Development Project Manager

Kendal Corp.; Newark (DE); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Kendal Corporation is seeking a Development Project Manager to oversee Life Plan Community expansions and campus repositioning across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. You will lead cross-functional teams through opportunity evaluation, entitlement, design, construction, and lease-up to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery.

Ideal candidates have 8+ years in healthcare real estate or senior living development, a bachelor's in a related field, and a track record of managing complex projects from

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in real estate development, construction management, finance, or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive development experience delivering projects from concept through completion.
• Experience with design, entitlements, zoning, permitting, and construction.
• Direct healthcare real estate/senior living development experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage all phases of Life Plan Community development from opportunity assessment to occupancy and stabilization.
• Provide leadership across diverse stakeholders and multi-year development efforts.
• Lead day-to-day management of multiple projects with adherence to timelines and budgets.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams of architects, engineers, contractors, and financing partners.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Budgeting

Cross-functional coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in real estate development

Bachelor's degree in construction management

Tools

Procore

MS Office

Job description

The Kendal Corporation (TKC) is seeking a highly motivated Development Project Manager to support the full development life cycle for Life Plan Community (CCRC) campuses serving older adults across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. TKC provides full-service development support to its not-for-profit Affiliate organizations and leads the pursuit of growth opportunities that advance the organization's strategic goal of expanding from 10 Affiliate communities today to 17 by 2036.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, the Development Project Manager will play a central role in advancing this growth strategy by supporting projects from early-stage opportunity evaluation, market and site feasibility analysis, and partnership structuring through design, entitlement, construction delivery, and lease-up. The successful candidate will work across a broad continuum of care settings, including independent living, assisted living, memory support, and skilled nursing services, collaborating with Affiliate communities, design and construction teams, and internal stakeholders to bring new campuses and campus expansions to fruition on time and within budget.

This role requires a strategic thinker who is comfortable managing complex, multi-year projects with numerous stakeholders, and who is passionate about expanding access to high-quality senior living communities nationwide.

Key Responsibilities:

For TKC

• Champion TKC's mission, values, and commitment to providing high-quality living environments and services for older adults.
• Serve as a key contributor to TKC's growth strategy by executing on development opportunities for new Life Plan Communities and campus repositioning initiatives.
• Support TKC's strategic objective of expanding its Affiliate network and geographic footprint through disciplined project execution and relationship management.
• Foster strong working relationships with Affiliate organizations, community leaders, industry partners, and development stakeholders while serving as a trusted representative of The Kendal Corporation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage and coordinate all phases of Life Plan Community (CCRC) development projects from initial opportunity assessment through project completion, occupancy, and stabilization.
• Provide project leadership throughout complex, multi-year development efforts involving diverse stakeholder groups and competing priorities.
• Lead the day-to-day management of multiple development projects simultaneously, ensuring adherence to approved timelines, budgets, quality standards, and organizational goals.
• Coordinate and manage cross-functional project teams, including architects, engineers, planners, contractors, consultants, legal counsel, and financing partners.
• Track project performance and proactively identify risks, challenges, and opportunities, recommending solutions to maintain project momentum and achieve desired outcomes.
• Support Affiliate in design team pre-qualification, proposal analysis, and contract terms.
• Consult with Affiliate, COO, and Operations Team to confirm proposed program meets operational and licensing requirements.
• Support entitlement, zoning, permitting, and regulatory approval processes by working closely with local jurisdictions, government agencies, and community stakeholders.
• Monitor full project cycle including development and construction progress through regular site visits, project meetings, and reporting processes, ensuring compliance with design specifications, quality expectations, and contractual obligations.
• Oversee project budgeting, cost tracking, and financial reporting throughout the development lifecycle, ensuring effective stewardship of organizational resources.
• Facilitate communication and alignment among Affiliate leadership teams, board members, internal departments, TKC team, and external stakeholders to ensure project objectives are clearly understood and achieved.
• Assist in preparing Leadership, Committee, and Board memoranda and reports, lender and investor reports, and presentation materials for internal and external stakeholders.
• Assist Finance in preparing finance packages and presentations for equity, investment, debt, and development as needed.
• Support Marketing in presales and lease-up goals through project stabilization.
• Promote collaboration, transparency, and accountability across all project participants to drive successful outcomes.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office suite and Procore (or other construction/development project management/project cost software)
• Support financial modeling and development underwriting, including proforma construction and sensitivity analysis
• Ability to build alignment across multiple stakeholders, including independently governed Affiliate boards
• Comfort operating amid ambiguity and leading early-stage development work
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in real estate development, construction management, finance, architecture, engineering, urban planning, or related field
• Minimum 8 years of progressive development experience delivering projects from concept through completion (10+ preferred)
• Experience in managing design, entitlements, zoning, permitting, and construction.
• Direct healthcare real estate, senior living, multifamily, or hospitality real estate development experience
• Preferred: Experience in senior living licensure, CCRC, Certificate of Need, life safety code, and/or "highly regulated" projects
• Preferred: Familiarity with tax-exempt bond financing and not-for-profit senior living capital structures

Physical Demands

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to work flexible hours.
• Extensive travel is required.

Nothing in this position description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.