Director of Property Acquisition and Development

One of the leading affordable housing nonprofits in the area, Habitat Charlotte Region partners with hundreds of families each year through affordable homeownership, home preservation, and financial literacy training. As a key leader, you’ll play an integral role in our vision of a world where everyone has a safe and affordable place to live.

About the Role

Manage the overall land use program, including property acquisition/sales, design, permitting, zoning, and raw land development. Reports to the VP of Construction Operations and collaborates often with various internal departments to ensure strategic alignment with our mission and vision.

This role requires strong internal cross-departmental collaboration, working closely with Construction, Family Services, Development, Finance, and executive leadership to ensure alignment across all phases of the land acquisition and development process. Equally important is the external-facing component: this position is expected to be active in the community, developing relationships with local builders and developers, raising in-kind donations through partnerships, and strategically positioning Habitat Charlotte Region at the city and county level.

Responsibilities

• Land Acquisition & Permitting
  • Manage the Land Development permitting process, including zoning review and compliance across three counties encompassing over 18 zoning districts.
  • Work with Land team staff to prepare Site Analysis, Site Plans/Budgets, and packages for Land Acquisition and Board Approvals.
  • Collaborate with the Vice President of Construction Operations on County and City affordable housing projects and feasibility studies.
  • Oversee and lead the Land Development Committee in reviewing potential acquisitions, evaluating bids, developing contracts, selling land holdings, and approving strategic plans.
• Construction Coordination & Development
  • Coordinate closely with the Director of New Construction to align construction project locations and schedules, facilitating an effective transition from infrastructure installation to vertical construction through project closeout.
  • Engage with local builders and developers to leverage partnership opportunities, including mixed-use, multi-family, and single-family development projects.
  • Negotiate and execute contracts between Habitat, Co-Developers, and funders concerning construction partnership agreements.
  • Manage the sales process of completed homes within Habitat's inventory to external buyers, including existing homes, new construction, and sales of newly purchased homes from partner builders.
  • Ensure developments are fully completed and transferred to Homeowners Associations in a timely manner, including installation of amenities, signage, final paving, and other development-specific work.
• Financial Management & Compliance
  • Oversee grant participation and compliance as it relates to land development and implementation into the development process.
  • Generate and manage Federal Grant integration and Project Bid Process as required.
  • Work closely with the Grant Manager to incorporate grant requirements into the Bid and General Contractor selection process.
  • Conduct continual cost analyses through tracking of budget to actual expenses and analysis of market trends.
• Community Engagement, Partnerships & External Relations
  • Partner with Family Services to ensure families receive exemplary support during the lot selection process and coordination of subdivision site availability as aligned with the Family Services Pipeline.
  • Work in conjunction with the Development team to solicit in-kind donations relevant to the Land Acquisition and Development Department.
  • Represent Habitat at community meetings and present plans for future development to members of the communities served.
  • Maintain active membership and participation in industry and community organizations, including the Home Builders Association and local community associations, to build relationships, share knowledge, and enhance Habitat's strategic positioning.
  • Attend city, county, and zoning regulatory meetings to stay informed on policy changes, development trends, and regulatory requirements, and bring relevant information back to the organization to inform current and future decisions.
• Team Leadership
  • Coach, train, and develop staff to cultivate leadership, promote a culture of continuous learning, and pursue ongoing excellence.
  • Directly manage the following positions: Land Acquisition Project Manager, Land Entitlement Manager, Land Development Project Manager, and Land Acquisition & Development Specialist.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3-5 years of land development experience.
• Real Estate license with State of NC or ability to obtain.
• Preferred: Residential Subdivision Development experience, Federal Grant implementation experience, Bachelor's Degree, CPR/First Aid, OSHA 10-hour, OSHA Competent Person Training, Experience with MS Project, CAD/Site Ops, and AIA documents.

Work Environment

This position requires working indoors in an office setting, as well as outdoors on construction sites in all types of weather.

Physical Demands

• Ability to work on construction sites as expected of the field staff: lifting 75 lbs. unassisted, climbing ladders/scaffolding, working on roof and in crawl spaces, and maneuvering over uneven ground.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits.
• Industry-leading healthcare, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts (healthcare and dependent care).
• Work/life balance supported by generous PTO.
• Career development and promotion opportunities.
• Casual working environment.
• Retirement planning with a 403(b) with 3% organizational match.

Pay

Starting salary: $85,000.

Schedule

• Estimated time commitment: 40 hours/week, Monday-Friday.
• Typical hours: 8 AM - 5 PM.
• Desired start date: Mid-September.