Land Planning Manager

The Axel Group is seeking a Land Development Manager to join our client’s team out of Kent County, Delaware. This firm, a national home builder, is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange and is looking for enthusiastic attitudes and team players to join their success!

This builder is focused on developing thoughtfully planned communities and delivering high-quality new construction homes – the firm manages the full lifecycle of homebuilding, including land acquisition, community development, architectural design, construction, sales, and customer care. In addition to construction services, the company provides integrated support throughout the purchasing process, including financing coordination, closing services, and post-closing warranty assistance, ensuring a seamless and customer-focused experience from start to finish.

The Land Planning Manager oversees the planning, entitlement, and design process for residential communities from raw land acquisition through final approvals. This role works closely with land acquisition, engineering, architects, municipalities, and internal development teams to ensure projects are designed efficiently, meet zoning requirements, and align with the company’s product and financial goals.

• Manage land planning activities for new residential developments, from due diligence through final approvals
• Coordinate and oversee consultants including civil engineers, planners, surveyors, architects, landscape architects, and traffic engineers
• Lead the entitlement and approval process with municipalities, planning boards, zoning boards, and regulatory agencies
• Review zoning ordinances, master plans, and land use regulations to assess development feasibility and density
• Develop and refine site plans, subdivision layouts, lot yields, and phasing plans to maximize land value and profitability
• Collaborate with land acquisition teams to support underwriting, feasibility studies, and site due diligence
• Ensure plans align with product mix, architectural standards, grading constraints, utilities, and environmental requirements
• Track project schedules, approvals, and critical milestones to avoid delays
• Manage budgets related to planning, design, and entitlement activities
• Address municipal comments, public concerns, and agency requirements throughout the approval process
• Support transition of approved projects to engineering, construction, and operations teams

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, or related field
• 3+ years of experience in land planning, entitlement, or residential development (homebuilding experience preferred)
• Strong understanding of zoning, land use regulations, and municipal approval processes
• Experience coordinating multi-disciplinary consultant teams
• Ability to read and interpret site plans, plats, grading plans, and zoning ordinances
• Strong project management, communication, and negotiation skills
• Proficiency in planning and design tools (AutoCAD, GIS, or similar a plus)
• Base Salary + Bonuses
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• PTO and Paid Holidays
• 401K with Employer Match
• Profit Sharing
• Life, AD&D, Disability Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts