Director of Forward Planning - Irving Knight Group

Job Title: Director of Forward Planning

Company: production homebuilder, privately-held

Location: Irvine, California

Compensation: $160k-$180k base salary + bonus + benefits

Company Overview: our client is a leading production homebuilder serving SoCal, with a focus on subdivision/master-planned communities. For over 30 years, our client has been dedicated to creating high-quality, affordable homes for families throughout Southern California.

Job Summary: The Director of Forward Planning is responsible for leading the strategic planning and land acquisition process for our client. This critical role involves identifying, evaluating, and securing future development opportunities that align with the company's growth objectives. The Director will work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure the pipeline of land and entitlements supports the company's short-term and long-term production goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain a deep understanding of the local real estate market, including land availability, pricing trends, competitor activity, and regulatory environment
• Develop and execute a comprehensive forward planning strategy to support the company's expansion plans
• Identify, evaluate, and recommend land acquisition opportunities that meet the firm's investment criteria
• Manage the due diligence process for potential land acquisitions, including financial feasibility analysis, entitlement research, and risk assessment
• Collaborate with the land development, construction, and sales teams to ensure forward planning aligns with production capacity and consumer demand
• Monitor the company's land inventory and pipeline, providing regular updates and recommendations to executive leadership
• Represent the firm in negotiations with land owners, brokers, and municipal authorities
• Stay abreast of industry trends, regulatory changes, and best practices in land acquisition and forward planning

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in urban planning, real estate, or a related field; advanced degree preferred
• Minimum 7 years of experience in land acquisition, development, or forward planning, preferably in the homebuilding industry
• Demonstrated success in identifying, evaluating, and securing land deals that support an organization's growth objectives
• Excellent analytical and financial modeling skills, with the ability to assess the feasibility and risk of potential land opportunities
• Strong negotiation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with a variety of stakeholders
• Thorough understanding of the land development and entitlement process, including municipal regulations and approvals
• Proficient in using industry-standard software and tools for market analysis, financial modeling, and project management
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively convey complex information to both technical and non-technical audiences