Development Associate

Cushman & Wakefield • Ashburn, VA

13h

About The Position

The Development Associate will provide critical support to the Site Selection and Development team, playing a hands-on role in managing development activities from site control through entitlements and project execution. This position requires strong coordination skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously. The ideal candidate brings a solid background in real estate development, strong communication skills, and a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset.

Requirements

• Associate’s degree, technical degree, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 5–8 years of experience in real estate development, construction, project management, or a related field.
• Working knowledge of document control processes, vendor commitments, invoicing procedures, and lien releases.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interface effectively with internal teams and external partners.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise professionalism and diplomacy in collaborative environments.
• Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to manage changing priorities and job responsibilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365, including SharePoint and Teams.

Responsibilities

• Support the Site Selection and Development Manager in contract negotiations with property owners, utilities, and municipalities.
• Assist in the preparation and execution of letters of intent, purchase and sale agreements, and other site control documentation.
• Track and manage due diligence deliverables, including surveys, environmental reports, title commitments, and related third-party studies, ensuring timely completion.
• Coordinate with consultants, engineers, attorneys, and vendors on project schedules, permitting, and entitlement processes.
• Manage project budgets and invoices, ensuring accurate coding, compliance, and alignment with accounting requirements.
• Maintain organized and up-to-date project files, including key documents, correspondence, approvals, and milestones within centralized document management systems.
• Oversee scheduling and calendar management for the development team, including coordination of internal meetings, external partner calls, and municipal meetings.
• Prepare meeting materials, agendas, presentations, and supporting documentation for leadership and project partners.
• Coordinate travel arrangements, expense reporting, and reimbursements for the development team.
• Track contract execution, signature routing, and document completion for agreements, NDAs, and vendor contracts.
• Ensure consistent document formatting, naming conventions, and version control across all active projects.
• Support onboarding of new vendors and consultants, ensuring compliance with company policies, insurance requirements, and internal approval processes.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date project status dashboards and reporting tools for leadership review.
• Draft clear and concise summary memos, meeting notes, and project updates for internal stakeholders and capital partners.
• Assist with the preparation of investment committee materials, including site summaries, maps, timelines, and risk assessments.
• Coordinate with marketing and research teams to fulfill data requests related to site pipeline tracking and market analysis.

Benefits

• Cushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work.
• In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, business line, and applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree