Vice President, Land Acquisition (Residential

Walton Global; Scottsdale (AZ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading real estate development firm is seeking a seasoned Vice President of Land Acquisition in Scottsdale, Arizona. The role involves developing and executing land acquisition strategies, overseeing a team, and managing negotiations for land purchase agreements. Candidates should have at least five years in land acquisition with a major homebuilder and demonstrate strong leadership abilities. This position offers competitive compensation in a dynamic and growing environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of direct land acquisition experience preferably with a major homebuilder.
• Demonstrated success sourcing and closing residential land transactions.
• Strong negotiation skills with experience structuring complex land deals.
• Deep understanding of zoning, entitlements, and development economics.

Responsibilities

• Lead the residential land acquisition strategy and oversee a team of Land Acquisition Managers.
• Identify, evaluate, and secure land opportunities for residential development.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure deal viability.
• Coordinate with planning, legal, finance, and sales teams to ensure deal viability.
• Negotiate land purchase agreements, options, takedowns, and joint ventures.
• Monitor market conditions, pricing trends, and regulatory changes.

Skills

Direct land acquisition experience

Leadership

Negotiation skills

Understanding of zoning and entitlements

Financial analysis of pro formas

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business, Urban Planning, or related field

Job description

We are seeking a seasoned Vice President of Land Acquisition to lead and execute our residential land acquisition strategy. This executive role is responsible for sourcing, evaluating, negotiating, and securing land opportunities while overseeing a team of Land Acquisition Managers. The ideal candidate brings a minimum of 5 years of direct land acquisition experience preferablywith a major homebuilder, a strong leadership background, and a proven ability to build a long-term, high-quality land pipeline aligned with company growth objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute the company’s land acquisition strategy to support short- and long-term residential development goals
• Lead, mentor, and oversee Land Acquisition Managers and related staff
• Establish acquisition targets, underwriting standards, and deal approval processes
• Partner with executive leadership to align land strategy with capital planning and market expansion

Land Acquisition & Deal Execution

• Identify, evaluate, and secure land opportunities suitable for future residential development
• Maintain strong relationships with landowners, brokers, developers, municipalities, and builders
• Oversee feasibility analysis including market studies, pricing, absorption, entitlement risk, and infrastructure costs
• Lead or support negotiations for land purchase agreements, options, takedowns, and joint ventures
• Assist with due diligence efforts including zoning, entitlements, environmental, utilities, and development constraints

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate with planning, engineering, construction, legal, finance, and sales teams to ensure deal viability
• Review and approve financial pro formas and investment overview prepared by the acquisition team
• Assist with presenting land deals, strategy updates, and pipeline reports to executive leadership and investment committees
• Monitor market conditions, land pricing trends, competitor activity, and regulatory changes
• Manage acquisition risk related to entitlements, timing, capital exposure, and market cycles
• Ensure disciplined underwriting and return thresholds are consistently applied

Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Minimum of 5 years of direct land acquisition experience preferably with a major homebuilder or large-scale residential developer
• Demonstrated success sourcing and closing residential land transactions
• Prior experience managing or mentoring land acquisition professionals
• Deep understanding of zoning, entitlements, land use regulations, and residential development economics
• Strong negotiation skills with experience structuring complex land deals
• Proven ability to evaluate and approve development pro formas and investment assumptions

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business, Urban Planning, or related field
• Experience with publicly traded or large private homebuilders
• Familiarity with land banking, option structures, and entitlement-heavy projects
• Established network of land brokers and industry relationships within target markets