Land Acquisition Specialist at Destination Homes (LHMRE)

Land Acquisition Specialist

FLSA Exemption: Salaried, exempt

Reports to: Vice President of Entitlement

Job Description

The Land Acquisition Specialist is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and securing land opportunities to support the overall growth and development objectives of Destination Homes and Larry H. Miller Real Estate. This role involves negotiating land purchases, working with local governments and property owners, and coordinating due diligence, entitlement processes, and related real estate functions.  The Land Acquisition Specialist reports to the LHMRE Land and Entitlement teams.

Primary Duties

• Assist the Land team in vetting and contracting all new land acquisition opportunities

• Assist in the due diligence function in new acquisitions, including the establishment of entitlement approvals and the preparation and execution of the project schedule
• Develop and maintain positive, professional relationships with staff and elected officials of municipalities and agencies with jurisdictional control over land use

• Understand local ordinances, general plans, zoning laws and other municipal guidelines
• Participate in negotiating contracts, supervising and coordinating with project consultants, including land planners, engineers, landscape architects, soil and environmental engineers and other consultants throughout the acquisition and entitlement process
• Facilitate project approvals/entitlements/land use and zoning changes through coordination with sellers, brokers, third-party consultants, municipality staff, governmental agencies and internal stakeholders
• Track, monitor and update project timelines, including contracted deadlines, to ensure timely execution of projects
• Protect the legal, financial, and moral well-being of the LHM Group, the LHM Real Estate Platform and other portfolio companies
• All other duties as assigned

Experience & Skills

• 1-5 years of relevant work experience in land acquisition, entitlement and/or development
• High caliber written correspondence, ability to persuasively present information to groups
• Ability to work multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize the process appropriately
• Proficiency in MS Excel, MS Word
• Ability to interact with internal clients, co-workers, and vendors in a professional manner
• Must possess the ability to maintain confidential information
• Must be results-driven, team-oriented, and an individual/organizational capacity builder
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
• Outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail

Physical Requirements

• Primarily an on-site position with frequent walking, standing, and climbing stairs in/around construction sites, apartment homes, models, and properties
• This position requires working outdoors in all weather conditions (to include but limited to, rain, snow, heat, hail, wind, and sleet), around hazardous chemicals, dust, dirt, and other particulates
• Must have the ability to read and comprehend large quantities of information, operate computer equipment, speak, hear, bend, stoop, reach, lift, move, and carry up to 25 lbs. independently
• Regularly required to sit, stand, bend, reach, and move about office setting
• To perform other duties as required

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies to perform the essential functions of this position.

Real Estate & Land Acquisition Knowledge

• Understanding of real estate markets and trends
• Knowledge of land valuation and appraisal techniques
• Familiarity with zoning, land use, and permitting processes
• Title search and due diligence capabilities
• Negotiation and closing processes

Legal & Regulatory Compliance

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal land acquisition regulations
• Ability to interpret deeds, plats, easements, and legal descriptions
• Familiarity with environmental laws and regulations (e.g., NEPA, CEQA)

Project Management

• Ability to manage multiple acquisitions within tight deadlines
• Timeline development, milestone tracking, and risk management
• Coordination with legal, engineering, and development teams
• Budget management and cost forecasting

Negotiation & Communication

• Strong negotiation skills with landowners, attorneys, and agents
• Effective verbal and written communication
• Conflict resolution and relationship-building with stakeholders
• Public presentation and community outreach (when needed)

Research & Analytical Skills

• Market and property research using GIS and public records
• Comparative property analysis
• Risk and feasibility analysis for land acquisition deals
• Understanding of financial modeling (e.g., ROI, NPV, IRR)

About Destination Homes:

Destination Homes, a premier Utah home builder since 2001, specializes in building exceptional homes and creating lasting communities. Destination Homes strives to promote an efficient and energizing workplace that is passionate about beautiful architecture and well-designed communities that enrich the lives of its homeowners and their families. Destination Homes is a portfolio company of Larry H. Miller Real Estate.

About Larry H. Miller Real Estate:

Larry H. Miller Real Estate (LHMRE), a portfolio company of the Larry H. Miller Company, is a vertically integrated real estate platform that engages in site acquisition and development, project and construction management, financial and capital structuring, and property and asset management. LHMRE’s development projects and assets include large-scale master-planned residential communities; commercial, industrial, and entertainment venue development and asset management; and a growing portfolio of joint ventures with leading real estate partners across the nation. The Larry H. Miller Company provides management and direction for its portfolio of well-known and high-performing companies and always seeks to support its mission to enrich lives and its vision to be the best place in town to work and the best place in town to do business.

 Note: The need may arise to revise, supplement, or rescind portions of this job description, and #DestinationHomes reserves the right to do so at any time. Employee shall be required to meet the qualifications and perform the duties of any revised job description.