Senior Director, Land

POSITION SPECIFICATION

Senior Director of Land

The Organization

Grid United is a mission-driven company aiming to solve the largest barrier to a more reliable, resilient and affordable grid by developing new long-haul electric transmission lines in the United States. Established in 2021 by proven industry leaders, Grid United is developing utility-scale electric multi-state transmission projects that will provide long-term economic benefits to communities across the country, provide Americans with improved grid resiliency for our homes and businesses, and cost savings for electricity consumers.

More information about the company can be found at www.gridunited.com

The Position

Grid United has numerous large-scale transmission projects underway and is currently identifying and studying additional prospective projects across North America. With patient capital backing led by experienced energy veterans, Grid United is in a fast-growth stage, boasting a purpose-built team of motivated and entrepreneurial talent. We are particularly focused on effective stakeholder engagement and positive involvement with the communities in the areas where we are working.

This growing team is seeking a Senior Director of Land to serve as deputy to the VP of Land and lead land and right-of-way (ROW) execution across Grid United’s portfolio of multistate, utility-scale transmission projects. Reporting to the VP of Land, the Senior Director leads Land Directors, Land Managers, and specialists, directs the external land service providers that support each project, and acts on the VP’s behalf as delegated. The Senior Director owns the Land function’s operating model, including execution standards, delegation of authority, budgets and forecasting, vendor strategy, land systems and data, and portfolio reporting, and partners with the VP of Land on land strategy, organizational design, and talent. Working closely with development, project execution, engineering, environmental, regulatory, legal, finance, and communications leaders, the Senior Director ensures land rights are secured on schedule and within budget to support permitting, financing, and construction milestones while building lasting landowner and community trust. This role is based in Grid United’s Houston, Texas office, with regular travel to project regions.

Key Responsibilities & Outcomes

Responsibilities

- Portfolio execution. Serve as deputy to the VP of Land, acting for the VP in their absence and as delegated. Own land and ROW execution across all active projects, from routing input and early land screening through non-environmental permitting, survey access, acquisition, construction access, restoration, and closeout, aligned with development, permitting, financing, and construction milestones. Directly lead the highest-risk projects when needed.
- Acquisition strategy and compensation. Partner with the VP of Land and Development leadership on project acquisition strategies, including instrument selection (options, easements, leases, and fee purchases), phasing, and approaches that avoid condemnation. Where applicable, oversee land-side eminent domain readiness under the direction of the VP of Land and Legal.
- Land budgets and forecasts. Own consolidated land budgets, cost estimates, forecasts, scenarios, and variance reporting across the portfolio in partnership with Finance and project leadership.
- Delegated approval authority. Exercise approval and signature authority as delegated by the VP of Land and Grid United’s Delegation of Authority, including offers, easement terms, non-standard provisions, settlements, crossing agreements, and option payments and renewals.
- Organization and talent. Lead, develop, and mentor Land Directors, Land Managers, and specialists and support their roles within project teams in alignment with GU People Strategy.
- Land services strategy. Own the Land function’s vendor model for third-party land service providers, including ROW agents, title professionals, abstractors, appraisers, civil survey, and survey support.
- Land policies, standards, and systems. Lead implementation and continuous improvement of Grid United’s Land and ROW Manual, including Land Policies, standards, SOPs, approved instruments, document controls, escalation standards, and execution workflows such as signature routing, recordation, file return, and management of landowner commitments.
- Title curative and financing diligence . Oversee title review, curative, and acquisition record quality across the portfolio. Work with Legal, title professionals, Finance, and lenders to resolve ownership and encumbrance issues and support title insurance, lender and investor diligence, federal program requirements (including Uniform Act considerations where applicable), and data room readiness.
- Cross-functional leadership . Represent Land in project and leadership forums with Development, Project Execution, Engineering, Environmental, Regulatory, Legal, Finance, GIS, and Communications.
- Executive reporting and risk management . Provide consolidated portfolio land reporting to the VP of Land and executive leadership on acquisition progress, expenditures, forecasts, staffing, schedule risks, and key negotiations.
- Growth and new project evaluation . Lead land input to prospective project and route evaluations, including land feasibility screening, ROW cost estimates, acquisition schedule assumptions, and resource plans, and scale the Land function’s capacity as the portfolio grows.

