Land Acquisition Manager

Company Overview:

Ashton Woods is more than just a home builder. From the sale of our first home in 1989 to recently being named Builder of the Year by Builder Magazine, our focus has always been on blazing new trails and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in homebuilding. Ashton Woods, the #1 private home builder in the United States, markets its homes through its two award-winning brands, Ashton Woods and Starlight Homes. The Ashton Woods brand is known for designing thoughtfully curated, inspired homes for people who love design. The Starlight Homes brand builds homes specifically for the first-time homebuyer, offering affordable homes with well-executed designs and quality finishes for buyers looking to make the dream of home ownership a reality. The company’s commitment to innovation and continually evolving to meet the needs of the market is a key reason we are one of the most celebrated homebuilders in the nation, winning hundreds of national and local industry awards in product and community design, architecture, merchandising, sales, marketing, and customer service. We believe that what we accomplish together is greater than what we deliver individually. Our team members have inspired the shared values we embrace in all decisions and actions: Unwavering Integrity, Trail Blazing, Bold Action, Collective Compassion, and Unconditional Respect.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Ashton Woods sells new homes in Atlanta, Austin, Charleston, Dallas, Houston, Myrtle Beach, Nashville, Orlando, Phoenix, Raleigh, San Antonio, and Tampa.

Position Title: Land Acquisition Manager

Department / Division: Land / Phoenix

Reports To: Director of Land Acquisition

Direct Reports: N/A

FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Overview:

This position assists with sourcing, negotiating, and underwriting the purchases of new communities for Ashton Woods / Starlight Homes.

Duties and Responsibilities: (Including but not limited to)

• Analyze local market of pricing trends, competition, opportunities for growth.
• Works closely with the acquisition team to develop proforma and comparative market analysis.
• Coordinates with legal, finance, and entitlements during the feasibility period through land purchase.
• Conducts underwriting process ensuring all requirements are met or exceeded.
• Develops strategies and targets to meet divisional capital allocation and revenue goals.
• Coordinate with the M&I team on the market studies.
• Ability to work with all departments during deal underwriting, including purchasing, land development, finance, and construction.
• Provides in-depth analysis on real estate transitions using market data and comparable pricing.
• Coordinates with land acquisition team, sub-contractors, consultants, real estate brokers, governing agencies, utility companies and other individuals and agencies relating to site evaluation.
• Property research to locate off-market deals.
• Maintain land files and reports.
• Assist with land book submittals for corporate review and approval.
• Ability to handle a fast-paced environment with heavy deal flow. Source raw land engineered and developed lot market-targeted land opportunities.
• Negotiate contracts directly with landowners and developers.
• Negotiate joint development agreements with other builders and developers.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in Finance, Business, Urban Planning or equivalent years of experience in land acquisitions with a production builder required.
• 3-5 years of homebuilding experience preferred.
• 5 years of land acquisition and/or entitlement experience preferred.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Ability to make decisions based on construction knowledge when necessary, due to unexpected field conditions.
• Extreme self-motivation.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize several tasks without compromising quality of work or mission deadlines.
• Proven organization skills in a high paced work environment.
• Ability to review, analyze and interpret information as well as trouble-shoot to solve problems.
• Knowledge of Business English and ability to communicate patiently and professionally with both internal and external customers both orally and in writing.
• Ability to adapt in a changing workplace.
• Computer literacy, proficiency with Outlook, Excel, Word, Power Point and ability to learn new programs as needed.
• A strong understanding of Microsoft Excel is required.

Experience:

• Home building or real estate experience preferred.
• Land Acquisition, Entitlement, or Finance background with strong analytical skills preferred.
• Residential land development experience a plus.

Typical Physical and Mental Demands:

• Must be able to read, write, and speak fluently in English. Spanish language skills are helpful.
• Employees in the position are required to be able to hear and have vision sufficient to utilize all office equipment.
• Use of hands and fingers is required to utilize standard office equipment.
• Use of feet and legs required to walk, climb and maneuver within construction sites.
• Requires occasional lifting up to 50 pounds.

These physical requirements are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions if requested.

Working Conditions:

Work is performed in a typical office environment and may involve the use of standard office equipment. Regular field visits are expected. Fast paced environment subject to numerous schedule and priority change and short notice activity.