Land Acquisition Manager

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Construction Management, Civil Engineering or Real Estate, or equivalent combination of education and three years related experience. Must have 2 or more years of land acquisition or development experience in the Phoenix, AZ market. General knowledge of the homebuilding industry.
• Thorough understanding of financial modeling and underwriting.
• Ability to think through and model complex projects and proformas.
• Thorough understanding of homebuilding financials and proforma assumptions that will drive site selection.
• Knowledge of the Phoenix homebuilding and development industry required.
• Prior experience establishing, updating, and actively managing land development budgets.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and prioritize responsibilities to consistently meet deadlines and customer needs.
• Strong ability to maintain relationships with external and internal customers.
•  Effective communication skills including verbal, written, and listening skills.
• Ability to work productively with little instruction on day-to-day work.
• Requires the flexibility to work within established frameworks while also being able to handle the unexpected, anticipate situations, make decisions, and take quick action.
• Must be detail-oriented and conscientious with a strong work ethic and ability for accuracy and timeliness.
• Ability to work well within a team environment and be a positive contributor.
• Must be able to work evening hours from time-to-time.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Project, and Outlook necessary, ability to quickly learn other database software programs required. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Land Acquisition Manager is responsible for managing the internal underwriting and land transaction process, to support the Division in implementing its land acquisition strategy to fill the land pipeline needed to execute the current business plan.  These activities may include coordinating and overseeing consultants to obtain reports and studies; preparation of budgets; collecting and analyzing competitive market data; underwriting potential deals; compiling land presentation packages; coordinating escrow and title processes; other due diligence and acquisition activities as needed.

The Land Acquisition Manager is responsible for managing land development budgets and schedules from initial proforma underwriting, through permitting, when it is handed over to the Land Development team. These activities may include coordinating and overseeing consultants to obtain initial land development budgets and schedules during each project’s due diligence process; coordinating with Vice President of Land Development to update each budget and schedule as entitlements for a project progress; coordinate with Vice President of Finance for quarterly updates of each budget; reviewing spend on each line item to ensure accuracy of budgets; creating and maintaining  project-specific master schedules to ensure timely community openings.

Provide oversight and coordination of Homeowner Associations (HOAs).   Oversee and direct HOA management companies, ensuring the successful setup, operation and transition of HOAs into independent, stabilized homeowners associations.  

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES

Manage internal underwriting and land transaction process activities including:

• Execute initial underwriting of prospective deals prior to Shea Homes submitting a Letter of Intent on prospective sites.
•  Manage Due Diligence checklist for each project on prospective sites.
• Coordinate internal meetings with all internal stakeholders for prospective sites to review underwriting.
•  Update and review underwritten assumptions throughout due diligence.
•  Prepare land committee packages with Vice President of Land Acquisition, Vice President of Land Development, and other Shea team members.
•  Review of various environmental assessments and other studies
• Coordination with engineers and other consultants and construction Trade Partners to ensure timely performance.
• Assist in title review and other legal items as needed on each project.
• Update underwriting for internal corporate approval for all non-refundable deposits and closings as needed per corporate policy.
• Assist Vice President of Acquisition with Land Sales to other builders/developers. 

Manage Pre-Development budget and schedule activities including:

• Engage and manage consultants to draft initial land development budgets and schedules for each project proforma.
• Coordinate land development budget and schedule updates with the Vice President of Land Development as entitlements progress on the project.
• Update Vice President of Finance on a quarterly basis of any budget or cash flow changes on each project.
•  Update Shea team members on changes to development schedule by maintaining project-specific master schedules to ensure timely community openings.
• Establish final baseline budget and schedule prior to handing off to Land Development team upon permitting of the project.
• Review and approval of contractor/consultant applications for payment, ensuring accuracy with contract pricing and budget and compliance with company policies prior to handoff to Land Development team.
• Create and manage to completion, a Pre-Development Checklist, which will be coordinated with each municipality on requirements to pull permits/start land development (inclusive of SWPPP and Dust Permits), start model homes and close escrow on production homes with buyers. 

Oversee HOA management activities including:

• Assist in selection of initial HOA management company (HOAMC) for each community with Vice President of Land Acquisition.
•  Review HOAMC contract with association attorney and internal Shea team.
• Manage and direct HOAMC.
• Participate and collaborate in community kick-off meetings.
• Assist in HOA creation and associated legal documents (CC&Rs, Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation).
•  Participate on all association board of directors through close-out of community.
• Ensure appropriate standards are adopted by each HOA during the initial set up process and refined periodically as needed.
•  Serve as member of HOA’s Architectural Review Committees to ensure smooth operations and reasonable response times for architectural review applications.
• Update and monitor all lists of pending action items from HOA meetings.
•  Initiate first Board Meeting with Board of Directors prior to the first closing in the community to enact initial resolutions.
• Oversee HOAMC performance of timely community inspections, reserve studies and updates, tax filings and budget updates.
• Schedule and conduct timely HOA field “turnover’ walks (landscaping, buildings, and common areas) to complete and document transition from developer to HOA.
•  Interact with HOAMC for common area customer service issues that require action from Shea Homes.
•  Occasionally attend evening meetings, include annual HOA meetings for each community. 

WORKING CONDITIONS

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the associate is regularly required to talk and hear. The associate will frequently be required to work in both a field (outdoor) and office (indoor) environment.  The associate frequently is required to stand, sit, squat and kneel.   The associate will often be required to walk one plus miles per day on uneven ground.  The associate may be exposed to weather such as heat, cold and rain.   The team member must occasionally lift and/or move up to approximately 25 pounds. The noise level in the office work environment is normally quiet to moderate.  On the field (jobsite), noise level can be loud, caution should be taken to avoid noise levels.

Shea Homes is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, or Vietnam era, or other eligible veteran status, or any other protected factor.

EOE/M/F/D/V