Outcomes

- Portfolio delivery: Land rights secured on schedule and within approved budgets to support permitting, financing, and construction.
- Operational scalability: Consistent land standards, systems, controls, forecasts, and decision-making across the portfolio.
- Organizational capability: A strong bench of Land leaders and an effective mix of internal and external resources capable of supporting portfolio growth.
- Stakeholder outcomes: Durable landowner and community relationships that support voluntary acquisition, reduce project risk, and strengthen Grid United's reputation.

Behaviors Essential to the Team’s Success

- Be exemplars of the Grid United values of humility, tenacity, ingenuity and grace.
- Build, maintain and value broad and deep stakeholder relationships and have a personal commitment to making a difference in the community.
- Proactively work with stakeholders to solve problems in a calm and no blame way.
- Lead with integrity and accountability, develop other leaders, and make sound, timely decisions that balance schedule, cost, risk, and landowner relationships.

Desired Experience and Skills

- Bachelor’s degree in energy management, energy land management, real estate, business, or a related field, or equivalent experience. An advanced degree (such as a JD or MBA) is helpful but not required.
- 10-15+ years in ROW or land acquisition for linear infrastructure, including at least 7 years leading multi-project land programs and managing Land Managers or other team leaders. Electric transmission experience is strongly preferred; candidates with demonstrated acquisition leadership in pipeline, rail, public works, or other adjacent infrastructure industries will also be considered.
- Proven success leading complex, multi-tract, multistate acquisition programs from early development through construction. Experience across private, state trust, federal, and Tribal lands and in an eminent domain context is strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated ownership of multimillion-dollar land budgets and experience building/scaling a land organization. Demonstrated success leading and developing leaders, including Land Managers or Directors, and directing third-party land service providers through competitive procurement, contracting, and performance management.
- Expert knowledge of easement, option, lease, and fee instruments; title and curative; valuation and appraisal practice; legal descriptions; surveys; and recording requirements. Strong working knowledge of eminent domain processes and state siting proceedings, and the ability to coordinate with counsel across jurisdictions.
- Experience supporting project financing diligence, title insurance, and lender requirements is strongly preferred; familiarity with federal funding program requirements, including the Uniform Act, is a plus.
- Expert negotiator and communicator with high integrity and steady judgment in sensitive stakeholder settings and ability to translate complex land issues into clear recommendations for VP of Land and executive leadership.
- IRWA designation (SR/WA or RWP) or equivalent strongly preferred; real estate or notary credentials a plus.
- Working knowledge of routing, engineering and constructability, environmental POD, and permitting processes for transmission projects; HVDC project experience a plus.
- Ability to absorb complex information quickly and communicate the most important issues clearly and concisely.
- Adaptability and flexibility to manage deadline pressure, ambiguity, competing priorities, and project changes.
- Strong proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel; experience with GIS, mapping platforms, and enterprise land and stakeholder management systems.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a small, nonhierarchical organization.
- Willingness and ability to travel regularly to project regions and stakeholder meetings.

What the Right Candidate Will Love about this Opportunity

- An organization dedicated to solving the ever-changing Rubik’s cube of high-voltage transmission development in a fast-paced, dynamic and innovative culture.
- Working with a core group of dedicated and thoughtful colleagues.
- Working on a day-to-day basis with highly experienced and proven industry leaders.
- Being empowered to play a leading role in delivering large-scale projects that will materially change the energy future of America.
- Working in an organization committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and having a positive social impact.
- Excellent financial backing from a leading energy investor with long term commitment, passion for energy, and an understanding and appetite to tackle the challenges of transmission development.

Grid United is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, military/veteran status, or any basis prohibited by applicable law.

Grid United offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a competitive base salary and bonus incentive plan, long term incentive plan, health benefits, 401(k), and more.