Regional Director - Affordable Development (Charlotte Metro)

Macdonald & Company is partnered with an established real estate investment and development firm focused on the delivery of affordable housing throughout the Southeast. With a growing regional pipeline and a long-term commitment to expanding its development platform, the firm partners with public agencies, municipalities, nonprofit organizations and capital partners to deliver impactful residential communities across multiple markets.

As the business continues to grow, our client is seeking an experienced development professional to help lead regional expansion and oversee a growing pipeline of affordable, mixed-income and market-rate residential developments throughout the Southeast.

This is a senior leadership opportunity for an experienced real estate developer to lead both the origination and execution of residential development opportunities across multiple Southeast markets, with an emphasis on affordable and mixed-income housing.

The successful candidate will be responsible for identifying new development opportunities, cultivating strategic relationships, sourcing opportunities through both public and private channels, and leading developments through the full project lifecycle. This role requires someone who is equally comfortable building a long-term pipeline through broker, landowner and public-sector relationships while overseeing active developments from acquisition through construction and stabilization.

The position offers significant autonomy and the opportunity to play a key role in the continued growth of an established development platform.

Responsibilities

Development Management

• Lead developments from initial pursuit through due diligence, entitlement, financing, construction and stabilization.
• Oversee site selection, feasibility analysis, consultant coordination and overall development strategy.
• Manage architects, engineers, attorneys, contractors, consultants and development partners throughout the project lifecycle.
• Monitor project schedules, budgets and overall execution to ensure developments are delivered successfully.
• Identify project risks and implement mitigation strategies throughout the development process.

Origination & Market Expansion

• Originate affordable, mixed-income and market-rate residential development opportunities through relationships with landowners, brokers, housing authorities, municipalities, nonprofit organizations and strategic partners.
• Identify, pursue and lead responses to RFPs, RFQs and other public procurement opportunities.
• Develop and maintain long-term relationships with the brokerage community, housing authorities, public agencies, municipal leaders, institutional partners and community stakeholders.
• Source opportunities through broker networks, strategic partnerships and off-market relationships in addition to competitive procurement processes.
• Represent the company throughout the affordable housing and broader development community while expanding the firm's regional development pipeline.

Capital Structuring & Transactions

• Structure complex affordable housing capital stacks, including LIHTC, tax-exempt bonds, soft funding sources and other public and private financing, in partnership with internal finance and investment teams.
• Prepare financial underwriting, development budgets, project feasibility analyses and investment recommendations in partnership with internal finance and investment teams.
• Negotiate purchase agreements, development agreements, partnership structures and other transaction documentation.
• Present development opportunities and investment recommendations to senior leadership.
• Monitor project financial performance and ensure developments achieve targeted investment objectives.

Regional Leadership

• Lead the firm's development activities throughout the Southeast, with an emphasis on affordable and mixed-income housing.
• Build upon the firm's existing development pipeline while developing and executing a long-term regional growth strategy across multiple Southeast markets.
• Identify new markets and strategic opportunities that align with the firm's investment and development objectives.
• Serve as the senior regional development lead, working closely with executive leadership to drive continued growth.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Partner closely with executive leadership to help shape the firm's long-term Southeast development strategy.
• Operate with a high degree of autonomy while managing multiple developments across several markets.
• Coordinate internal resources and external stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery.
• Identify, mentor and support junior development professionals as the regional platform continues to grow.
• Foster a collaborative, entrepreneurial and relationship-driven culture across all projects and partnerships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business, Urban Planning, Construction Management or a related discipline.
• 7+ years of real estate development experience, including significant affordable housing development expertise.
• Demonstrated experience leading affordable housing and/or mixed-income developments from site control through project completion.
• Extensive knowledge of LIHTC, tax-exempt bond financing, public funding programs and layered affordable housing capital structures.
• Strong experience working directly with housing authorities, municipalities, public agencies and other governmental partners.
• Demonstrated success pursuing public-private partnerships, fee development opportunities and competitive RFP/RFQ processes.
• Proven ability to originate development opportunities through broker relationships, strategic partnerships, off-market sourcing and public-sector networks.
• Strong financial analysis, underwriting and development management capabilities.
• Experience managing multiple complex developments simultaneously across multiple markets.
• Exceptional leadership, communication and relationship management skills.
• Ability to operate independently in a highly entrepreneurial environment while collaborating closely with executive leadership.
• Willingness to travel throughout the Southeast as required.