Managing Director - Development & Acquisition

Our client is a family-backed real estate investment and development platform focused on advanced manufacturing and critical supply-chain infrastructure, with approximately $500M in active and planned projects.The platform is addressing a structural gap in industrial real estate, where legacy assets are increasingly unable to support robotics-enabled, AI-driven, and infrastructure-intensive manufacturing users.The business operates as a long-term capital sponsor, investing in and developing highly technical, mission-critical facilities in partnership with experienced local developers and best-in-class contractors. The platform emphasizes disciplined capital deployment, downside protection, and strategic asset positioning rather than self-performing construction.Representative projects include:Build-to-suit headquarters and advanced manufacturing facility for a next-generation energy companyRedevelopment of a former power generation site into advanced manufacturing and planned data center infrastructureDevelopment of a rare-earth magnet manufacturing facility supporting strategic domestic supply chainsThe RoleThe platform is seeking a Managing Director with a strong background in real estate private equity or institutional sponsorship to support execution and oversight of multiple technically complex projects across the Southeast and broader United States.This is a sponsor-side position with direct exposure to capital partners and senior leadership. The role will serve as the bridge between investment strategy and project execution, ensuring underwriting assumptions, return targets, and risk parameters are maintained throughout the development lifecycle.The remit spans the full lifecycle — from raw land acquisition through construction, commissioning, and transition to stabilized operations.Key ResponsibilitiesSponsor & Capital RepresentationAct as ownership representative across multiple active development projectsEnsure alignment between investment underwriting, capital strategy, and executionMonitor projects against return thresholds, risk parameters, and capital deployment timelinesSupport reporting and communication to capital partners and senior stakeholdersInvestment & Underwriting SupportAssist in site selection, acquisition analysis, and development underwritingEvaluate feasibility, infrastructure constraints, entitlement risks, and cost assumptionsStress-test project budgets and schedules against original investment thesesContribute to investment memoranda and capital approval materialsDevelopment OversightOversee projects from feasibility and entitlement through construction and operational handoffSynthesize reporting from development partners, consultants, and contractorsRepresent ownership interests in project meetings and key decision forumsMonitor budgets, schedules, risks, and milestone delivery across complex assetsRisk & Portfolio ManagementIdentify and mitigate development, entitlement, construction, and infrastructure risksMaintain disciplined oversight of cost escalations, change orders, and contingency managementBalance long-term asset positioning with near-term execution prioritiesCandidate ProfileThe ideal candidate will bring a combination of financial, technical, and execution expertise within complex real estate or infrastructure environments.Key requirements include:12+ years’ experience in real estate private equity, institutional development, or sponsor-side platformsStrong understanding of development underwriting, capital structuring, and return metricsExperience overseeing industrial, infrastructure-heavy, mission-critical, or advanced manufacturing projectsBackground within a private equity real estate firm, family office, institutional investor, or sophisticated development sponsor preferredConstruction or general contracting experience is advantageous, particularly when combined with capital-side exposureAbility to operate confidently in capital-driven environments and represent ownership in complex decision-making scenariosStrong financial acumen and ability to translate technical development issues into investment implicationsHighly organized, with the ability to manage multiple large-scale projects simultaneouslyLocation & TravelKey office locations include major U.S. financial and Southeast marketsOpen to remote candidates given the geographic dispersion of projectsActive projects located across the Southeast and broader U.S.Travel required to project sites as neededWhy This OpportunityOpportunity to join a family-backed investment platform at an early stage of growthDirect exposure to capital partners and investment decision-makingSponsor-side role with full lifecycle visibility from acquisition through stabilizationAbility to shape processes, underwriting discipline, and platform strategyExposure to highly complex, next-generation industrial and mission-critical assets