Senior Development Manager

SWENSON; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

SWENSON is seeking a Senior Development Manager to lead all phases of development from site acquisition through disposition across Northern California, including entitlements, design, financing, construction, leasing, and stabilization. The role requires driving complex projects while coordinating internal teams, consultants, lenders, and government agencies.

The ideal candidate has entrepreneurial real estate experience, strong financial and leadership skills, and the ability to manage multiple

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Source, evaluate, and pursue development and redevelopment opportunities.
• Prepare acquisition underwriting models, investment memoranda, and executive summaries.
• Negotiate purchase and sale agreements, letters of intent, easements, and development-related contracts.
• Lead entitlements and government approvals with city staff and agencies.
• Direct project planning, budgets, schedules, and development milestones.
• Coordinate financing due diligence, lender requirements, and capital raising.
• Monitor construction progress, costs, and reporting; lead project meetings.
• Develop disposition strategies and manage closing activities.

Skills

Financial modelling

Real estate underwriting

Project management

Leadership

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business, Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, Construction Management, Architecture, or related field

Master's degree in Real Estate Development, Business Administration, Urban Planning, or related discipline

Job description

The Senior Development Manager is responsible for leading all phases of the real estate development process from site acquisition through project disposition. This individual will oversee the entitlement, design, financing, construction, leasing, stabilization, and disposition of residential, mixed-use, commercial, and/or industrial development projects throughout Northern California.

The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial real estate professional with strong financial, entitlement, project management, and leadership skills who can independently drive complex projects while coordinating internal teams, consultants, municipalities, lenders, investors, contractors, and brokerage partners.

Key Responsibilities

• 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.
• Environmental investigations
• Geotechnical studies
• Utility assessments
• Title and survey review
• Zoning and land use analysis
• 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
• Land planners
• Traffic engineers
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Experience managing institutional capital and joint venture structures.
• Competitive base salary: $125,000 - $200,000+ annually, commensurate with experience
• Discretionary bonus based on company performance