How to hire a land acquisition manager

How to hire a land acquisition manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step land acquisition manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a land acquisition manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new land acquisition manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The land acquisition manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

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   Hiring the perfect land acquisition manager also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents land acquisition manager salaries for various positions.

   Type of Land Acquisition Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Land Acquisition Manager	Property, real estate, and community association managers take care of the many aspects of residential, commercial, or industrial properties. They make sure the property is well maintained, has a nice appearance, and preserves its resale or leasing value.	$28-55
   Leasing Consultant	A Leasing Consultant specializes in helping property owners secure tenants for their rental properties. Most of the responsibilities include coordinating with landlords to find suitable occupants, posting rental notices and advertisements on various platforms, and monitor the quality of every rental property... Show more	$12-18
   Property Administrator	A property administrator is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties for real estate and property companies. Property administrators coordinate with prospective clients to inform them about the property and offers tours to give a better view of the location... Show more	$12-27

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Due Diligence
   • Financial Analysis
   • Market Research
   • Market Analysis
   • HOA
   • Sale Agreements
   • Government Agencies
   • Municipal Officials
   • GIS
   • Potential Development
   • Corporate Approval
   • Pro Forma
   • KB
   • Government Officials

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage segment's treasury function including equity forecasting and investment requests as well as lender relations in a difficult banking environment.
   • Manage land-related licensing, permitting and zoning processes including reporting, oversight of requirements and monitoring to ensure compliance.
   • Prepare legal description necessary for property conveyance indicating any encumbrances affecting the property.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your land acquisition manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A land acquisition manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, land acquisition managers' average salary in hawaii is 34% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level land acquisition managers earn 49% less than senior-level land acquisition managers.
   • Certifications. A land acquisition manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a land acquisition manager's salary.

   Average land acquisition manager salary

   $82,978yearly

   $39.89 hourly rate

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   Entry-level land acquisition manager salary

   $59,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 18, 2026

4. Writing a land acquisition manager job description

   A job description for a land acquisition manager role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a land acquisition manager job description:

   Land acquisition manager job description example

   At AES, we raise the quality of life around the world by changing the way energy works. Everyone makes an impact every day in our small, global teams. Apply here to start an extraordinary career today.
   
   The AES Clean Energy land team is seeking a Land Acquisition Manager with at least 5 years' experience in land and/or right of way acquisition in the energy industry. The Land Acquisition Manager will be responsible for managing land campaigns and landowner negotiations primarily in the western United States but may be asked to assist on projects elsewhere in the country. This position will play a key role in the Company's rapidly expanding solar generation portfolio. The successful candidate will have a keen understanding of all aspects of a successful land acquisition campaign including but not limited to real property conveyances, title, title curative, and encumbrances. Sound judgment, ingenuity, excellent problem solving, communication skills, and a proactive attitude will position the successful candidate to earn a rewarding opportunity with this fast-growing company.
   Core Competencies :
   
   Candidates need excellent problem solving, communication and interpersonal skills, along with patience, a positive attitude and the ability to work in a demanding team environment. They should also possess the following competencies:
   Thorough understanding of the process for obtaining land and easements vital for energy development. Ability to work within strict deadlines. Understanding of basic real estate legal principles, title, and contract terms is required. Competence with basic mapping software (Google Earth). Arcview skill helpful but not required. Exceptional analytical and time leadership skills. Excellent communication skills including negotiation skills and conflict resolution. Understanding of land use constraints with respect to zoning, environmental and geotechnical issues. Strong attention to detail, with the ability to understand issues at a global level. Independent problem solver able to thrive in a fast paced and dynamic environment. Proven ability to produce error-free work under deadlines. Team player with strong initiative, able to work autonomously to complete tasks. Confidence public speaking, cold-calling, and negotiating with landowners and community representatives.
   
   Principal Duties and Responsibilities :
   
   The Land Acquisition Manager-Duties will include the following (other duties may be assigned):
   Manage the relationships with and budgets of external land agents to ensure agreements required for site control are in place to meet project deadlines Work with the wind and solar development team and land agents to ensure all parcels are leased or acquired for successful buildout including turbine/solar field sites, substations and other project improvements needed. Acquisition of easements for transmission/distribution/generation ties. Communicate frequently with all project team members to ensure layouts are understood and site control is proceeding as needed to meet project deadlines. Ensure land contracts support the economics and schedule of the projects. Landowner communication needed to support permit development Provide accurate and up-to-date land acquisition status to internal and external partners on a regular basis. Prepare and manage land acquisition budgets. Review the land status on project acquisitions to determine the degree of completeness and level of work needed to complete land acquisition.
   
   Desired Skills and Expertise:
   5+ years' experience acquiring real property or land leases in the energy industry-including the acquisition of rights of way in CAISO market. Experience with Google Earth and other GIS software tools. Ability to work effectively with accounting systems. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Excellent analytical, planning, and organizational skills.
   
   Education :
   Bachelor's in Business, Engineering, GIS or related field.
   
   AES is an Equal Opportunity Employer who is committed to building strength and delivering long-term sustainability through diversity and inclusion. Respecting all backgrounds, differences and perspectives enables us to improve the lives of our people, customers, suppliers, contractors, and the communities in which we live and work. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and/or expression, race, national origin, ethnicity, age, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law. E-Verify Notice: AES will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee's I-9 to confirm work authorization.
   
   Safety comes first at AES. To protect the health and safety of our people, customers, communities and partners, and to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards, AES requires all newly-hired people or current AES people applying for U.S.-based role(s), to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or be willing to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by their date of hire. Except where prohibited by law or not specifically covered in a collective bargaining agreement, new hires and transfers will be required to provide proof of vaccination during onboarding and periodically thereafter. This policy will comply with all applicable laws and is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health authorities, as applicable.

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5. Post your job

   To find the right land acquisition manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with land acquisition managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit land acquisition managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your land acquisition manager job on Zippia to find and recruit land acquisition manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit land acquisition managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new land acquisition manager

   Once you've found the land acquisition manager candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new land acquisition manager. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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