VP of Land Acquisition and Development

dfhextcareersite; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Coventry Homes is seeking a Vice President of Land Acquisition & Development to lead the division's land strategy and growth. You will oversee the full lifecycle from sourcing to delivery of finished lots, partnering with executives and teams to ensure profitable communities in the Austin metro area.

The role requires deep expertise in residential land acquisition, development, financial analysis, and strong relationship-building.

Qualifications

• Progressive experience in residential land acquisition and development.
• Strong understanding of zoning, entitlements, permitting, and development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the land acquisition and development lifecycle from identification to delivery of finished lots.
• Negotiate terms, assess market conditions, and build strategic partnerships.
• Direct due diligence, permitting, and approvals with cross-functional teams.
• Oversee development budgets, schedules, and contractor coordination.
• Partner with leadership to maintain a robust land pipeline in the Austin metro area.

Skills

Land acquisition

Development planning

Financial analysis

Contract negotiation

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Business, Finance, Construction Management, Engineering, or related

Tools

Pro forma modeling

GIS

Job description

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Vice President of Land Acquisition & Development to lead the division’s land strategy and support continued growth.

This leader will oversee the full lifecycle of land opportunities — from identifying and evaluating potential sites through acquisition, entitlement, development, and delivery of finished lots. The VP will work closely with division leadership and cross-functional teams to ensure we have the right land pipeline to support future communities, sales goals, and long-term profitability.

This is a highly visible leadership position requiring a strong understanding of residential land acquisition, development, financial analysis, local market conditions, and relationship building.

What You’ll Lead

Land Acquisition & Growth Strategy

• Develop and execute a land strategy that supports the division's short- and long-term growth plans.
• Source and evaluate new land opportunities within targeted markets and submarkets.
• Build relationships with landowners, brokers, developers, and other industry partners to uncover both marketed and off-market opportunities.
• Evaluate potential acquisitions based on location, market demand, development costs, risk, timing, and expected financial returns.
• Negotiate purchase agreements, option contracts, pricing, and other key deal terms.
• Explore creative opportunities including assemblages, joint ventures, land banking, option structures, and strategic land purchases.
• Identify land that may offer value through resale or other investment opportunities.

Due Diligence & Entitlements

• Direct the due diligence process for prospective acquisitions and identify potential development risks early in the process.
• Oversee zoning, entitlement, permitting, and governmental approval activities.
• Partner with attorneys, engineers, consultants, municipalities, and regulatory agencies throughout the approval process.
• Evaluate density, site constraints, infrastructure requirements, topography, and other factors that could impact the feasibility or profitability of a project.
• Provide reliable development cost assumptions to support acquisition underwriting and investment decisions.

Land Development & Lot Delivery

• Lead projects from acquisition through development and delivery of finished lots to the homebuilding team.
• Oversee development schedules, budgets, contractors, engineers, and consultants.
• Ensure communities and building pads are designed with both quality and construction efficiency in mind.
• Monitor project costs and schedules and proactively address issues that could impact lot delivery or financial performance.
• Coordinate infrastructure, community entrances, amenities, landscaping, and other development components.
• Work closely with Construction, Purchasing, Sales, Marketing, and Finance to ensure lot delivery aligns with the division's business plan.
• Leverage established relationships with master-planned community developers and other industry partners to identify and secure finished-lot opportunities throughout the Austin metro area.
• Proactively pursue lot positions in high-quality master-planned communities, including opportunities that may not be broadly marketed, to support near-term growth and maintain a balanced pipeline of finished lots and self-developed communities.

Leadership & Partnerships

• Lead and develop the division's Land Acquisition and Land Development teams.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the Division President and leadership team.
• Maintain strong relationships throughout the local real estate and development community.
• Provide leadership with clear recommendations regarding land opportunities, risks, costs, and potential returns.
• Help build and maintain a sustainable pipeline of future communities and finished lots.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Business, Finance, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Significant progressive experience in residential land acquisition and/or land development, preferably within the production homebuilding industry.
• Demonstrated experience evaluating, negotiating, and closing land transactions.
• Strong understanding of residential development, zoning, entitlements, permitting, and construction.
• Experience managing development budgets, schedules, consultants, and contractors.
• Ability to analyze land opportunities and understand development pro formas, costs, margins, and financial returns.
• Established relationships within the land, development, brokerage, or residential real estate community are highly valued.
• Previous leadership experience managing teams and multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong negotiation, communication, financial, and relationship-building skills.

Ideal Background

The ideal candidate understands both the deal side and the development side of residential land. They can identify a strong opportunity, understand what it will take to entitle and develop it, accurately assess the financial implications, negotiate the transaction, and ultimately ensure finished lots are delivered to the homebuilding operation.

We're looking for a strategic leader who can balance growth, risk, cost, timing, and profitability while building strong relationships both inside the organization and throughout the local market.

About Us

Since 1988, Coventry Homes has built more than 55,000 homes across Texas and is consistently recognized among the nation’s top homebuilders. Known for quality craftsmanship, innovative design, and exceptional customer service, Coventry serves the Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio markets.

Coventry Homes is proud to be part of the Dream Finders Homes (DFH) family of builders, one of the nation’s leading homebuilders with a growing presence across the U.S.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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