Position Overview

Ultimate Staffing is actively seeking an experienced Senior Development Manager to join their client's team in California. This role offers an exciting opportunity for a seasoned real estate professional to lead development projects from acquisition through disposition, ensuring success at every stage of the process. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of the California entitlement and permitting processes and demonstrate exceptional leadership and project management skills.

Responsibilities

Acquisitions & Due Diligence

• Source, evaluate, and pursue development and redevelopment opportunities.
• Conduct market research, financial analysis, and highest-and-best-use studies.
• Prepare acquisition underwriting models, investment memoranda, and executive summaries.
• Negotiate purchase and sale agreements, letters of intent, easements, and development-related contracts.
• Manage all acquisition due diligence activities including environmental investigations, geotechnical studies, utility assessments, title and survey review, zoning and land use analysis, and physical site inspections.
• Coordinate with legal counsel and consultants through closing.

Entitlements & Government Approvals

• Develop and execute entitlement strategies.
• Lead interactions with city staff, planning departments, public agencies, utility providers, and elected officials.
• Manage consultants including architects, civil engineers, land planners, traffic engineers, environmental consultants, and landscape architects.
• Prepare and present projects at community meetings, planning commissions, and city council hearings.
• Secure all discretionary approvals, permits, and development agreements required for project execution.

Project Planning & Design

• Direct project programming and design development.
• Establish project budgets, schedules, and development milestones.
• Coordinate design teams through schematic design, design development, and construction documentation phases.
• Value engineer projects while maintaining design quality and investment objectives.
• Ensure compliance with municipal requirements, building codes, and sustainability standards.

Financial Management

• Create and maintain project proformas and development budgets.
• Analyze project feasibility, returns, and sensitivity scenarios.
• Prepare investment committee presentations and recommendations.
• Monitor project costs, contingencies, and cash flow throughout the development cycle.
• Track project performance against underwriting assumptions and business plans.

Capital Markets & Financing

• Assist in sourcing debt and equity capital.
• Coordinate financing due diligence and lender requirements.
• Prepare materials for investors, lenders, and joint venture partners.
• Manage loan closings and financing draw processes.
• Maintain relationships with financial institutions, private equity groups, and capital partners.

Construction Oversight

• Collaborate with construction management teams and general contractors.
• Monitor construction progress, budget adherence, schedule performance, and quality control.
• Review change orders, pay applications, and project reporting.
• Identify and mitigate development risks throughout construction.
• Lead regular project meetings and reporting activities.

Leasing, Marketing & Asset Stabilization

• Coordinate leasing and marketing strategies with brokerage teams.
• Support lease negotiations and major tenant pursuits.
• Monitor project absorption and stabilization activities.
• Work closely with asset management teams to maximize project value.

Project Disposition

• Develop disposition strategies to maximize investor returns.
• Coordinate broker selection, marketing efforts, and buyer due diligence.
• Support sale negotiations and transaction execution.
• Prepare disposition analyses and investor reporting.
• Manage closing activities through final sale.

Leadership & Team Management

• Mentor and manage Development Managers, Associate Development Managers, and Analysts.
• Foster collaboration among internal departments including acquisitions, finance, construction, and asset management.
• Establish best practices, reporting standards, and development processes.
• Participate in strategic planning and pipeline management initiatives.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business, Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, Construction Management, Architecture, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible real estate development experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing projects from acquisition through disposition.
• Strong understanding of California entitlement and permitting processes.
• Advanced financial modeling and real estate underwriting skills.
• Experience negotiating contracts, consultant agreements, and development-related documents.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.

Preferred

• Master's degree in Real Estate Development, Business Administration, Urban Planning, or related discipline.
• Experience with multifamily, mixed-use, industrial, commercial, or master-planned developments.
• Existing relationships with Bay Area municipalities, consultants, brokers, lenders, and contractors.

Required Work Hours

Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Benefits

This supervisory position offers a competitive salary ranging from $125,000 to $200,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, or military or veteran status. We consider all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local laws, including the California Fair Chance Act, City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.