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Sr. Land Acquisition Manager

RWE AG, Chicago, IL, United States


RWE Americas, LLC

To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent

Functional area: Project Development

Remuneration: Exempt

The Senior Land Manager in the renewables industry is a regional leadership position responsible for supporting land acquisition, management, and optimization of land assets for renewable energy projects, such as wind, solar, storage, and hydrogen facilities. This role involves strategic planning, negotiation, and coordination to secure and manage land resources effectively. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in surface and mineral title, due diligence and curative.

Role Responsibilities

Assist and support a comprehensive land acquisition strategy aligned with the organization’s renewable energy project goals

Develop best practices and execute a comprehensive strategy for title tasks

Manage the LRF process and team for title review and document preparation

Coordinate title curative efforts to ensure all documents are ready for development

Collaborate with legal teams to structure land agreements that meet legal and regulatory requirements

Conduct thorough due diligence on potential land acquisitions, including title searches, environmental assessments, and permitting requirements

Coordinate title curative efforts with legal and development to help prepare projects for development

Build and maintain positive relationships with Land, Development, Legal, landowners, local communities, government authorities, and other stakeholders

Understand relevant aspects of renewable energy projects and can successfully educate consultants and other stakeholders as needed

Address concerns and provide information about project plans and benefits to Central Region Team

Execute and follow process for onboarding land agents and/or brokers, creating work orders, tracking purchase orders, approving invoices

Tracking land title expenses associated with land agents and 3rd party consultants

Develop and execute comprehensive strategies aligned with the organization’s renewable energy project goals

Assist development to identify suitable land parcels for renewable energy development through title support

Lead negotiations for land acquisition, lease agreements and easements, ensuring favorable terms and conditions

Collaborate with legal teams to structure land agreements that meet legal and regulatory requirements

Conduct thorough due diligence on potential land acquisitions, including title searches, environmental assessments, and permitting requirements

Evaluate landowner’s willingness to participate in renewable energy projects

Build and maintain positive relationships with landowners, local communities, government authorities, and other stakeholders

Understand relevant aspects of storage and renewable energy projects and can successfully educate landowners and other stakeholders as needed

Address concerns and provide information about project plans and benefits to stakeholders

Travel, as required, to facilitate land acquisition efforts and foster positive relationships with landowners and other stakeholders

Identify and mitigate potential risks related to land acquisition, land use and project development

Develop contingency plans for unforeseen challenges related to land assets

Develop and manage budgets for land acquisition and management activities

Monitor expenses and optimize land assets for cost-effective project development

Manage third party land acquisition resources to achieve the land resource objectives through a combination of internal and external resources

Lead and mentor a team of land acquisition professionals, providing guidance and support in their roles

Foster a collaborative and high-performance work environment within the Land team and with Development

Maintain accurate records of land agreements, permits and regulatory compliance

Provide regular reports to senior management on land acquisition progress and issues

Perform additional job-related duties as assigned

Job Requirements and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in business, real estate, environmental science or a related field (Master’s Degree preferred)

Ten or more years of experience in land acquisition, real estate, land management, or a combination thereof, with a strong background in renewables (solar, wind and battery storage) preferred

Thorough knowledge of land-use regulations, permitting processes and real estate law

Exceptional negotiation and contract management skills

Strong analytical and financial acumen for budgeting and cost optimization

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for stakeholder engagement

Ability to lead and manage a team effectively

Proficiency in geographic information systems (GIS) and related land management software

Strong interpersonal skills, with ability to manage customer relationships

Demonstrated desire to learn about the Company and the renewables space

Excellent proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Teams

Strong leadership and communication, and ability to meet deadlines

Strong organization skills and ability to coordinate multiple tasks and deliverables

Ability to multi-task, while working independently and as part of a team

Motivated self-starter, goal-oriented, and strong problem-solving abilities

Proven ability to empathize, build relationships, and effectively communicate with people from a diverse set of backgrounds

Responds well to direction, is easy to challenge and develop, and is coachable

Is detail-oriented, has strong business acumen, and a sound understanding of business concepts

This position is a remote/hybrid role, based out of the Chicago office

Some travel and visits to other RWEA offices and field locations

Must be able to sit, walk, or stand for long durations of time

Pay Range
The annual base salary range for this position in Illinois is $130,000–$175,000. The listed salary range represents our good faith estimate for this position and represents the range for new hire salaries across all U.S. locations. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. RWE considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s education and work experience, training and certifications, and key skills as well as market and business considerations at the time of the offer.

Benefits Offered
Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays. Eligible employees also participate in short-term incentives, in addition to salary.

Applicant Eligibility
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. RWE Americas is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.

Equal Employment Opportunity
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

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