Job Details
Sector(s)
Project Development; Construction; Operations and Maintenance
Median Pay
$74,010 per year
Job Type
Mid-Level
Typical Entry-Level Education and Work Experience Requirements
Bachelor's degree required; 1–3 years of relevant experience
Position Title
Land acquisition specialist
Alternate Titles
Title examiner, abstractor, and land manager, and water rights specialist
Job Description
Land acquisition specialists are responsible for obtaining land for new hydropower projects and maintaining or updating existing licenses, agreements, permits, and other administrative duties associated with project land.
Education and Training Description
Land acquisition specialists and asset managers are expected to have a bachelor's degree or higher in business, land management, real estate, law, environmental science or engineering, or a related discipline. Employers typically hire candidates with several years of experience and familiarity with land permitting processes, regulatory standards, as well as tax and accounting rules.
Land acquisition specialists often have to coordinate between lawyers, engineers, government officials, and land owners, so a broad familiarity in the various aspects of project development or the energy industry is preferred. Companies will typically hire people with experience in land acquisition and management and train them to their specific needs. Employers often prefer candidates that possess or can obtain a real estate or notary license.
Job Profile
Land acquisition specialists are responsible for designing and implementing land acquisition plans for hydropower generation sites. They work with lawyers, permitting specialists, engineers, and scientists to determine which sites are suitable for hydropower project development and lead the process of purchasing or leasing the land. Land acquisition specialists also work closely with landowners, local governments, and community organizations to gain support for proposed upcoming projects, including the type and location of proposed project infrastructure.
Land acquisition specialists are also responsible for maintaining existing land agreements and licenses. Maintaining these licenses generally requires land acquisition specialists to regularly resubmit applications for federal hydropower licenses. Applications for hydropower licenses often require them to stay up to date on environmental regulations and coordinate among engineers and scientists to demonstrate that a project is following these regulations.
A large portion of a land acquisition specialist’s job involves coordinating with many different parties. Land acquisition specialists may represent the interests of a company or project with many different external partners, such as land owners, regulatory agencies, contractors, and resource agencies. They work to maintain strong relationships with these groups to ensure hydropower projects have ongoing stakeholder support. Internally, they often help project managers and developers with project scheduling and budget planning.
Land acquisition specialists typically:
- Design and implement land acquisition strategies and plans for new hydropower/pumped storage hydropower development sites
- Provide contiguous land options and leases for the development of new hydropower projects
- Conduct research on county building and landowner information
- Represent the project developer/owner during discussions with landowners
- Negotiate and obtain leases or contracts for new or existing projects
- Coordinate with project engineers and municipal, state, and federal clients to identify and resolve critical permitting issues
- Coordinate with state and federal agencies to gain consensus and approvals for work in jurisdictional areas
- Prepare applications for a variety of local, state, and federal permitting programs
- Manage the schedule and budget for project permitting and licensing
- Record, interpret, and analyze data in comparison to relevant studies and regulations to achieve regulatory compliance
- Present project updates and data on regulatory compliance to clients and regulators
- Support negotiations or acquisitions related to recreational requirements, safety needs, or environmental conservation (e.g., easements).
Job Skills
Land acquisition specialists typically need:
- Communication skills. Land acquisition specialists are required to communicate the status of land transactions clearly and frequently in order to identify and address any issues that may impede the execution of a land lease or contract.
- Decision-making skills. Land acquisition specialists work on behalf of the company to arrange for land leases and purchases. They must weigh each land option and combine analysis, creativity, and realism to choose the appropriate action or plan.
- Interpersonal skills. Land acquisition specialists interact with the landowners, community members, local governments, and the media regularly; therefore, they must be open, friendly, and able to build relationships and trust within the community.
- Negotiating skills. Land acquisition specialists often must negotiate the terms of a contract with a landowner. Interpersonal skills and self-confidence, in addition to knowledge of the product, can help lead to successful negotiation.
- Organization skills. Land acquisition specialists must be organized and maintain accurate records of land transactions. Memorandum of agreements, deed requests, and lease documents, including tax forms, payment instructions, and trust documents, must all be prepared and submitted in a timely manner. Records of land transactions, including all project documentation, need to be maintained for reference should land disputes or other issues arise.
- Speaking skills. Land acquisition specialists often give presentations and meet with a wide variety of audiences, including public officials, interest groups, and community members. They must be able to communicate their organization’s position clearly and effectively, as well as be able to explain the basics of hydropower generation, lease term options, and other information in a way that different groups of people will understand.
More Information
For more information on land acquisition specialist jobs, see: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Wind Energy Careers: Land Acquisition Jobs.