Development Director

Within the greater Milwaukee region, the Development Director is responsible for implementing strategies developed by the Leadership Team to support the company’s business objectives and generate new business opportunities. Strategies may include investments, acquisitions, leasing, real estate services, development opportunities, BTS and joint ventures.

Reporting to senior development leadership, the Director oversees the full life-cycle delivery of commercial real estate projects across medical office, retail (including mixed-retail), multifamily residential, traditional office, and mixed-use properties, maintaining rigorous quality and risk-management standards.

The Development Director will collaborate with and direct internal cross-functional teams and external project partners to drive consistent results and positive outcomes for project stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Real Estate Procurement: Analyzes, negotiates, and coordinates all activities to identify, control and acquire real estate, including site searches, letters of intent, purchase and sale agreements, title and survey review, buyer/seller document review, easements, and closing preparation.
• Feasibility Analysis: Conducts initial project feasibility and due diligence, including financial modeling, municipal regulation and entitlement strategies, market research, site planning, engineering and environmental studies, and overall risk analysis.
• Entitlements: Prepares strategies and oversees applications and municipal meetings for all required entitlements/approvals, including land subdivisions, use permits, design and engineering approvals, variances, etc.
• Construction & Design Administration: In coordination with design and construction administration team members, oversees the selection and onboarding of design and engineering professionals and manages the design process, ensuring design meets or exceeds standards within projected cost estimates.
• Marketing: Prepares and administers project-specific, multi-media marketing plans, including preparation of promotional materials, cold calling, mailer campaigns, social media, advertising, and events.
• Leasing: Engages with prospective tenants and real estate brokers and negotiates occupancy contracts, including RFP responses, tours, and lease negotiations.
• Financing: In coordination with finance team members, analyzes potential sources of funds and assists in the solicitation and procurement of debt and equity, including coordination of request for funding packages, appraisals, loan documents, and investor books.
• Project Management: Establishes and maintains the project budgets, sources and uses of funds and schedule during project implementation. Monitors and resolves the day-to-day challenges, expediting/assuring project completion in accordance with specifications, budget and schedule. Ensures successful commissioning, occupancy and transitioning to on-going operations.
• Business Development: Contributes to identifying new business targets, including identifying, contacting and tracking/reporting to leadership/decision makers for lead generation and ultimately project assignments in an orderly and timely manner. Participates in client interviews, prequalifies project-specific opportunities, contributes to RFQ/RFP process and works with team members to respond to qualified leads.
• Networking: Builds and maintains strong relationships with brokers, tenants, prospective tenants, consultants, contractors, and lenders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in real estate, urban planning, finance, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in commercial real estate. Strong understanding of the real estate development cycle with proficiency in financial underwriting and modeling.
• Effective communicator through written and verbal means. Strong organizational skills with attention to detail to successfully manage multiple projects concurrently.
• Strong leadership skills and instincts to lead teams and anticipate challenges. Proactive nature and desire to succeed.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite.