Land is the critical path to realizing successful utility-scale solar plants adjacent to our legacy gas power plants (hubs). Earthrise’s differentiated strategy requires a surgical, thorough campaign that leaves no stone unturned, and extensive easement negotiations to tie parcels together. The Manager of Land Acquisition is responsible for overseeing land campaigns at Earthrise’s current hubs. This role will report to the Director, Land Acquisition and collaborate closely with Earthrise’s project developers. This role will manage third party land agents and be supported by internal and outside real estate counsel.

Responsibilities

• Execute land acquisition and rights of way campaigns at Earthrise’s current hubs, ensuring a high velocity of quality of sites and rights of way to reach campaign objectives on time
• Manage week to week interactions with external land agents/land firms: review progress on weekly calls and define the workflow to ensure fluid execution, and apply pressure when needed to close
• Train land agents on Earthrise messaging and how to navigate negotiations
• Working with the Director, allocate resources to ensure campaign objectives are completed
• Interact closely with project developers to ensure high quality of sites and alignment with project schedules
• Handle negotiations with key landowners

Qualifications & Skills

• Willingness to travel to Earthrise’s hubs in Illinois for landowner meetings up to 50% of the time
• 10 years experience in land acquisition for large-scale energy projects, with at least 5 years in a management or leadership capacity; renewable energy experience preferred
• Direct experience with land leases and rights of way/easements via variety of contract structures
• People management experience, especially strong and complex personalities
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and ability to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds
• Always-selling mentality, persistent, never takes no for an answer
• Effortlessly switches between player and coach
• Highly motivated with a strong sense of urgency