Senior Development Manager

Frederick Fox; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Frederick Fox seeks a Senior Development Manager to lead complex real estate development projects from planning through completion in the DC area. You will oversee design, regulatory approvals, budgeting, construction coordination, and stakeholder management, serving as the primary liaison between project teams, clients, consultants, and executive leadership.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years of experience managing large-scale development programs across healthcare, senior living, higher

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Real Estate Development, Urban Planning, or a related field.
• 10 years of progressive experience managing complex real estate development projects.
• Strong experience managing projects within healthcare, senior living, assisted living, higher education, life sciences, cultural institutions, or similar sectors.
• Extensive knowledge of project planning, design management, regulatory approvals, permitting, construction administration, and project delivery.
• Experience managing project budgets, schedules, contracts, and consultant teams.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong client-facing experience with the ability to present confidently to executive leadership, boards, and ownership groups.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to travel to project sites as required.

Responsibilities

• Lead development projects through all phases, including planning, feasibility, design, permitting, construction, and project closeout.
• Coordinate project schedules, budgets, milestones, and deliverables to ensure successful execution.
• Oversee design development, regulatory approvals, entitlement processes, and construction activities.
• Monitor project performance and proactively identify and resolve risks, issues, and schedule impacts.
• Ensure projects are delivered in accordance with quality, budget, and timeline expectations.
• Collaborate with architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and project teams throughout the project lifecycle.
• Review design documents, construction plans, budgets, and technical specifications for completeness and accuracy.
• Manage project procurement, consultant selection, and contract administration.
• Oversee construction progress, change management, and project reporting.
• Ensure compliance with applicable building codes, regulations, and industry standards.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for owners, clients, executive leadership, boards, and external stakeholders.
• Lead client meetings, executive presentations, and project update sessions.
• Build strong, long-term relationships with clients by providing strategic guidance and exceptional service.
• Communicate project status, risks, financial updates, and recommendations to executive stakeholders in a clear and professional manner.
• Represent projects confidently in public meetings, board presentations, and executive discussions.
• Develop and manage project budgets, forecasts, and financial reporting.
• Monitor project costs and recommend strategies to improve efficiency while maintaining project objectives.
• Evaluate project feasibility and support strategic planning initiatives.
• Assist with business development efforts, client pursuits, and proposal development when appropriate.
• Provide leadership and guidance to multidisciplinary project teams throughout the development process.
• Foster collaboration between internal departments, consultants, contractors, and client representatives.
• Mentor junior project management professionals and contribute to organizational best practices.
• Promote continuous improvement in project delivery, risk management, and operational excellence.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project management

Stakeholder management

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management

Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate Development

Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning

Job description

Senior Development Manager

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Senior Development Manager to lead complex real estate development projects from planning through completion. This role is responsible for overseeing design, regulatory approvals, budgeting, construction coordination, and stakeholder management while serving as the primary liaison between project teams, clients, consultants, and executive leadership. The ideal candidate has extensive experience managing large-scale development projects within the healthcare, senior living, assisted living, higher education, life sciences, or cultural sectors and is highly skilled at navigating complex regulatory environments and presenting to executive-level stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Project Development & Delivery

• Lead development projects through all phases, including planning, feasibility, design, permitting, construction, and project closeout.
• Coordinate project schedules, budgets, milestones, and deliverables to ensure successful execution.
• Oversee design development, regulatory approvals, entitlement processes, and construction activities.
• Monitor project performance and proactively identify and resolve risks, issues, and schedule impacts.
• Ensure projects are delivered in accordance with quality, budget, and timeline expectations.

Design & Construction Management

• Collaborate with architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and project teams throughout the project lifecycle.
• Review design documents, construction plans, budgets, and technical specifications for completeness and accuracy.
• Manage project procurement, consultant selection, and contract administration.
• Oversee construction progress, change management, and project reporting.
• Ensure compliance with applicable building codes, regulations, and industry standards.

Client & Executive Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for owners, clients, executive leadership, boards, and external stakeholders.
• Lead client meetings, executive presentations, and project update sessions.
• Build strong, long-term relationships with clients by providing strategic guidance and exceptional service.
• Communicate project status, risks, financial updates, and recommendations to executive stakeholders in a clear and professional manner.
• Represent projects confidently in public meetings, board presentations, and executive discussions.

Financial & Strategic Oversight

• Develop and manage project budgets, forecasts, and financial reporting.
• Monitor project costs and recommend strategies to improve efficiency while maintaining project objectives.
• Evaluate project feasibility and support strategic planning initiatives.
• Assist with business development efforts, client pursuits, and proposal development when appropriate.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Provide leadership and guidance to multidisciplinary project teams throughout the development process.
• Foster collaboration between internal departments, consultants, contractors, and client representatives.
• Mentor junior project management professionals and contribute to organizational best practices.
• Promote continuous improvement in project delivery, risk management, and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Real Estate Development, Urban Planning, or a related field.
• 10 years of progressive experience managing complex real estate development projects.
• Strong experience managing projects within healthcare, senior living, assisted living, higher education, life sciences, cultural institutions, or similar sectors.
• Extensive knowledge of project planning, design management, regulatory approvals, permitting, construction administration, and project delivery.
• Experience managing project budgets, schedules, contracts, and consultant teams.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong client-facing experience with the ability to present confidently to executive leadership, boards, and ownership groups.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to travel to project sites as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Real Estate Development, Construction Management, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Professional certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Construction Manager (CCM), LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP), or similar credentials.
• Experience leading large-scale institutional or campus development projects.
• Familiarity with public-sector development, regulatory agencies, and entitlement processes.
• Experience supporting business development and client relationship management initiatives.