Land Acquisition Manager

Elgin Values

Core behavioural responsibilities for all employees

• Agility We Lead with Agility
• Integrity We Act with Integrity
• Excellence We Empower Excellence
• Care We Value Care

Job Description

Could you lead the land acquisition strategy for some of our most exciting renewable energy projects?

The Land Acquisition Manager will lead the land acquisition and commercial land negotiation workstream for utility-scale solar PV and battery energy storage projects across Ireland.

Working closely with Development Managers, Project Leads and the Legal team, the Land Acquisition Manager will be responsible for identifying, securing and managing the land rights required to successfully develop Elgin projects. The role will lead all commercial negotiations with landowners, land agents, occupiers and other third parties relating to land agreements, easements, access rights, cable routes and associated project rights, acting as Elgin's primary commercial interface and developing long-term relationships.

While the role will lead the land acquisition workstream, accountability for overall project delivery and progression will remain with the Development Manager acting as Project Lead. This role will work as a key partner to the Development Manager, ensuring land strategies and agreements support successful project development and delivery.

Land Acquisition & Negotiations

• Lead all commercial negotiations with landowners, land agents, occupiers and other stakeholders to secure land rights required for project development.
• Negotiate and agree the commercial terms for:
  • Letters of Comfort, Heads of Terms, option agreements, agreements for lease, leases and land purchase agreements;
  • Easements, wayleaves, licenses required for access and cabling rights or otherwise;
  • Substation agreements, crop compensation agreements, tenant surrender agreements and temporary possession agreements; and
  • Other agreements pertaining to land and property rights required throughout the project lifecycle.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with landowners, farming organisations, land agents and key rural stakeholders.
• Support negotiations relating to third-party infrastructure rights, cable routes, access arrangements required over third party lands including having the ability to identify cable routes alternatives and bring substantial value to the projects; and
• Engaging with utilities, transport bodies and public bodies in the negotiation of land rights or consents relating to third party infrastructure located within project lands and along cable or access routes.

Land Strategy & Project Development

• Develop project-specific land strategies aligned with project development objectives, supporting identification and assessment of new development opportunities.
• Work alongside Development Managers to ensure land acquisition activities support planning, grid connection and project delivery requirements.
• Secure land rights in locations identified by the Development Managers as having potential grid connections in the vicinity and development opportunities.
• Advise Development Managers on commercial negotiation strategies and stakeholder engagement approaches.
• Assist in evaluating project viability, land constraints and commercial attractiveness of potential development opportunities.

Stakeholder Management

• Act as Elgin's primary commercial point of contact for landowners and land agents.
• Maintain positive long-term relationships with key stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle including planning, construction and operations.
• Represent Elgin at landowner meetings, community engagement events and stakeholder discussions as required.
• Work collaboratively with planning consultants, engineers, legal advisers and development teams to support project progression.
• Ensure all negotiations are conducted in a professional manner consistent with Elgin's values and long-term reputation.

Project Delivery & Cross-Functional Working

• Partner with Development Managers to secure project milestones, programme objectives and maintaining stakeholder relationships.
• Work closely with Legal Counsel on negotiation strategy, risk allocation and agreement execution.
• Support planning applications through provision of land information and stakeholder engagement records, engaging with stakeholders and local objectors to support planning where required.
• Support due diligence activities for project acquisitions, project financings and project sales if necessary.

Market Intelligence & Pipeline Growth

• Develop and maintain a strong network of landowners, land agents, rural advisers and industry contacts across Ireland.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity and evolving landowner expectations.
• Identify opportunities to improve Elgin's land acquisition strategy and competitive position.
• Support origination activities and expansion of Elgin's Irish development pipeline.

Positioning Within Project Teams

• Development Manager: retains overall Project Lead accountability for project progression, planning, grid, risk, programme, investment readiness and governance reporting.
• Land Acquisition Manager: leads the commercial land workstream, landowner relationships and negotiation of land rights required to support project delivery, supporting third party stakeholder engagement where required.
• Legal Counsel: provides legal advice, drafting support, negotiation strategy, risk management and execution support for land documentation.

Your profile

What you will need:

• Ideally, 5+ years' experience in land acquisition, development, real estate, infrastructure or renewable energy.
• Proven experience negotiating complex land agreements and stakeholder arrangements.
• Strong understanding of Irish land agreements, ownership structures, agricultural practices and rural stakeholder engagement.
• Experience working with landowners, farming families, land agents and professional advisers.
• Experience supporting major infrastructure, renewable energy or utility projects.
• Exceptional relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong commercial negotiation skills, with a pragmatic and solutions-focused approach.
• Highly organised, proactive and self-motivated, with strong attention to detail and commercial acumen.
• Comfortable working independently across multiple projects in a field-based role.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Full driving licence and willingness to travel extensively throughout Ireland.

Desirable Experience

• Experience in utility-scale solar, wind or battery storage.
• Chartered Surveyor qualification or equivalent.
• Understanding of electricity infrastructure and grid connection requirements.
• Experience supporting planning and permitting processes.
• Understanding of development-stage risk and project economics.
• Knowledge of the agricultural environment.