Director of Development

OPEN TO BOTH 1099 CONTRACTORS OR W-2 APPLICANTS:The Director of Development will support and, in certain cases, lead multiple real estate development projects in various stages of development across Dallas and Austin. Responsibilities include oversight of design, budgeting, pro forma creation and analysis, zoning and land-use entitlements, pre-construction management, and coordination through the transition into construction.This role is heavily focused on early- and late-stage development strategy, entitlement execution, and design leadership across office, multifamily, retail, hospitality, and mixed-use projects. The position requires strong collaboration across internal teams, consultants, municipalities, contractors, and capital partners to ensure successful project execution.Projects may range from raw land acquisitions to partially completed developments requiring repositioning or completion.Key ResponsibilitiesPartner with senior leadership to oversee zoning, land-use, and entitlement efforts, including coordination with municipalities, consultants, legal counsel, neighborhood groups, the Oak Lawn Committee, and the City of Dallas.Lead and manage the design process from architect and consultant selection through schematic design, design development, and construction documents, ensuring alignment with financial, operational, and aesthetic objectives.Develop and maintain project pro formas, budgets, schedules, and development assumptions throughout the pre-development process, including financial modeling, scenario analysis, and cost tracking.Establish and manage comprehensive value engineering initiatives across all project budget categories to maintain achievable project economics while preserving design intent and quality.Collaborate with senior leadership and finance teams on capitalization strategy, underwriting, lender coordination, and delivery of financeable project structures.Manage relationships with city officials, community stakeholders, design review boards, consultants, contractors, and external partners to advance project approvals and maintain a strong public presence.Oversee pre-construction and project transition into construction, ensuring entitlement compliance, design continuity, schedule adherence, and budget alignment.Coordinate contractor selection, GMP review, subcontractor sequencing, constructability analysis, and preconstruction planning efforts.Prepare executive-level reporting on project status, entitlement progress, financial performance, risks, and key milestones for senior leadership and ownership groups.Mentor and support junior team members, fostering best practices in development management, strategic planning, and problem-solving.QualificationsBachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Urban Planning, Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field.8–10+ years of experience in commercial real estate development with significant experience in pre-development, zoning, entitlements, and design management.Demonstrated success navigating complex municipal approval processes and managing multidisciplinary consultant and design teams.Strong understanding of the full development lifecycle, from acquisition and entitlements through construction and project delivery.Proven financial acumen, including experience preparing and managing pro formas, development budgets, schedules, and investment analyses.Experience managing pre-construction activities, contractor selection, GMP negotiations, value engineering, and construction sequencing.Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to effectively represent the company with municipalities, investors, consultants, and community groups.Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.Position SummaryThis position is ideal for a strategic, design-oriented development leader who thrives in a collaborative environment and has the experience to manage complex projects from concept through construction execution. The ideal candidate combines strong development instincts, financial discipline, entitlement expertise, and construction knowledge with the ability to lead teams and drive projects forward.