Vice President, Retail Project Development

Description

Vice President, Retail Project Development - Upland, CA

The Lewis Group of Companies is a collection of independent entities focused on the real estate industry. For more than 70 years, we’ve created lasting value through thoughtful planning, quality development, and long-term investment in the communities we serve.

About your new career:

As our Vice President, Retail Project Development , you will lead the development of new retail projects from initial opportunity and site acquisition through entitlement, design, construction, stabilization, and eventual turnover to our Commercial Property Management team.

Note : This career is located on-site at the corporate office in Upland, CA.

This is a highly visible leadership role for an experienced retail development professional who can manage complex projects, navigate public-agency approvals, lead multidisciplinary consultant teams, and collaborate across the Lewis organization to successfully bring retail developments from concept to completion.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Commercial Development , you will serve as a primary leader and owner advocate throughout the development process.

Your work will include:

• Leading and executing retail development opportunities in alignment with ownership goals and direction.
• Serving as the primary development leader for assigned projects, coordinating with Lewis departments, managers, consultants, and other stakeholders.
• Leading entitlement and public-agency approval processes, including interactions with city staff, Planning Commissions, City Councils, boards, committees, and neighborhood groups.
• Preparing and oversee public-agency applications, supporting documentation, plans, and exhibits.
• Managing all aspects of permitting, plan checks, development conditions, and jurisdictional requirements.
• Supporting the land acquisition team in evaluating potential retail development opportunities, including agency research, competitive project research, preliminary site planning, and product development.
• Selecting and leading multidisciplinary consultant teams, including architects, engineers, utility consultants, landscape architects, and environmental consultants.
• Directing and reviewing consultant work to ensure projects remain coordinated, efficient, and on schedule.
• Reviewing tenant work letters and leases for development- and construction-related requirements.
• Overseeing plan processing and approvals required to obtain construction permits and ensure development conditions are successfully satisfied.
• Coordinating dry utility relocations, work orders, contracts, deposits, and related activities.
• Generating and tracking contract and change-order requests and review payment authorizations.
• Managing monthly project cost reporting, addressing budget variances, and responding to ownership and executive leadership regarding project performance.
• Reviewing development proformas to ensure underwriting assumptions are accurate.
• Partnering closely with construction teams throughout the development process, identifying value-engineering opportunities and ensuring plans are viable for construction and long-term operation.
• Collaborating with Property Management, Engineering, Marketing, Accounting, Legal, Planned Communities, and other Lewis teams.
• Capturing lessons learned from completed projects and apply those insights to future development processes.
• Building and maintaining productive relationships with internal partners and current and prospective joint venture partners.

Qualifications for success:

• Bachelor’s degree in real estate development, architecture, construction, construction engineering, construction management, civil engineering, or a related field.
• Significant experience in retail/commercial real estate development, with 10+ years preferred.
• Experience with mid- to large-scale retail center development is strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of architectural and engineering plans.
• Knowledge of development budgeting and scheduling.
• Ability to effectively utilize project management and construction technology, including platforms such as Microsoft Project, Bluebeam, and Procore.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to represent projects before public agencies, governing bodies, community groups, consultants, and business partners.

NOTE: Reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license for travel to company projects. Valid California Real Estate License is required or will be required within six months of hire. 

Salary & Perks

Starting base salary range of $215k+ based on experience plus monthly auto allowance, $100/month cellphone allowance, 401k with company match, annual bonus and raise eligibility, a variety of health benefits plans to choose from, and paid vacation and holidays.

Join our Team:

We are a family-led community development group of companies committed to elevating the standards of living and quality of life for every customer, employee, partner, investor and community served. If this sounds like a fit, we’d love to hear from you.

Lewis Management Corp. is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply.

Please note: This posting is a summary of the role's primary duties. For a comprehensive list of essential functions, physical demands, and formal requirements, please request the full internal job description.