Land Acquisition Specialist | Sr. Manager | Executive | Solar Projects | Gujarat

Job DescriptionJob Title

Executive / Senior Manager – Land Acquisition

Location: Gujarat

Business Unit: Solar Projects

Function: Land Acquisition

About SAEL Industries Limited

SAEL Industries Limited is one of India's leading renewable energy companies, specializing in solar and waste-to-energy projects. With a renewable portfolio of over 6.9 GW, SAEL is committed to accelerating India's transition toward sustainable energy through innovative, responsible, and integrated clean energy solutions. Operating across multiple states with utility-scale solar projects and advanced manufacturing capabilities, SAEL continues to play a significant role in supporting India's renewable energy ambitions.

Role Overview

The Land Acquisition team is responsible for securing land required for utility-scale solar projects by managing end-to-end acquisition activities, including land identification, negotiations, due diligence, documentation, statutory approvals, stakeholder engagement, and government liaisoning.

Depending on the level of the role, the incumbent will independently manage land acquisition assignments, lead strategic negotiations, drive regulatory approvals, oversee complex transactions, coordinate with cross-functional teams, mentor junior team members, and ensure timely land availability aligned with project execution schedules.

Key ResponsibilitiesLand Identification & Acquisition

• Identify, evaluate, and secure suitable private and government land parcels for solar projects, substations, pooling stations, transmission infrastructure, and access roads.
• Conduct site assessments, feasibility studies, and field surveys to support project planning.
• Lead or support negotiations with landowners, brokers, aggregators, and other stakeholders for land acquisition through purchase, lease, Group Captive, or Captive models.
• Facilitate execution of commercial agreements, including MOUs, Sale Deeds, Lease Deeds, GPA, ATS, pathway agreements, and related documentation.
• Develop land acquisition strategies to meet project timelines and commercial objectives.

Due Diligence & Documentation

• Review land ownership records and revenue documents, including 7/12 extracts, 8A, Tippani, Akarbhand, PT Sheets, TCR/TSR, and other statutory records.
• Coordinate title verification and legal due diligence with internal and external legal teams.
• Manage statutory approvals, including Non-Agricultural (NA) conversion, Town Planning approvals, alienation permissions, and other regulatory requirements.
• Ensure complete, accurate, and audit-ready land documentation throughout the acquisition lifecycle.

Government Liaison & Regulatory Management

• Liaise with Revenue Departments, Panchayat offices, Taluka authorities, Town Planning departments, DISCOMs, and other government agencies for approvals and clearances.
• Obtain statutory permissions, feasibility reports, NOCs, and project-related regulatory approvals.
• Resolve regulatory issues and proactively drive approval timelines.

Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with landowners, farmers, village representatives, local communities, brokers, aggregators, consultants, and government authorities.
• Address landowner concerns, resolve Right of Way (ROW) issues, and manage local stakeholder expectations.
• Represent the organization during local meetings and negotiations to facilitate smooth project execution.

Project Coordination & Reporting

• Collaborate with Business Development, Legal, Finance, Engineering, and Project Execution teams to ensure land acquisition milestones support overall project schedules.
• Prepare land acquisition MIS reports, progress trackers, cost estimates, risk registers, and management updates.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation plans to ensure timely delivery.
• Drive continuous improvement in land acquisition processes, documentation standards, and operational efficiency.

Team Leadership (Applicable for Manager & Senior Manager Levels)

• Lead and mentor land acquisition teams across multiple project locations.
• Allocate responsibilities, monitor performance, and support capability development of team members.
• Review acquisition strategies, resolve complex commercial and regulatory issues, and provide guidance on critical negotiations.
• Support business planning, resource allocation, budgeting, and achievement of organizational objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in any discipline.
• LLB, Commerce, Civil Engineering, or related qualifications will be an advantage.

Experience

• Executive / Senior Executive: 2–5 years
• Assistant Manager / Deputy Manager: 5–8 years
• Manager: 8–12 years
• Senior Manager: 12+ years

Experience in land acquisition for renewable energy, infrastructure, transmission, industrial, or large-scale real estate projects is preferred.

Required Skills

• Land acquisition and transaction management
• Commercial negotiation and stakeholder management
• Knowledge of Gujarat land revenue systems and statutory processes
• Government liaisoning and regulatory approvals
• Legal documentation and land due diligence
• Project planning and coordination
• MIS reporting and data management
• Strong communication, negotiation, and influencing skills
• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Ability to travel extensively across project locations

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Timely achievement of land acquisition targets
• Land availability aligned with project schedules
• Cost optimization against approved acquisition budgets
• Timely completion of statutory approvals and documentation
• Resolution of Right of Way (ROW) and stakeholder issues
• Compliance with legal, regulatory, and company policies
• Accuracy and timeliness of MIS reporting
• Team productivity and project delivery (for leadership roles)

Behavioral Competencies

• Strategic thinking
• Negotiation and influencing
• Relationship management
• Ownership and accountability
• Decision-making
• Problem-solving
• Planning and execution
• Leadership and people development
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Adaptability and resilience