Director, Land Development

New Energy Equity (NEE), a leading developer of distributed generation (DG) solar and storage projects, is seeking a Director, Land Development, a senior leadership role responsible for defining how the company originates, structures, and secures land positions across its DG solar and storage portfolio. This role brings a commercial, portfolio‑level perspective to land acquisition—shaping origination channels, structuring long‑term relationships with landowners and strategic counterparties (including large landholders and institutional owners such as REITs), and ensuring land strategy supports capital deployment, risk management, and scalable growth.

The position requires broad domain knowledge across real estate, development, finance, and markets, and includes direct leadership of complex, high‑value commercial negotiations in addition to building and directing a high‑performing land acquisition function.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Leadership & Strategy

• Define and own the enterprise-wide land acquisition strategy, including how new sites are sourced, which origination channels are utilized (direct-to-landowner, brokers, partnerships, options, leases, etc.), and how strategy adapts by market, project type, and portfolio maturity.
• Set the commercial framework for land acquisition, establishing negotiation standards, deal structures, valuation methodologies, and risk tolerance in coordination with development, finance, and executive leadership.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to Development leadership, ensuring land strategy aligns with origination pipelines, capital allocation priorities, interconnection strategy, permitting strategy and program timelines.
• Lead, mentor, and scale a team of land acquisition professionals, providing strategic direction, decision-making authority, and clear accountability.
• Own accountability for annual and quarterly land acquisition outcomes, balancing speed, cost, optionality, and risk across an evolving project portfolio rather than maximizing individual deal volume.
• Evaluate market intelligence and portfolio performance data to recommend priority geographies, entry/exit decisions, and shifts in acquisition approach based on project economics, competition, land use constraints, and program/legislative/regulatory dynamics.
• Design and institutionalize scalable processes, tools, and governance that enable consistent execution across markets while allowing flexibility for local conditions and deal-specific complexity.
• Continuously assess and refine acquisition strategy based on lessons learned, changing market conditions, and portfolio performance, ensuring land development remains a durable competitive advantage.

Land Acquisition

• Oversee and direct end-to-end land acquisition campaigns, including GIS-informed site screening, origination channel deployment, landowner engagement strategy, and execution of leases or option agreements.
• Act as the senior commercial authority for negotiations with large land holdings, institutional owners, and strategic partners (e.g., REITs), leading complex transactions and providing executive-level escalation support for high-risk or high-value deals.
• Set direction and performance expectations for third-party land acquisition firms and other contracted resources, ensuring alignment with internal standards and portfolio objectives.
• Partner cross-functionally with Development, Legal, Engineering, Finance, and Construction to ensure land positions support development feasibility, schedule, and capital structure.
• Build and maintain long-term, programmatic relationships with landowners and strategic counterparties to support repeatable execution and future growth.

Project Development Support

• Ensure land-related deliverables satisfy lender, tax equity, utility, and internal requirements, supporting financing readiness across the portfolio.
• Oversee the completion of critical project documentation—including estoppels, waivers, releases, easements, and lease amendments—in coordination with Legal and Real Estate teams.
• Support title curative efforts by identifying risks early and partnering with Legal and external advisors to resolve issues efficiently and cost-effectively.
• Ensure land positions support downstream development milestones, including interconnection, permitting, environmental diligence, and construction sequencing, and proactively flag land‑driven risks to schedule or feasibility.

Reporting and Budgeting

• Deliver executive-level reporting on land acquisition performance, portfolio risks, and mitigation strategies, including insights relevant to capital planning and development sequencing.
• Share market intelligence, competitive dynamics, and land cost trends with senior leadership to inform geographic strategy and program design.
• Develop and maintain forward‑looking land acquisition forecasts, including spend, timing, and site control assumptions, to support development planning and capital allocation decisions.
• Track and report portfolio‑level land metrics (e.g., cost per MW, time to site control, interest rate by channel, close rate, deal attrition, etc.) to inform continuous improvement and strategy refinement.

Qualifications

• MBA, Law, or Master’s degree AND four years or more of relevant experience.
• Bachelor’s degree AND six years or more of relevant experience.

OR

• Two-year technical degree AND eight years or more of relevant experience.

OR

• High School diploma or equivalent AND ten years or more of relevant experience.
• Experience working in either solar project development or solar project acquisition/transactions Proficiency with Microsoft Suite (required) MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Salesforce**(preferred)Renewable energy development experience; DG solar preferred.
  
• RPL or CPL certification preferred.
• Experience managing teams and budgets.
• Strong understanding of real estate documents and title.
• Expert-level negotiation knowledge.
• Ability to draft leases, options, and easements independently.
• Proficiency with Salesforce and GIS tools.

Expectations

• Willingness to travel 25%–50%, typically in regional markets, visiting landowners’ and/or internal customers’ sites in additional to attending various conferences and meetings at company offices quarterly in MD, NY and/or MN.
• Hybrid role based in Annapolis, MD; Roseville, MN; Boulder, CO; or Horseheads, NY.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.

The expected annual compensation range for this position is $150,000 - $200,000, encompassing base pay and potential incentive target opportunity. This range is a good faith estimate based on the position's requirements. Specific compensation offered to the selected candidate may vary depending on factors such as relevant knowledge, skills, training, experience, and market conditions. Additionally, this position may qualify for a comprehensive benefits package, including Retirement Benefits, Medical, Dental & Vision, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Account, Life Insurance and Disability, Tuition Reimbursement, Voluntary Benefits, Paid Absences, and more.

About Us:

At New Energy Equity, a proud subsidiary of ALLETE, we’re leading the charge in transforming the energy landscape with innovative solar solutions 🌞. As a top player in the renewable energy sector, we’ve successfully developed over 600MW of solar projects and closed more than $1.2 billion in clean energy investments 💼. Our projects deliver sustainable electricity to a wide range of clients, including commercial, industrial, municipal, and utility customers 🌍. But there’s more to us than just impressive numbers. We pride ourselves on a dynamic and engaging work environment where teamwork, continuous learning, and environmental stewardship are at the core of what we do 🌿. Our inclusive and collaborative culture encourages creativity and innovation, making our office a place where every idea is valued, and growth is a priority 💡. At New Energy Equity, you’ll join a passionate team that not only drives the clean energy future but also enjoys celebrating our successes together 🎉. With over 250 projects across the U.S. 🌎, our supportive atmosphere ensures a balanced work-life dynamic ⚖️ and a fun, fulfilling career path 🌟. Join us and be part of a forward-thinking company where your contributions are celebrated, and your professional development is supported as we work towards a brighter, sustainable future 🌍.

The statements above outline the essential functions, nature, and level of work expected as of the document’s preparation date. They are not exhaustive lists of all duties and responsibilities. New Energy Equity reserves the right to modify this job description at any time, without notice.

New Energy Equity is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law.

If you are an individual with disabilities who needs accommodation or you are having difficulty using our website to apply for employment, contact our HR department at amekonnen@newenergyequity.com