Development and Design Associate

Spacecraft; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Project-based bonuses

Flexible work conditions

Job summary

A leading real estate development firm in Charlotte, NC is seeking a project manager to oversee multiple development projects. The ideal candidate will have a strong project management background and a passion for developing sustainable buildings. This role requires collaboration across various teams, strong communication skills, and a commitment to fostering an inclusive work environment. The position allows occasional remote work and offers competitive compensation with project-based bonuses after a trial period.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in project management, preferably in real estate, architecture, or construction.
• Ability to manage multiple projects or workstreams effectively.
• Alignment with mission to build walkable neighborhoods and sustainable buildings.
• Entrepreneurial experiences and deploying innovations viewed favorably
• Alignment with Space Craft’s mission to build walkable neighborhoods and sustainable buildings is essential

Responsibilities

• Lead project execution and take ownership of multiple workstreams.
• Manage project budgets and maintain schedules.
• Coordinate with design teams, contractors, and stakeholders to ensure project success.
• Ensure design reviews, sub-consultant coordination, and permit processes are efficient
• Drive cross-functional collaboration to push sustainability and innovative features across projects
• Support turnover, FF&E procurement, and lease-up readiness

Skills

Project management

Strong communication skills

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

Creative problem-solving

Team collaboration

Entrepreneurial

Ownership and accountability

Independent decision making

Feedback culture

Open to new ideas

Interest in real estate/sustainability

Education

Undergraduate degree

Master's degree in relevant fields

Job description

We are seeking a design-oriented do-er to manage development projects. Our ideal candidate shepherds ideas into reality, balancing our future-shaping aspirations with the grounded view of a hard-nosed practitioner. As part of a small team, the candidate must take radical responsibility for their scope of work and showcase entrepreneurial initiative.

About You

• Proven track record of effectively managing projects with competing demands and deadlines
• Outcomes-oriented
• Curious and a continuous learner, willing to learn through new experiences instead of waiting to be taught
• Able to process complex decisions thoroughly, expediently, calmly, and with engagement from all stakeholders
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to anticipate questions and be prepared with data-based answers
• Willingness to think outside the box and generate creative solutions within financial, time, or other constraints
• Strong communication skills – both verbal and written
• Collaborate well with others and value teamwork as an essential part of success
• Hard-working and entrepreneurial, with a desire for both ownership and accountability
• Possess the confidence to offer opinions without complete information and the humility to change opinions with new data
• Desire to contribute to a culture that is inclusive, fun, engaged, and curious
• Commitment to personal and professional growth through open feedback in a fast-paced start-up environment
• Interest in real estate, finance, urbanism, and/or sustainability

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in project management — experience in real estate, architecture, and/or construction is preferred, but not required
• Undergraduate degree is required, with a master’s degree and/or relevant fields of study viewed favorably (real estate, architecture, construction, urban planning, etc.)
• Experience with management of multiple projects or workstreams viewed favorably
• Entrepreneurial experiences and a track record of deploying innovations viewed favorably
• Alignment with Space Craft’s mission to build walkable neighborhoods and sustainable buildings is essential

The Role

You will quickly assimilate into multiple project teams (architects, engineers, contractors, etc.) and increasingly take ownership of multiple workstreams. Within 6 months, you will be leading project execution. You will do what is needed to get high-quality development projects out of the ground and successfully completed. The role is ultimately responsible for supporting the project team to four outcomes: on‑time, on‑budget, high-fidelity design, and sustainability.

Project Management

• Design review: generate, document, and coordinate comments with our in‑house design team, during the design and construction phases.
• Select sub‑consultants and coordinate their contracts, with the assistance of Space Craft’s in‑house Counsel, including civil, structural, MEP, environmental, survey, geotech.
• Coordinate with and issue weekly to‑dos to the design‑build team, including General Contractor, Architect and sub‑consultants (civil, structural, MEP, landscape, etc.).
• Prepare internal project status updates summarizing schedule, budget, design progress, and key risks for leadership review.
• Spend time each week visiting sites under construction to talk with the Superintendents and GC Project Managers, engender trust in our partners, and keep the Space Craft teammates aware of on‑the‑ground conditions.
• Maintain and help enforce the Master Milestone schedule, including drawing sets (Schematic, 50%, 75%, 90%, Permit Sets, 100% GMP), GC budgets, and GC schedules during pre‑construction, as well as construction and punch, marketing and lease‑up schedules.
• Manage project budget, including monthly payment draws, contingencies, and value engineering opportunities. Work with the Space Craft team, General Contractor, and consultants to deliver a project that is both on‑budget and beautiful.
• Liaise with City permitting staff, General Contractor, and architecture team to resolve plan set discrepancies and secure permits.
• Ensure Submittals, Request for Information, and Request for Changes are efficiently processed between Space Craft, architecture team, General Contractor, and engineers.
• Collaborate with teammates, partners, and vendors to incorporate innovative features and services into the project.
• Collaborate with project partners to drive closeout from 95% completion through turnover, including FF&E procurement, delivery, and installation ahead of lease‑up.
  Coordinate punchlist completion and track warranty items through final completion. Assist with building turnover, including managing the pre‑opening checklist and interfacing with the Asset Management team.
• Ensure retail spaces meet the specifications for Space Craft’s retail leasing team and coordinate with the architecture team and general contractors for correct turnover.

Design

• Collaborate with architecture, asset management, and other teams to improve Space Craft’s design standards and specifications, particularly pushing the boundaries on sustainability.
• Assist teammates on design-related initiatives: amenities, interior design, FF&E for short-term rental units, etc.
• Work with the architecture team to develop and edit unit plans, floor plans, site plans, and master plans to meet Space Craft’s goals of developing walkable neighborhoods.

Project Management Systems

• Collaborate with the operations team to improve Space Craft’s project management systems.
• Collaborate with the operations team to improve Space Craft’s overall work‑flow and communication systems.

Personal & Team Growth

• Reserve time to connect with teammates, find mentors, and contribute ideas that improve our developments, our business, and our team. We want you to be in sync with the broader company and understand the big picture behind our development projects.
• Read, learn, travel, find inspiration, and participate in professional organizations outside of work. Do what you need to do to stay creative. Real estate and technology are changing cities quickly, and we want every member of our team to generate ideas that can improve our developments and the company.
• Travel occasionally to other Space Craft offices for in-person time with teammates
• Gather for team offsites twice annually — the team convenes regularly for substantive conversations, strategic alignment, and group bike rides
• Attend occasional events and conferences

Start Date (flexible)

Spring 2026

Location

Charlotte, NC (with reasonable flexibility to work remotely occasionally)

Compensation

• Competitive and commensurate with experience
• Project-based bonuses (after an initial trial period)

Thanks for your interest!
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