Land Agent / Land Manager

Land Agent / Land Manager – Scotland / North England

Position Overview

A leading renewable energy company is seeking an experienced Land Agent with a strong background in rural land management to support the identification and development of land agreements for a range of renewable energy projects. This role will focus on working in rural environments, negotiating with landowners, and securing the necessary land agreements for projects including onshore wind, solar, battery energy storage, and hydrogen systems across the UK and Ireland. The ideal candidate will bring a solid understanding of rural land dynamics, agricultural practices, and the unique challenges of working with landowners in rural areas.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and assess land opportunities for the development of onshore wind, solar, battery energy storage, and hydrogen projects, with a focus on rural sites across the UK and Ireland.
• Conduct site evaluations considering factors such as wind resource, land availability, environmental impact, and grid connectivity, with particular attention to the rural context.
• Negotiate and secure land agreements with rural landowners, ensuring that both commercial and local community interests are taken into account.
• Lead landowner negotiations, working closely with land agents and legal counsel to finalize land agreements in a timely and effective manner.
• Secure ancillary agreements such as easements, wayleaves, and the surrender of AHA tenancies, with an understanding of the unique requirements of rural properties.
• Monitor and manage the validity of all land-related agreements, ensuring legal cover for all land acquisition activities.
• Collaborate with project development teams to align land acquisition with local planning, consenting, and environmental regulations.
• Conduct title searches to verify property ownership and rights, focusing on rural land tenure systems.
• Represent the company at community engagement events and stakeholder consultations, fostering positive relationships with local landowners and communities.
• Develop and expand acquisition opportunities through research, networking, and market analysis, specifically targeting rural landowners and agricultural stakeholders.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong communication skills with the ability to build trusted relationships with rural landowners, agricultural stakeholders, and local communities.
• A self-starter who thrives in a rural, dynamic setting and can manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proactive, commercially astute, and attentive to the unique opportunities and challenges posed by rural land agreements.
• Deep understanding of farming, forestry, and other rural land uses, with the ability to engage with stakeholders in these sectors effectively.
• Strong negotiation skills, particularly in rural contexts, with an emphasis on ensuring mutually beneficial agreements.
• Familiarity with GIS and land mapping tools relevant to rural land transactions.
• Knowledge of rural land economics, farming regulations, and environmental considerations specific to rural land use.
• A collaborative team player, with the ability to coordinate effectively with internal and external stakeholders in both urban and rural settings.
• Fluency in Business English, with additional languages considered an advantage.

Experience and Qualifications

• Degree in Surveying/Land Management, or a related field, or equivalent experience with a focus on rural land management.
• Professional qualification such as Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) would be advantageous.
• Strong understanding of the UK planning process and the consenting process for rural land development.
• Experience working with farming and forestry economics and regulations, and negotiating land agreements in the rural sector.
• Comfortable with frequent travel to rural sites for landowner meetings, site visits, and project assessments.

If you have a solid rural background in land management and are passionate about contributing to the growth of renewable energy projects, this is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact.

Your application will be dealt with in the strictest confidence by Dan Cole. Please call our office on 07443 880 834 or alternatively send your CV (at this stage do not worry if it’s not up-to-date) directly to dan.cole@beachbaker.co.uk