Senior Development Manager

Senior Development Manager

Under general direction of the Deputy Director and in close coordination with the CADA executive leadership team, the Senior Development Manager provides strategic leadership and technical expertise for complex urban infill, mixed-use commercial and residential development programs, including middle-income projects, from project conception through entitlement, construction, and occupancy. This role is responsible for advancing CADA's redevelopment objectives within the Capitol Area, the R Street Corridor, downtown and in other assigned locations, while maximizing public benefit through effective use of agency resources, innovative financing, and public-private partnerships.

The Senior Development Manager is expected to exercise a high degree of independent judgment, serve as a subject-matter expert in affordable housing, real estate development and public-sector programs and implementation. This position will mentor staff while representing CADA in high-level negotiations and public forums.

Immediate supervision is provided by the Deputy Director. This position exercises direct and indirect supervision over assigned professional, technical, and support staff and provides functional leadership across multidisciplinary project teams.

Essential Functions

A. Lead and manage complex development initiatives, including urban infill, mixed-use, varying income levels, commercial, residential, and infrastructure projects. Responsibilities include project visioning, feasibility analysis, budgeting, scheduling, entitlement strategy, design oversight, construction coordination, and transition to operations.

B. Direct project financial structuring and feasibility, including preparation and review of massing studies, sophisticated development proformas; evaluation of financing sources; and assessment of risk, return, and long-term operational impacts.

C. Oversee land acquisition and disposition activities, including negotiation of purchase and sale agreements, leases, development agreements, appraisals, and escrows, in coordination with legal counsel.

D. Lead procurement processes, including preparation and administration of Requests for Proposals/Qualifications (RFP/Qs) and Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs); oversee competitive selection processes; and evaluate proposals based on financial, technical, and policy criteria.

E. Negotiate and manage complex agreements in coordination with CADA legal counsel, including development agreements, disposition and development agreements (DDAs), ground leases, consultant contracts, funding agreements, regulatory agreements, and public-private partnership arrangements.

F. Provide senior-level oversight of environmental review and regulatory compliance, including CEQA processes, mitigation implementation, remediation, and coordination related to transportation, noise, air quality, water quality, and sustainability requirements.

G. Manage project financing and funding compliance, including identifying and securing grants, tax credits, and other public and private funding sources; preparing and reviewing applications; and ensuring compliance with reporting and regulatory requirements.

H. Coordinate with city, state, and other governmental agencies on land use, entitlement, building permits, infrastructure, and funding requirements; represent CADA in interagency negotiations and policy discussions.

I. Evaluate development proposals and projects for consistency with adopted program guidelines, design standards, applicable laws and ordinances, organizational goals, community values, and long-term asset management and maintenance considerations.

J. Prepare and present staff reports and recommendations to the CADA Board of Directors, commissions, citizen advisory committees, and other decision-making bodies; provide clear, defensible analysis and strategic recommendations.

K. Lead and facilitate community engagement efforts, ensuring meaningful public participation and stakeholder coordination throughout the planning and development process.

L. Represent CADA externally with developers, investors, consultants, public agencies, and community stakeholders; build and maintain effective partnerships and collaborations aligned with CADA's mission, values, and goals.

M. Provide advisory support to the CADA development team and executive leadership on development strategy, market trends, best practices, sustainability, and affordable and workforce housing policy approaches.

N. Mentor, supervise, and develop staff, fostering collaboration, accountability, and professional growth across the development function.

O. Perform other related duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications, Experience and Training Guidelines

The following skills, knowledge, and abilities are essential for successful performance of this position.

Knowledge of:

• Advanced principles and practices of urban land use planning, redevelopment, smart growth, transit-oriented development, and sustainable community development.
• Public- and private-sector real estate development finance, including affordable and workforce housing financing tools, tax credits, grants, and public-private partnerships.
• Complex contract negotiation and administration, including development agreements and real estate transactions.
• Architecture, urban design, construction management, and historic preservation/adaptive reuse.
• Environmental review and remediation, including CEQA and related federal, state, and local environmental regulations and funding programs.
• Public participation processes and governance structures; applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and codes.
• Market analysis, statistical analysis, financial modeling, and advanced technical writing.

Ability to:

• Lead and deliver complex development projects in a public-sector environment with minimal direction.
• Analyze and structure development proformas and financing strategies to determine feasibility and public benefit.
• Negotiate effectively with developers, investors, community stakeholders, and governmental agencies.
• Interpret and apply plans, architectural drawings, construction documents, and technical reports.
• Communicate complex information clearly and persuasively in written and oral form.
• Exercise sound judgment, discretion, and leadership in politically-sensitive and high-profile environments.
• Build consensus, resolve conflicts, and foster collaborative, results-oriented teams.
• Perform on an ongoing basis as an active participant in the CADA leadership team: recognizing that acceptable absenteeism, punctuality and the ability to get along with others in the workplace are important to the agency performing its mission successfully.
• Coordinate with the CADA team, being a team player and providing customer service across departments to ensure positive and regular communication.
• Commit to thoughtful community development that considers sustainability, providing a range of housing types and costs, and working to support neighborhood character and a sense of place.

Experience and Training Guidelines

Any combination of experience and training that will likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Training: A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Planning, Architecture, Engineering, Real Estate Finance, Community Development, Public Administration, or a related field. A master's degree or professional license is highly desirable.

Experience: Five to eight years of progressively responsible experience in real estate development, housing development, urban redevelopment, or a related field, including demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects. Prior experience in public-sector development, affordable or mixed-income housing, and grant or tax credit financing is strongly preferred.