Forward Planning Manager, Land Development

Overview

BREAK GROUND ON A REWARDING CAREER WITH US!

The Sekisui House U.S. team is a proud builder of the SHAWOOD, Richmond American Homes, Woodside Homes, Holt Homes, Hubble Homes, and Chesmar Homes brands. We take great pride in being a member of Sekisui House, a global leader in homebuilding. This impressive, 60+ year old company has built over 2.6 million new homes designed to reflect and adapt to the changing needs of today's home buyers.

Drawing on Sekisui House's unparalleled history and superior service, we commit ourselves to a future where people around the world can live joyful lives in homes that are safe, secure, stylish and comfortable.

We encourage a company culture that promotes professionalism, teamwork, health & wellness and work-life balance. If you are a results-driven professional with a passion for success, consider building a career with us.

Positive Work Environment & Culture

• Collaborative Team Culture:Join a supportive environment where teamwork and the open exchange of ideas are highly valued.
• Team Engagement: Participate in a variety of team-building events and social gatherings, such as company outings, holiday celebrations, and regular office socials. We support a healthy work-life balance and recognize the importance of time outside of work commitments.

Overview & Position Summary
This role manages key planning and entitlement activities that support the advancement of residential development projects from concept through approval. The position works independently to coordinate with municipalities, consultants, and cross-functional teams toensure regulatory requirements are met and project timelines remain on track. It applies advanced knowledge of planning proce sses tosolve moderately complex issues and guide decision-making that impacts team results.

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage the preparation, submission, and tracking of entitlement and planning documents, including zoning applications, tentative maps, design reviews, and environmental reports.
• Coordinate with municipalities, regulatory agencies, and utility providers to obtain necessary approvals and resolve project related issues.
• Lead the work of external consultants - such as planners, engineers, architects, and environmental specialists, to ensure deliverables align with project objectives, regulatory requirements, and timelines.
• Analyze planning, zoning, and environmental regulations to determine project feasibility and identify constraints or risks that may impact development.
• Collaborate with internal teams across land acquisition, development, construction, design, and operations to align project assumptions and mitigate planning challenges.
• Prepare reports, entitlement schedules, project status updates, and planning analyses for leadership review and decision making.
• Identify and recommend process improvements and best practices that enhance planning efficiency and departmental performance.

Education & Experience
Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in planning, engineering, architecture, environmental studies, geography, public policy, real estate development, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in planning, entitlement, community development, or related fields; or 9–11 years of equivalent experience.

Preferred:

• Experience with in the residential construction or homebuilding industry.

Skills & Competencies

• Broad knowledge of land use planning, entitlement procedures, zoning regulations, and environmental requirements.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to oversee multiple planning efforts simultaneously.
• Ability to evaluate complex planning documents, engineering drawings, and regulatory guidelines.
• Effective communication and negotiation skills for interactions with agencies, consultants, and internal stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, applying past experience and judgment to resolve difficult issues.
• Proficiency with planning software, GIS tools, and project tracking systems.
• Strong organizational abilities and attention to detail in managing schedules and documentation.
• Ability to influence team practices and approaches within the planning function…