Project Director, Coco Palms

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Project Director, Coco Palms

About Reef:

Reef is a Utah-based vertically integrated investment and development firm founded in 2005. Reef's team is currently involved in some of the most prominent development transactions in Utah and other targeted geographies across the United States.

Built on two decades of success, our investment approach combines proven expertise with purposeful innovation. Reef's team has completed more than 500 transactions across all lines of business. In addition to our real estate investment strategy, Reef and/or affiliates own and operate various businesses that add significant long-term value to its projects. We have grown rapidly, growing from about 25 employees to well over 400, with managed assets on behalf of over 750 institutional and individual partners worldwide.

With the motto "Expect the Best," Reef's most prominent developments include Black Desert Resort, a $2 billion luxury resort in Ivins, Utah; Marcella, a luxury private golf community in Park City, Utah; Tributer Resort, Virginia's newest premier private lakeside golf destination; Cornerstone Club, a 5,000-acre residential community, private club, and resort in Telluride, Colorado; Sweetens Cove, a renowned and evolving golf destination nestled in the Tennessee Valley; and the restoration of the historic Coco Palms Resort in Wailua, on the island of Kauai, Hawaii.

At Reef, our mission is to recruit, develop, and retain entrepreneurial individuals who desire to build and create something long-lasting and meaningful. Our business enables bright, committed people to work in high-performing teams within an environment that allows each person to achieve their professional objectives. Reef values a strong culture dedicated to the health and well-being of our employees.

Position Summary:

Reef is seeking an experienced Project Director to oversee the construction and development of our Coco Palms development in Hawaii. The Project Director serves as the senior owner-side authority during active construction and is responsible for ensuring that the approved development business plan is delivered on time, on budget, and to Reef's required quality standards.

The Project Director is accountable for construction execution within the approved plan. The Project Director operates at the nexus of Reef's development and construction organizations, ensuring disciplined execution while maintaining alignment with the approved business plan.

Responsibilities:

Construction Execution Leadership

• Serve as the primary owner-side authority during active construction.
• Lead construction execution to ensure conformance with approved scope, budget, schedule, and quality standards.
• Ensure alignment between field execution and the development plan approved by the Development Director and PSG.

Contract, Cost & Schedule Control

• Enforce construction contracts, GMPs, and change management processes.
• Review and approve pay applications, change orders, and contingency usage within delegated authority thresholds.
• Monitor schedule performance and drive corrective actions to address slippage.
• Escalate material cost or schedule deviations exceeding delegated authority to the Development Director and Development Operations Manager.

General Contractor & Field Oversight

• Act as the primary point of contact between ownership and the General Contractor.
• Lead OAC meetings, field coordination sessions, inspections, and milestone tracking.
• Ensure quality, safety, and compliance standards are upheld throughout construction.

Technical & Design Coordination

• Partner with the Design Execution Manager to resolve RFIs, submittals, and field issues.
• Ensure approved design intent is maintained while addressing constructability, sequencing, and field challenges.
• Escalate material design deviations to the Development Director and VP of Design for approval prior to implementation.

Risk Identification & Escalation

• Proactively identify execution risks related to cost, schedule, quality, and safety.
• Escalate risks with business plan implications to the Development Director.
• Escalate construction execution issues (methodology, sequencing, GC performance) to the EVP of Construction.
• Keep the Development Operations Manager informed of all material field developments impacting cost, schedule, or cash flow to maintain model and forecast accuracy.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Real Estate Development, or a related field.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in construction management, owner's representation, or development delivery, with at least 5 years in a senior, project‑lead or director‑level role.
• Proven experience serving as the owner's representative on large, complex real estate development projects through active construction.
• Experience delivering large‑scale hospitality, mixed‑use, resort, or complex urban development projects.
• Prior experience working within a vertically integrated real estate development and construction organization.
• Familiarity with development financial models, cash flow forecasting, and schedule integration.
• Professional certifications such as PMP, CCM, PE, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated success managing General Contractors under GMP contracts, including cost control, change management, and schedule enforcement
• Strong understanding of construction means and methods, contract administration, cost controls, scheduling, and quality assurance.
• Experience coordinating with development, design, finance, and operations teams within a structured development organization.
• Ability to execute within a clearly defined business plan and governance framework, with strong discipline around authority limits and escalation protocols.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to lead meetings, drive accountability, and resolve issues decisively.

Company Benefits:

• 401(k) Plan with Company Match
• Generous Health Plan with HSA Match
• Relocation Assistance
• Vehicle Reimbursement
• Flexible Paid Time-off
• Daily Company Lunches
• Cell Phone Service Allowance
• Discounts at Company-owned Resorts and Golf Courses