Land Development Manager - South Carolina Portfolio

Company Description

Johnson Development Associates, Inc. (JDA) is a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, multi-division national real estate developer that is committed to delivering excellence. We are driven by our Guiding Principles of integrity, partnership, humility, principled entrepreneurship, initiative, and fulfillment, and we believe the key to our continued success and growth is our ability to identify, hire, onboard, and develop highly talented people.

Position Summary

The Land Manager will hold a critical role in maximizing the long-term value of JDA’s South Carolina land holdings by partnering with internal teams and third-party consultants to evaluate and execute each asset’s highest and best use strategy. Reporting to the Director of the South Carolina Portfolio, this position will be responsible for identifying and advancing land development and acquisition opportunities across a diverse range of asset types. The Land Manager will oversee due diligence, planning, budgeting, entitlement, and permitting activities for ground-up residential and other development uses, as well as manage timber harvesting programs where applicable. Travel is required for this position and will involve traveling outside the local area with frequent overnight trips.

Position Responsibilities – Essential Functions

• Manage zoning, annexation, subdivision, and land‑use approval processes across local jurisdictions in SC, including counties, municipalities, and planning boards.
• Navigate state‑level environmental and utility permitting, including SCDES, stormwater approvals, watershed-protection areas, riparian buffers, and coastal‑zone restrictions where applicable.
• Manage preparation of materials for public presentations.
• Evaluate land holdings to determine optimal density, product type, and phasing based on zoning, topography, infrastructure, soils, utility capacity, and growth patterns.
• Direct conceptual plans, yield studies, and master plans in collaboration with engineering and planning firms, ensuring compliance with state and municipal development standards.
• Provide strategic recommendations to leadership on highest and best use of land assets and opportunities.
• Contract and manage third‑party consultants with strong regional expertise, including civil engineers, environmental scientists, wetland specialists, traffic engineers, and forestry consultants.
• Maintain accountability for budgets, schedules, and deliverables.
• Manage timber harvesting activities across suitable landholdings, ensuring compliance with South Carolina Forestry Commission best practices.
• Coordinate with registered foresters to execute timber sales, improve land value, and maintain long‑term development readiness.
• Develop acquisition packages and risk analysis for possible investment opportunities.
• Support purchase negotiations, rezoning contingencies, easements, and development agreement terms for acquisitions.
• Maintain detailed project tracking systems, entitlement calendars, critical‑path timelines, and documentation.
• Foster a collaborative, solution‑oriented culture with consultants, jurisdictional partners, and internal teams.

Position Responsibilities – Non-Essential

• Must be able to walk and stand for extended periods as required by the position.
• This is not a remote position and requires an on-site presence in accordance with the corporate dress code.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Skills

• Experience with land planning.
• Understanding of the entitlement process.
• Familiarity with timber management practices common to the Carolinas’ pine-dominated forests.
• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Project and construction-related software.
• Detail-oriented and highly organized.
• Ability to prioritize and effectively manage multiple tasks.
• Represent Johnson Development Associates, Inc. in accordance with the Guiding Principles.
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality regarding company information.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with and manage a team under deadlines.
• Proficient organizational skill set, including documenting and maintaining notes from correspondence and meetings, and cataloging them for easy retrieval.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Land Development, Planning, Civil Engineering, Real Estate, Environmental Studies, or a related field.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience working in civil engineering, land planning, or real estate development is preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer

JDA provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. JDA complies with all applicable laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the Company operates.

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and does not represent a comprehensive or exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time, with or without notice. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

This document does not constitute a contract of employment, express or implied, and does not alter the at-will nature of employment. The Company reserves the right to modify this job description and assign additional duties as necessary.