Director of Development

MHW Search; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

MHW Search is partnering with a well-established Houston-based firm seeking a Director of Development to lead build-to-suit and single-tenant projects through stabilization and disposition. This principal-level role requires originations, site control, underwriting, and financing coordination, with a strong emphasis on AI-enhanced workflow and cross-functional leadership.

The position entails managing client relationships, entitlements, permitting, and construction oversight, delivering

Qualifications

• Leads development initiatives across lifecycle from site selection to disposition.
• Strong underwriting discipline with ability to structure transactions.
• Experience with build-to-suit and multi-tenant development programs.
• Proficient in applying AI to improve workflow, analytics, and project execution.

Responsibilities

• Originate tenant relationships and project requirements.
• Source and control development sites; conduct due diligence.
• Underwrite and structure land transactions; negotiate contracts.
• Oversee entitlements, permitting, and regulatory approvals.
• Coordinate construction, financing, and project delivery.
• Manage project budgets, schedules, and client communications.
• Guide assets through stabilization and disposition, end-to-end.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across civil, architectural, legal and brokerage professionals.

Skills

Development leadership

Underwriting

Tenant relations

Land contracts

Entitlements & permitting

Construction oversight

Capital coordination

AI-driven workflow

Job description

MHW Search has exclusively partnered with a well-established retail investment/development firm in Houston in search of a Director of Development.

THE PLATFORM

Our client is a privately held, vertically integrated commercial real estate investment and development firm with in-house capabilities spanning development, construction, brokerage, leasing, and property management.

The company specializes in the development of neighborhood retail centers, grocery-anchored shopping centers, single-tenant build-to-suit projects, and pad-site developments within high-growth markets across Texas and Florida. Through an integrated operating platform, the firm delivers projects from initial site acquisition through development, leasing, disposition, and long-term asset management.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Our client is seeking a Director of Development to lead build-to-suit and single-tenant development projects from initial site identification through stabilization and disposition. This is a principal-level development role with full lifecycle ownership.

The successful candidate will originate tenant relationships and requirements, source and control development sites, underwrite and structure transactions, negotiate land contracts, oversee due diligence, manage entitlements and permitting, coordinate construction and financing activities, deliver completed projects to tenants, and ultimately guide each asset through stabilization and disposition. Accountability spans the entire development lifecycle, with responsibility for the overall success of each project rather than a single phase.

This position supports two primary business channels. The first involves managing programmatic relationships with regional and national tenants executing multi-unit development programs. In these assignments, the Director serves as the primary point of contact and is responsible for delivering consistent underwriting discipline, schedule execution, communication, and development quality across multiple markets. The second consists of one-off build-to-suit and reverse build-to-suit developments, as well as the single-tenant and pad-site components of larger mixed-use and multi-tenant projects.

The firm operates as a merchant developer, underwriting projects toward defined investment returns and disposition objectives. Success is measured not only by delivering high-quality developments, but by achieving or exceeding the project's targeted financial performance.

This role has also been intentionally designed around technology and operational efficiency. Managing sourcing, entitlements, capital coordination, construction oversight, and dispositions across multiple concurrent developments requires an individual who has fundamentally modernized their development process. Extensive, demonstrable proficiency utilizing artificial intelligence to improve workflow, analysis, documentation, and project execution is considered a core requirement of this position.

REPORTING & STRUCTURE

• Reports directly to executive leadership within the Development division.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for assigned build-to-suit and reverse build-to-suit clients from initial site presentation through project turnover.
• Leads multidisciplinary project teams, including civil engineers, architects, contractors, legal counsel, consultants, and brokerage professionals to ensure successful project execution.
• Partners closely with internal construction leadership throughout the development process to coordinate project delivery, scheduling, budgeting, and execution.
• Maintains ownership of project schedules, development budgets, and all client-facing communication throughout each assignment.
• Collaborates with acquisitions, brokerage, leasing, construction, and executive leadership throughout the development lifecycle, with responsibilities defined based on the specific project.