Senior Development Associate - Collaborative Real Estate

About Collaborative

Collaborative and its predecessor companies have more than 25 years’ experience partnering with well-capitalized education and research institutions and supporting organizations. During that time, we’ve delivered and operated multiple award-winning projects throughout the United States. Our property operations company is the basis of our ongoing client relationships and is uniquely focused on supporting the growth of research and knowledge communities. As a development process manager, we manage unique and specialized projects on a GMP basis for our clients as well as on our own account. For more information, visit us at collabre.co.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Development Associate to support one or more commercial, mixed-use projects underway in the initial stages of pre-development. The projects may include research laboratory and office buildings along with a mix of commercial office, retail, and/or multi-family residential. Project sizes may range from $25 million to $500 million.

Position Summary

The Senior Development Associate guides site acquisition and development of new projects, including completion of due diligence processes and supporting clients to secure funding. The ideal candidate for this role will be experienced in pre-development planning, entitlement, sourcing, design and construction oversight. The individual will analyze financial viability and ensure compliance with regulations, project budgets and timelines. Effective communication, superior organization skills, ability to develop team members, and creativity in problem-solving are ideal traits for success in our company.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive leadership and service to project owner(s) throughout the development project cycle from conceptualization to turnover.
• Ensure compliance with development agreements between company and owner(s) including timely production of all deliverables.
• Participate with clients in conceptual planning and “highest and best use” analysis. Collaborate with client representatives and their financial analysts to perform feasibility studies.
• Source, interview and recommend third-party members of the project team including engineers, architects, consultants, legal counsel and contractors for approval of the owner(s). Supervise and coordinate their work on each project.
• Organize and oversee site due diligence, ensuring all requirements are met and documentation is accurate and complete.
• Represent the project and owner(s) through complex entitlement and governmental approval processes. Identify and lead community engagement efforts as needed, and liaise with public officials and private stakeholders within each project’s local community.
• Coordinate with architects and design professionals to advance conceptual plans and design documents working with clients input throughout.
• Create and manage development budget throughout by working with client teams to update financial models. Make value recommendations to the clients, assisting with advancement of the best economical development plan.
• Work with company leasing representatives and institutional clients to develop marketing strategies and respond to prospective tenant design and budgeting needs where appropriate.
• Represent developer and owner(s) in construction progress meetings to manage project on time and on budget. Regularly report project status and progress to ensure risks are identified and mitigated as early as possible. Create action plans to correct any deficiencies.
• Review, verify and recommend for payment all applications for payment, invoices and statements submitted by the General Contractor and all other Contractors and Consultants; inspect or cause to be inspected the work and activities of such General Contractor, Contractors and Consultants; and inspect or cause to be inspected construction and progress on a regular basis and make regular reports to owner(s) concerning the progress of development.
• Ensure that the project is appropriately commissioned and administratively turned over to owner(s) and operator for a successful and smooth transition.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field (real estate, architecture, finance, urban planning, etc.).
• 8-10 years of real estate development experience, preferably including office, lab, or other institutional project types.
• Knowledge of principles associated with architecture/design, zoning and land use regulation, urban planning, civil engineering, real estate finance, governmental/public affairs, and leasing.
• Familiarity with real estate documents, including ground leases, purchase and sale agreements, easements, surveys, site assessment reports, construction contracts, professional service contracts, tenant leases, and development agreements.
• Familiarity with excel-based financial modeling and data analysis.
• Excellent written and oral communication as well as presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal oversight.
• Willingness to think creatively and strategically about the future potential of real estate assets, while taking into account site constraints/encumbrances, market conditions, regulatory environment and execution risk.
• Ability to travel regularly (up to 25%).