Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Land Development Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

As a Land Development Coordinator, you will be the central hub for our development projects, acting as the critical link between consultants, contractors, municipal agencies, and our internal teams. You will provide essential administrative and project management support to the Land Development Manager, ensuring that projects remain on schedule, within budget, and compliant with all regulations. Your proactive approach and meticulous attention to detail will be instrumental in navigating the complexities of the entitlement process and contributing directly to the growth and success of our portfolio. This is an exceptional opportunity for a motivated professional to build a career in the fast-paced world of real estate development.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Project Assistant or Coordinator (Construction/Real Estate)
Permit Technician or Specialist
Administrative Assistant within an engineering or development firm

Advancement To:

Assistant Land Development Manager
Land Development Manager
Project Manager

Lateral Moves:

Construction Coordinator
Purchasing Agent / Estimator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Manage and coordinate due diligence efforts for potential land acquisitions, including ordering, reviewing, and summarizing environmental reports, geotechnical studies, surveys, and title commitments.
Prepare, submit, and diligently track a wide range of entitlement and permit applications with various jurisdictional agencies, including zoning, platting, site plans, and construction permits.
Assist in the creation and management of detailed project budgets, process consultant and contractor invoices, and provide regular budget-to-actual variance reports to the project manager.
Develop, maintain, and monitor comprehensive project schedules, tracking critical path milestones and deadlines to ensure timely project delivery.
Act as the primary liaison with municipal staff, utility providers, and regulatory bodies to facilitate plan reviews, address comments, and resolve issues efficiently.
Prepare and distribute regular project status updates and reports for internal leadership and external stakeholders, clearly communicating progress, risks, and upcoming activities.
Coordinate the competitive bidding and selection process for consultants and contractors, including preparing bid packages and analyzing submitted proposals.
Organize and maintain all project-related documentation, including contracts, change orders, permits, legal documents, and official correspondence, in a centralized digital filing system.
Schedule, prepare agendas for, and attend project meetings with internal teams and external partners, capturing and distributing detailed meeting minutes and action items.
Support the Land Development Manager in the negotiation and execution of consultant agreements, development agreements, and various easements.
Conduct regular site visits to monitor the progress of site work, ensure compliance with approved plans, and document existing conditions.
Meticulously process and track contractor pay applications, change orders, and lien waivers to ensure timely and accurate payments.
Assist in the procurement, management, and release of financial sureties, such as letters of credit and performance/payment bonds required by governing agencies.
Facilitate seamless coordination and communication with internal departments, including construction, sales, marketing, and legal, to ensure smooth project transitions.
Research and interpret local zoning ordinances, development codes, and municipal design standards to ensure project compliance and inform development strategy.
Prepare and submit applications for reimbursement from special districts (e.g., MUDs, PIDs) and other agencies for the cost of public infrastructure.
Manage the complete project close-out process, including coordinating final inspections, securing agency acceptance of public improvements, and organizing final documentation.
Assist in the preparation of financial proformas and feasibility analyses by gathering cost estimates for permits, fees, and site construction.
Review complex legal and title documents, such as ALTA surveys, title policies, and CC&Rs, to identify and resolve potential encumbrances or issues.
Coordinate with legal counsel and surveyors for the creation, review, and official recording of legal documents, including final plats and easement agreements.
Facilitate utility service applications and coordinate the design and installation of dry and wet utilities with the respective providers.
Compile and assemble comprehensive land books and turnover packages for the vertical construction and sales teams upon completion of land development activities.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory analysis related to land acquisition and development costs.
Contribute to the continuous improvement of departmental processes, templates, and reporting standards.
Collaborate with the acquisitions team to provide preliminary feasibility and entitlement risk assessments.
Participate in industry association meetings and events to stay current on market trends and regulatory changes.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

MS Office Suite Mastery: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook, with strong skills in MS Project for schedule management.
Land Development Knowledge: A solid understanding of the entire land development lifecycle, from due diligence and entitlement to site construction and project close-out.
Plan Reading: Ability to read and interpret civil engineering drawings, architectural plans, landscape plans, and ALTA surveys.
Contract Administration: Experience in preparing, processing, and tracking contracts, change orders, and professional service agreements.
Budgeting & Invoicing: Competency in tracking project budgets, processing invoices, and performing basic financial analysis.
Permitting & Entitlement: Direct experience with the process of submitting and tracking applications with municipal and county planning, zoning, and building departments.
AutoCAD/GIS Viewer: Familiarity with using AutoCAD, Bluebeam, or GIS software to view and make basic markups on plans is highly desirable.

Soft Skills

Exceptional Organization: Superior organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously.
Meticulous Detail-Orientation: A keen eye for detail and a commitment to accuracy in all aspects of work, from document review to data entry.
Proactive Problem-Solving: The ability to anticipate challenges, identify potential issues, and resourcefully seek out solutions independently.
Collaborative Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to professionally and effectively interact with a diverse group of internal and external stakeholders.
Interpersonal Acumen: Strong interpersonal skills to build and maintain positive relationships with consultants, contractors, and government officials.
Resilience & Adaptability: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment and adapt to changing project demands.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s Degree or an equivalent combination of education and direct, relevant work experience.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in a field relevant to land development.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Urban Planning / Regional Planning
Construction Management
Civil Engineering
Real Estate
Business Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2-5 years of progressive experience in a role directly supporting land development, construction, civil engineering, or a related field.

Preferred:

Direct experience working for a residential homebuilder, commercial/land developer, or a civil engineering consulting firm focused on private land development projects. Proven experience navigating the entitlement and permitting processes within local municipalities.