Senior Development Manager Listed on Aug 03, 2026

Focus Inc; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Focus Inc. seeks a senior real estate development leader to oversee multifamily, commercial, or mixed-use projects valued over $100MM. You will act as the owner's representative, guiding consultants, coordinating drawings, and steering the project from early diligence through permitting.

With 5+ years in development and assertive leadership, you will manage stakeholders, drive reports, and ensure schedule and budget discipline across multiple developments.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of multifamily, commercial, or mixed-use development experience.
• Proven development management and owner representation experience.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience with Procore/Bluebeam/Revit a plus.
• Willingness to travel to sites and meetings.

Responsibilities

• Lead real estate development activities and construction oversight with minimal guidance.
• Represent Focus as owner and direct the project team.
• Coordinate production of working drawings and lifecycle oversight.
• Maintain stakeholder relationships and prepare regular project reports.
• Oversee budgets, soft costs, and internal quality control.
• Perform site visits to ensure quality and schedule adherence.

Skills

Leadership

Real estate development

Owner representation

Stakeholder management

Communication

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Real Estate

Tools

Procore

Bluebeam

Revit

Autodesk CAD

Job description

Lead the execution of one or more complex multifamily, commercial, and/or mixed-use developments, generally with development costs greater than $100MM. In this role, you'll act as the owner's representative throughout the development lifecycle—leading a team of consultants, guiding the production of working drawings, and providing direct, clear direction to the project team. You'll operate with minimal guidance from executive leadership, so multifamily development experience and confident, assertive leadership are essential.

Lead the Development Process:

• Lead real estate development activities and construction oversight with minimal guidance from executive leadership.
• Represent Focus as owner, providing direct and clear direction to the project team.
• Lead the production of working drawings and act as owner's representative through every phase of the development lifecycle.
• Evaluate real estate opportunities through physical inspections and due diligence, including zoning code research, architectural programming, consultant coordination, working drawing coordination, and permitting.
• Read, coordinate, and analyze full sets of drawings.

Manage Relationships + Reporting

• Maintain positive relationships with project stakeholders, including consultants, municipalities, partners, lenders, brokers, and other key members of the project team.
• Lead the preparation of business plans and regular reporting across multiple developments, ensuring compliance throughout each project's life cycle.

Budget & Quality Control

• Create and manage soft cost budgets and related contracts.
• Participate in the company's internal quality control efforts and design standards.

Site Oversight

• Regularly perform site visits to ensure quality of construction and adherence to schedule.

Skills

• 5+ years of experience in multifamily real estate development, architecture, construction management, or a related field.
• Proven experience in development management and/or owner representation, including partner and investor relationship management.
• Advanced understanding of the roles and key participants across the real estate industry, including construction teams, consultants, municipalities, and governing bodies.
• Assertive, with proven leadership skills and excellent interpersonal, written, verbal, and presentation abilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office required; experience with Procore, Bluebeam, Revit, or other Autodesk CAD software is a plus.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel to sites and meetings.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Architecture, Construction Management, or a related field.