Philadelphia/Southern NJ

Vice President of Development

Focus: Affordable Housing Development
Location: Mid-Atlantic Region Travel Required

The Opportunity

A vertically integrated real estate organization is seeking a Vice President of Development to lead the development of affordable and workforce housing communities. This role will work closely with regional leadership and internal teams to identify new opportunities, advance projects through predevelopment, and oversee the full development lifecycle through construction and stabilization.

Role Overview

The Vice President of Development is responsible for advancing affordable housing development opportunities while coordinating internal teams and external partners throughout the development process. This position will oversee predevelopment due diligence, project financing, design coordination, entitlements, and construction oversight while ensuring projects remain aligned with organizational strategy and financial objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Development Strategy & Opportunity Sourcing

  • Support regional leadership in business development efforts, community engagement, and partnership building

  • Lead responses to RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs for public and nonprofit development opportunities

  • Present new deal opportunities to internal investment committees for approval

Predevelopment & Project Planning

  • Coordinate due diligence activities including market analysis, site evaluation, environmental review, zoning considerations, and development feasibility

  • Partner with internal teams to prepare financial feasibility analyses, development budgets, and milestone schedules

  • Collaborate with architects, engineers, and consultants to develop conceptual project plans and address site constraints such as zoning, floodplain, wetlands, and environmental conditions

Development Execution

  • Lead all aspects of the development process including design, entitlements, permitting, financing, construction, lease-up, and stabilization

  • Coordinate development professionals including architects, general contractors, legal counsel, engineers, environmental consultants, and financial advisors

  • Manage consultant contracts and approve invoices during predevelopment and construction draw processes

  • Maintain project schedules and proactively address delays or risk factors

Internal Coordination & Project Leadership

  • Lead regular project team meetings through development, construction, and lease-up phases

  • Coordinate input from internal teams including Asset Management, Property Management, and Finance

  • Collaborate with construction teams to monitor project progress, quality, budget adherence, and lender funding requirements

  • Support successful lease-up and operational transition to property management teams

Contract Negotiation & Financial Oversight

  • Negotiate development-related agreements including architect, contractor, consultant, and financing agreements

  • Work with internal finance and accounting teams to administer development budgets and funding sources

  • Assist in structuring project capital stacks including tax credit equity, debt financing, and subsidy sources

Experience & Qualifications

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Real Estate, Urban Planning, Finance, Economics, Public Administration, or related field

  • 5–7+ years of experience in real estate development, project finance, or project management

  • Experience underwriting, financing, and delivering multifamily or affordable housing developments

  • Strong understanding of the full development lifecycle including due diligence, financing, design, construction, and stabilization

  • Knowledge of LIHTC and other affordable housing financing programs

Preferred

  • Advanced degree such as MBA, Master’s in Real Estate, or City Planning

  • Experience working with public housing agencies, municipalities, and nonprofit partners

Technical & Professional Skills

  • Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to lead complex development projects

  • Knowledge of architectural and engineering drawings, site planning, zoning, entitlements, and construction processes

  • Understanding of affordable housing capital markets including tax credit equity, permanent financing, and subsidy programs

  • Strong financial analysis and underwriting capabilities

  • Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills

  • Ability to build relationships with housing agencies, development partners, consultants, and contractors

Compensation & Benefits

  • Competitive compensation, commensurate with experience

  • Comprehensive benefits package

  • Opportunity to play a leadership role in delivering impactful affordable housing developments

Why This Opportunity

  • Opportunity to lead complex affordable housing developments from concept through stabilization

  • Exposure to acquisitions, financing, public-private partnerships, and construction execution

  • Collaborative environment working across development, finance, and construction teams

  • Ability to help shape housing communities that have meaningful impact in the markets served