Director of Land Development
Octa Homes, Dallas, TX, United States
We are seeking a highly experienced land development leader to oversee horizontal construction across multiple active projects. This individual will act as the owner’s representative and will be responsible for cost control, schedule management, contractor oversight, quality assurance, and risk mitigation from preconstruction through project closeout.
This is a senior‑level role requiring 20+ years of hands‑on experience in heavy civil construction and/or land development projects including grading, utilities, paving, and site infrastructure.
The ideal candidate has successfully managed multiple projects simultaneously and understands how to control contractors, prevent cost overruns, and deliver predictable outcomes.
Key Responsibilities 1. Preconstruction & Bid Management
Review civil plans for constructability and scope gaps
Develop and standardize bid packages for horizontal scopes
Lead bid leveling and contractor comparison analysis
Assist in contractor selection and contract negotiation
Identify risk exposure prior to contract execution
Develop realistic baseline construction schedules
2. Contractor Oversight & Field Execution
Serve as Owner’s Representative across multiple projects
Enforce contract scope, schedule milestones, and performance standards
Review and validate monthly pay applications
Evaluate and negotiate change orders
Monitor manpower, equipment, and production rates
Conduct regular site visits to ensure schedule and quality compliance
Maintain master schedules for all active projects
Identify early warning signs of delays and develop recovery plans
Coordinate sequencing across grading, wet utilities, dry utilities, and paving
Anticipate permitting and inspection risks
Maintain 2–3 week lookahead schedules for active sites
3. Budget & Cost Control
Track budget vs commitments vs actual expenditures
Maintain change order logs and forecast final cost projections
Prevent scope creep and contractor overbilling
Provide accurate cash flow projections
Recommend cost‑saving strategies without compromising quality
4. Quality Control & Project Closeout
Enforce quality standards for grading, compaction, utilities, paving, and drainage
Manage punch lists and deficiency corrections
Ensure proper as‑builts, warranties, and documentation are collected
Oversee successful municipal acceptance and turnover
5. Agency & Utility Coordination
Coordinate with municipalities, inspectors, and utility providers
Proactively track permits, inspections, and approvals
Resolve field issues impacting public agency compliance
Support entitlement and development team with construction‑related input
6. Systems & Process Development
Develop standardized scopes of work for horizontal trades
Create reporting templates for cost, schedule, and risk
Implement construction oversight systems that scale with company growth
Improve internal processes for construction management
Qualifications
20+ years of experience in heavy civil construction and/or land development
Extensive experience with grading, underground utilities, stormwater systems, paving, and site infrastructure
Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously
Strong contract and change order negotiation experience
Deep understanding of construction scheduling and sequencing
Experience working for a civil contractor, developer, or both
Strong field presence and ability to command contractor accountability
Proven ability to control budgets and prevent overruns
Preferred
Experience serving in a Project Executive, Senior PM, or Owner’s Rep role
Background in both contractor and developer environments
Strong municipal and utility coordination experience
Leadership Profile We are looking for a senior professional who:
Is proactive, not reactive
Identifies problems before they become expensive
Holds contractors accountable
Understands how contractors price and where risk hides
Can operate independently without constant oversight
Reporting Structure This position reports directly to company leadership and will work closely with development, finance, and executive teams.
Compensation Competitive salary commensurate with experience, plus performance‑based bonus tied to project delivery metrics (cost control, schedule adherence, and quality outcomes).
Impact of the Role This role is critical to ensuring predictable project delivery, cost discipline, contractor accountability, and scalable growth as the company expands its land development portfolio.
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This is a senior‑level role requiring 20+ years of hands‑on experience in heavy civil construction and/or land development projects including grading, utilities, paving, and site infrastructure.
The ideal candidate has successfully managed multiple projects simultaneously and understands how to control contractors, prevent cost overruns, and deliver predictable outcomes.
Key Responsibilities 1. Preconstruction & Bid Management
Review civil plans for constructability and scope gaps
Develop and standardize bid packages for horizontal scopes
Lead bid leveling and contractor comparison analysis
Assist in contractor selection and contract negotiation
Identify risk exposure prior to contract execution
Develop realistic baseline construction schedules
2. Contractor Oversight & Field Execution
Serve as Owner’s Representative across multiple projects
Enforce contract scope, schedule milestones, and performance standards
Review and validate monthly pay applications
Evaluate and negotiate change orders
Monitor manpower, equipment, and production rates
Conduct regular site visits to ensure schedule and quality compliance
Maintain master schedules for all active projects
Identify early warning signs of delays and develop recovery plans
Coordinate sequencing across grading, wet utilities, dry utilities, and paving
Anticipate permitting and inspection risks
Maintain 2–3 week lookahead schedules for active sites
3. Budget & Cost Control
Track budget vs commitments vs actual expenditures
Maintain change order logs and forecast final cost projections
Prevent scope creep and contractor overbilling
Provide accurate cash flow projections
Recommend cost‑saving strategies without compromising quality
4. Quality Control & Project Closeout
Enforce quality standards for grading, compaction, utilities, paving, and drainage
Manage punch lists and deficiency corrections
Ensure proper as‑builts, warranties, and documentation are collected
Oversee successful municipal acceptance and turnover
5. Agency & Utility Coordination
Coordinate with municipalities, inspectors, and utility providers
Proactively track permits, inspections, and approvals
Resolve field issues impacting public agency compliance
Support entitlement and development team with construction‑related input
6. Systems & Process Development
Develop standardized scopes of work for horizontal trades
Create reporting templates for cost, schedule, and risk
Implement construction oversight systems that scale with company growth
Improve internal processes for construction management
Qualifications
20+ years of experience in heavy civil construction and/or land development
Extensive experience with grading, underground utilities, stormwater systems, paving, and site infrastructure
Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously
Strong contract and change order negotiation experience
Deep understanding of construction scheduling and sequencing
Experience working for a civil contractor, developer, or both
Strong field presence and ability to command contractor accountability
Proven ability to control budgets and prevent overruns
Preferred
Experience serving in a Project Executive, Senior PM, or Owner’s Rep role
Background in both contractor and developer environments
Strong municipal and utility coordination experience
Leadership Profile We are looking for a senior professional who:
Is proactive, not reactive
Identifies problems before they become expensive
Holds contractors accountable
Understands how contractors price and where risk hides
Can operate independently without constant oversight
Reporting Structure This position reports directly to company leadership and will work closely with development, finance, and executive teams.
Compensation Competitive salary commensurate with experience, plus performance‑based bonus tied to project delivery metrics (cost control, schedule adherence, and quality outcomes).
Impact of the Role This role is critical to ensuring predictable project delivery, cost discipline, contractor accountability, and scalable growth as the company expands its land development portfolio.
#J-18808-Ljbffr