Levanta Renewables is a renewable energy developer and independent power producer in Southeast Asia. We develop, build and deliver renewable energy solutions that work for each country in support of its transition to renewable energy, and do so in a sustainable manner while helping local communities. With a shared goal towards helping Southeast Asia realize its energy transition and net zero targets, Levanta is backed by Actis, a leading sustainable infrastructure private equity firm. We are developing 1.5 GW of renewable energy projects in Southeast Asia through M&A and greenfield development of C&I and utility-scale projects.
The Senior Land Development Officer is responsible for leading and monitoring land acquisition, right-of-way (ROW), land related permits, and tenurial compliance activities for utility-scale renewable energy and transmission projects in the Philippines. The role ensures that all land parcels, access roads, transmission corridors, and substation sites are secured, documented, and bankable in accordance with Philippine laws and project financing requirements.
Role & Responsibilities
Land Acquisition & ROW Management
- Lead acquisition of project lands for solar, wind, BESS, substations, access roads, transmission lines, and all.
- Manage negotiation and execution of long-term lease agreements, user-friendly arrangements, easements, and deeds of sale.
- Secure permanent and temporary ROW for transmission lines, access roads, and construction staging areas.
- Develop land and ROW acquisition strategies aligned with project layouts and engineering design.
- Assist the Senior Project Development Manager Land and the Project Managers on any land and land permit related activities.
Land Due Diligence
- Conduct initial comprehensive land due diligence including title verification, CLOA assessment, mortgage and encumbrance checks, and ownership validation.
- Identify land-related risks affecting bankability and project feasibility such as agrarian restrictions, overlapping claims, inheritance issues, and ROW gaps.
- Ensure land documentation meets lender and investor due diligence standards.
- Maintain parcel-level land matrices and ROW trackers.
Agrarian, Land Use & Regulatory Compliance
- Manage DAR land conversion processes, including DAR Conversion Orders and Certificates of Finality.
- Coordinate annotation of conversion orders, easements, and ROW agreements with the Registry of Deeds.
- Handle CLOA-covered lands and ensure compliance with agrarian reform laws and DAR policies.
- Secure LGU zoning certifications, locational clearances, and barangay endorsements for project sites and ROW corridors.
Transmission & Grid-Related Coordination
- Coordinate with NGCP, distribution utilities, and transmission consultants on ROW alignment and access requirements.
- Support acquisition of ROW and site requirements for substations, switching stations, and interconnection facilities.
- Resolve ROW conflicts arising from design changes or optimization during engineering and construction phases.
Stakeholder & Community Engagement
- Support and may lead engagement and negotiations with landowners, heirs, indigenous claimants (if applicable), and local stakeholders.
- Coordinate with LGUs and barangays to manage community concerns related to ROW and land access.
- Support social acceptability efforts in coordination with environmental and permitting teams.
Project Coordination & Reporting
- Align land and ROW acquisition schedules with engineering, permitting, EPC, and construction timelines.
- Provide land and ROW inputs for ECC applications, grid connection studies, and EPC contracts.
- Prepare regular land acquisition status reports, risk assessments, and management presentations.
- Support audits, lender site visits, and legal due diligence processes.
Leadership & Process Management
- Mentor junior land officers, local hires, and ROW field teams.
- Develop and improve land acquisition workflows, standard templates, and documentation controls.
- Ensure proper safekeeping and organization of land and ROW records.
Ideal candidate should possess:
- Bachelor's degree in real estate management, Legal Management, Political Science, Engineering, or related fields
- Licensed Real Estate Broker or paralegal background is an advantage
- Minimum of 5-10 years of experience in land acquisition and ROW for renewable energy, networks, transmission, or infrastructure projects in the Philippines
- Demonstrated experience with:
- Utility-scale solar or wind projects
- Transmission line ROW acquisition
- DAR land conversion, Land Reclassification, and CLOA-affected lands
- Experience supporting project financing and lender due diligence is preferred but not required.
- Strong working knowledge of Philippine land laws, LGU Reclassification activities, agrarian reform, and ROW processes
- Excellent negotiation and landowner management skills
- Strong coordination skills with engineers, EPCs, legal teams, and regulators
- High attention to detail and documentation accuracy
- Willingness to travel and conduct extensive field work
