
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of land use trends, local market dynamics, and relevant regulatory changes impacting development
  
  
  

Other Responsibilities

• Willingness to travel as required for site visits, relationship management, and deal execution
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor
  
  
  

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