Development Manager / Owner's Representative

Trueline's client, a rapidly growing real estate investment, development, and property management company with a strong multifamily portfolio in Western New York, is seeking a Development Manager / Owner's Representative to join their team in Rochester, New York. This individual will lead commercial and multifamily developments from early feasibility and design through construction, closeout, and turnover while serving as ownership's trusted point person across finance, design, and construction.

What You'll Do as the Development Manager / Owner's Representative:

• Lead ground-up, adaptive reuse, and commercial development projects from initial concept through construction completion
• Evaluate project plans, specifications, budgets, and schedules with a focus on constructability, cost control, operational performance, and return on investment
• Coordinate architects, engineers, designers, consultants, contractors, and internal stakeholders throughout the development process
• Compare design and construction alternatives and recommend solutions that balance quality, schedule, cost, and long-term ownership goals
• Partner with ownership and finance teams to keep projects aligned with approved budgets and investment objectives
• Identify project risks early and develop practical strategies to address them
• Prepare bid packages and manage contractor and vendor solicitation
• Review and level proposals, clarify scopes, and support contractor selection and contract negotiations
• Coordinate with affiliated and third-party construction partners to establish complete scopes before work begins
• Serve as the Owner's Representative throughout construction
• Lead owner-architect-contractor meetings and maintain clear accountability across project teams
• Monitor project schedules, budgets, quality standards, safety performance, and key milestones
• Review change orders, resolve project challenges, and protect ownership's interests
• Coordinate permitting, inspections, punch lists, closeout documentation, and final turnover
• Manage multiple active projects while maintaining accurate reporting and project documentation
• Build productive relationships with contractors and consultants while holding all parties accountable for results

Must-Haves as the Development Manager / Owner's Representative:

• 7 years of commercial construction project management, owner's representation, or real estate development experience
• Experience managing projects from preconstruction and design through construction completion
• Strong understanding of commercial construction budgeting, scheduling, permitting, sequencing, and procurement
• Experience working directly with architects, engineers, consultants, and design teams
• Ability to review plans for constructability, cost implications, value engineering opportunities, and schedule improvements
• Experience preparing bid packages and evaluating contractor proposals
• Strong commercial judgment and an understanding of how construction decisions affect project economics
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and active projects
• Clear, confident communication and leadership skills
• Ability to independently own projects with limited day-to-day oversight
• Ability to work onsite in Rochester and travel locally to project locations

Nice-to-Haves as the Development Manager / Owner's Representative:

• Experience with multifamily or mixed-use development
• Adaptive reuse project experience
• Ground-up commercial or multifamily construction experience
• Background with a commercial general contractor, developer, owner's representative, design-build firm, or construction management company
• Experience with financial pro formas, project underwriting, or development feasibility analysis
• Buildertrend experience
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Real Estate, or a related field
• Experience building or leading a growing development or construction function

Our Client Offers:

• Base salary of $100,000-$150,000, based on experience
• Performance-based and annual company bonus opportunities
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan
• Paid time off
• Vehicle allowance, mileage reimbursement, or company vehicle arrangement
• Opportunity to shape an expanding development platform from an early stage
• Exposure to significant ground-up and adaptive reuse multifamily projects
• Direct access to company leadership and meaningful influence over project strategy
• Long-term advancement into a Director of Development, Director of Construction, or similar leadership role
• Opportunity to build a team and oversee a growing portfolio of projects

Trueline and its clients are unabashed equal-opportunity employers committed to a diverse workforce. We welcome smart and ambitious applicants and recruit, refer, hire, place, and promote without regard to race, color, gender, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law.