Landman job description.
A landman researches property and mineral rights, negotiates leases, and secures land or drilling agreements on behalf of oil, gas, or energy companies. They conduct title searches, work with landowners and attorneys, and ensure that land and lease documentation complies with legal and company requirements before drilling or development begins. Landmen combine legal research, negotiation, and relationship management, often traveling between courthouses, field offices, and landowner meetings to keep acquisition and leasing timelines on track.
The Landman job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 9 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Landman Reports to: Land Manager
A landman researches property and mineral rights, negotiates leases, and secures land or drilling agreements on behalf of oil, gas, or energy companies. They conduct title searches, work with landowners and attorneys, and ensure that land and lease documentation complies with legal and company requirements before drilling or development begins. Landmen combine legal research, negotiation, and relationship management, often traveling between courthouses, field offices, and landowner meetings to keep acquisition and leasing timelines on track.
- Conduct title searches to verify ownership of land and mineral rights
- Negotiate lease terms, royalties, and right-of-way agreements with landowners
- Prepare and review lease, deed, and right-of-way documentation
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
9 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
5 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Land Manager
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Conduct title searches to verify ownership of land and mineral rights
- Negotiate lease terms, royalties, and right-of-way agreements with landowners
- Prepare and review lease, deed, and right-of-way documentation
- Coordinate with attorneys to resolve title defects or disputes
- Maintain accurate land and lease records in company databases
- Communicate with landowners, government agencies, and internal stakeholders
- Research county and courthouse records for ownership and encumbrance history
- Ensure lease and land agreements comply with regulatory requirements
- Support due diligence for property acquisitions or divestitures
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Bachelor's degree in business, land management, or related field (or equivalent experience)
- Strong understanding of property law, title research, and lease negotiation
- Excellent negotiation and interpersonal skills
- Proficiency with land management and title-search software
- Willingness to travel to courthouses and field locations
- Registered Professional Landman (RPL) certification
- Experience in oil and gas or renewable energy land acquisition
- Familiarity with GIS or mapping software
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Landman job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Landman job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The mid band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Land Manager) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What does a landman do on a daily basis?
- A landman spends much of their time researching land titles at courthouses, negotiating leases with property owners, and preparing documentation to support drilling or land development projects.
- Is a landman a licensed profession?
- Landman is generally not a licensed profession, though many practitioners pursue certification such as Registered Professional Landman (RPL) to demonstrate expertise; requirements can vary by employer and state.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Oil and Gas Engineer
An Oil and Gas Engineer designs, monitors, and optimizes systems used to explore, extract, and process oil and natural gas.
Petroleum Engineer
A Petroleum Engineer designs and oversees methods for extracting oil and natural gas from underground reservoirs safely and efficiently.
Real Estate Broker
A real estate broker manages property transactions and oversees licensed agents, ensuring deals comply with regulations and close successfully.
This Landman job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.