Land Development Manager (Residential Construction)

Land Development Manager (Residential Construction)

Greater Washington, D.C area

About our client

Our client is a growing custom home builder in the greater Washington, DC area. The company is in a period of rapid growth, expanding from its early projects to a larger pipeline, and is building the systems to scale: clear accountability, a production schedule people can predict and plan around, and job costs that hold against budget. The team runs on a structured operating system (EOS.)

The Role

The Land Development Manager owns every step from a lot under consideration to a build-ready site handed to construction. That runs from feasibility before purchase, through entitlements, permits, and utilities, to the site work that makes the lot ready. This role's dates are the front end of every schedule the company runs. A late land development date is a late construction start and carries real cost, so this seat is measured on dates committed and dates kept.

What you will own

1. Acquisition due diligence: Feasibility on lots before purchase: zoning, setbacks, lot split or validation needs, utilities, the approval path, and a realistic timeline and cost to build-ready. Delivered to the CEO in writing within [5] business days of request.


2. Entitlements and consultants: Variances, lot splits, and other approvals. Scope, fee, and schedule for civil engineers, surveyors, and expediters, with those consultants held to their dates.


3. Permits through start: Grading plans, demolition and building permits, VDOT entrance permits, lot validation, maintenance agreements and bonds, and comment responses through issuance.


4. Utilities: Disconnects, service applications, taps, and meters for gas, electric, water, and sewer.


5. Horizontal site work: Clearing, demolition, grading, erosion and sediment control, and utility installation to a build-ready lot. Includes managing the site contractors and closing out bonds and as-builts.


6. Handoff to construction: A pre-construction meeting on every job, with nothing open that construction has to chase.


7. Schedule ownership: Every land development task kept current in the company's construction management software at least twice a week, a weekly permit status report by job, and a 30-day look-ahead of risks with a mitigation and date for each.


8. Jurisdiction playbook: Submittal requirements, realistic review durations, and contacts for each jurisdiction and utility, kept current and used to set baselines on new jobs.

What you bring

• 6+ years in residential land development, entitlements, or site development in Northern Virginia.


• Direct permitting experience with Fairfax County, the City of Alexandria, and Arlington County, and with VDOT entrance permits.


• Experience managing civil engineers, surveyors, and site contractors to a schedule.


• Ability to read civil, grading, and utility plans and to spot what a reviewer will flag.


• A habit of keeping a schedule current without being asked, and of pushing reviewers and consultants for dates.


• Civil engineering background preferred. Virginia DEQ Responsible Land Disturber certification preferred.


• Demonstrated sense of urgency and strong attention to detail.


• Excellent interpersonal skills.