Director, Construction

WS Development; Georgia; On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

WS Development in the United States is seeking a Director of Construction to lead execution and preconstruction strategy for our retail and adaptive reuse projects. Based at our Chestnut Hill, MA office with occasional site travel, you will guide the construction team from feasibility through project completion.

The ideal candidate has 10-12 years in commercial construction with leadership experience, strong budgeting and scheduling skills, and a proven ability to manage multiple projects while

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field.
• Minimum 10-12 years of experience in commercial construction, with at least 5 years in a leadership role within a developer, general contractor, or construction management firm.
• Extensive knowledge of construction management, budgeting, scheduling, contracts, and regulatory compliance.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects in different phases, ranging in complexity and scale.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with experience managing high-performing teams.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to interact effectively with internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Strategic thinker with a problem-solving mindset and a strong ability to drive projects forward under tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, budgeting, and execution of all construction projects.
• Oversee preconstruction activities, including early stage cost analysis.
• Develop conceptual budgets for adaptive reuse and retail projects.
• Collaborate with Development, Leasing, and Studio teams on viability and changes.
• Provide oversight of Project Managers and ensure milestones are met.
• Interface with contractors, architects, engineers, and consultants.
• Ensure compliance with design standards and regulations.
• Review budgets, schedules, change orders, and contracts.
• Identify and mitigate project risks early.
• Handover completed projects to Operations.

Skills

Leadership

Construction management

Budgeting

Scheduling

Negotiation

Communication

Mentoring

Risk management

Project management

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field

Job description

Position Overview

Reporting to the Vice President of Construction, the Director of Construction will lead the executionand preconstruction strategy across the company’s commercial real estate portfolio focusing on adaptive reuseretail andretailacquisitionswithin the WS platform.This roleis responsible foroverseeing the entire construction process, fromfeasibility analysis and conceptual budgeting through project completion. TheDirector responsibilities will also include ensuringalignment with companyobjectives, tenant requirements, and budgetary guidelines. The Director will provide strategic leadership to the Construction Project Management team, ensuring successful project delivery whilemaintaininghigh standardsof quality, efficiency, and risk management. This role will be based in the WS Chestnut Hill corporate office with some travelrequiredto project sites pending schedule and project activity– foractive construction projects travel could rangefrom once to twice a month.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the planning, budgeting, and execution of all construction projects, ensuringtimelyand cost-effective delivery.

Oversee preconstruction activities, includingearly stagecost analysis.Develop and refine conceptual budgets based on limited internal design documentation, particularly for adaptive reuse, repositioning for retail driven projects.

Partner with Development, Tenant Construction, Leasing and Studio internal departments to evaluate deal viability, tenant driven scope changes, phasing strategies and return impacts prior toproject approval.

Provide oversight of Project Managers and other construction team members, ensuring project milestones are met and best practices are followed.

Serve as the primary liaison between internal departments (Leasing, Development, Design Studio, Operations) and external partners, including general contractors, architects, engineers, and consultants.

Ensure compliance with company design and development standards, as well as all regulatory and code requirements.

Review and approve project budgets, schedules, change orders, monthly requisitions, and construction contracts.

Identify, mitigate, and manage project risks early in the development process.

Guide constructability and design reviews tooptimizeproject feasibility and execution.

Maintain strong relationships with municipalities, tenants, and other key stakeholders to ensure smooth project approvals and execution.

Oversee the transition of completed projects to the Operations team, ensuring a seamless handoff and long-term operational success.

Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the construction department to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, ora relatedfield.

Minimum of 10-12 years of experience in commercial construction, with at least 5 yearsina leadership rolewithin a developer, general contractor, or construction management firm.

Extensive knowledge of construction management, budgeting, scheduling, contracts, and regulatory compliance.

Proven ability to manage multiple projects indifferent phases, ranging in complexity and scale.

Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with experience managing high-performing teams.

Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to interact effectively with internal stakeholders and external partners.

Strategic thinker with a problem-solving mindset and a strong ability to drive projects forward under tight deadlines.

Growth Opportunity

This position offers a pathway to greater leadership within the organization. A successful Director of Construction will have the opportunity to take on increasingly complex projects, expand departmental responsibilities, and influence the strategic direction of the construction function within the company.

About WS Development

Massachusetts-based WS Development is a mixed-use developer with a singular mission: creating places people want to be. With an approach that values art, science, innovation and, above all else, people, WS strives to engage each community it serves with best-in-class experiences, designed with our customers, tenants and partners in mind. Established in 1990, WS is one of few vertically-integrated real estate companies that conceptualizes, owns, operates and leases more than 100 properties that range from cutting-edge urban spaces to lifestyle and community centers. With over 22 million square feet of existing space and an additional nine million square feet under development, it is one of the largest privately-owned development firms in the country.

WS is where great ideas and great people come together to design, build, and operate some of the best loved real estate projects in the country. We live at the intersection of entrepreneurship and establishment. We have the infrastructure of decades supporting a culture of free-thinking excellence.

We expect every WS employee to feel welcomed and valued irrespective of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, and life experiences. Or for any other reason.

WS Development is a leading Massachusetts-based mixed-use developer, creating engaging community spaces through innovative design, with over 100 properties and 22 million square feet developed.

33 Boylston Street, Suite 3000, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, US