Director, Development & Investor Project Services, Project & Development Services

Cushman & Wakefield•Chicago, IL

About The Position

The Director, Development & Investor Project Services will provide leadership to the overall project management service line for a designated market, including business development, business operations, financial management, client relations, and project operations. This role is responsible for developing and executing strategic business objectives for Project & Development Services (PDS) through leadership and advanced expertise in collaboration with the PDS Regional Leader and local market Managing Principal. This position actively works to establish and maintain Cushman & Wakefield’s presence as a thought leader and first-class service provider and will collaborate with PDS leadership and local market leadership to expand the development and investor-services platform, strengthen client relationships, and deliver consistent, high-quality outcomes across the project portfolio. The Director will lead a team that provides development advisory and project management services to developers, asset managers, management companies, real estate investment trusts (REITs,), private equity owners, institutional investors, family offices, and other real estate owners requiring experienced capital-project leadership. Serving as an owner’s representative and trusted advisor, the Director will align project decisions with investment objectives, asset strategy, underwriting assumptions, risk tolerance, schedule requirements, and long-term value creation. The role is accountable for client strategy, team leadership, business development, financial performance, and successful execution of ground-up development, redevelopment, repositioning, and capital improvement programs.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Real Estate, Finance, Business Administration or related field.
Twelve or more years of progressive experience in real estate development, construction, owner’s representation, project management, asset management, or related advisory services with 2 or more years of management experience required.
Demonstrated success delivering complex ground-up development, redevelopment, and capital improvement projects throughout the full project lifecycle.
Strong understanding of real estate investment strategy, underwriting, capital planning, development economics, and asset value creation.
Advanced knowledge of development and construction management, including budgeting, forecasting, procurement, contracting, scheduling, entitlements, permitting, risk management, and financial reporting.
Proven leadership, client advisory, business development, and stakeholder management capabilities, with the ability to drive strategic growth and deliver exceptional client outcomes.
Ability to contribute to the strategic direction of the assigned department or assigned practice area.
Advanced project management skills with expertise in the project management business.
Expert in client relations, client management and consulting.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Highly organized with strong analytical skills.
A proficient working knowledge of accounting and financial reporting, budgeting, scheduling and processes as they relate to corporate real estate, design and construction.
Software skills: Microsoft Office applications, MS Project.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred.
Certification preferred.
Experience serving developers, institutional owners, REITs, private equity real estate firms, asset managers, lenders, and other investment-focused clients preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and grow a team of project and development professionals, providing oversight, coaching, performance management, and strategic direction for the practice.
Lead complex ground-up development, redevelopment, repositioning, and capital improvement projects from due diligence through lease-up, occupancy, and stabilization – demonstrating competence in broad range of varied project types and operate in complex / non routine environment
Direct feasibility studies, due diligence, entitlement strategies, consultant coordination, development budgeting, scheduling, procurement, and delivery planning.
Provide fiduciary oversight of project finances, including budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, change management, cost reporting, and capital deployment strategies.
Establish project governance, stakeholder communication, reporting standards, and decision-making processes for ownership, lenders, investors, and project teams.
Lead the selection, contracting, and management of design professionals, contractors, consultants, and vendors to ensure successful project outcomes.
Identify, mitigate, and escalate project risks related to scope, schedule, budget, contracts, quality, safety, and stakeholder alignment.
Oversee multiple projects, assets, and client relationships while ensuring consistent service delivery, quality standards, and operational excellence.
Drive business development through client engagement, market presence, opportunity identification, proposal development, fee negotiations, and account growth.
Contribute to the financial performance and strategic growth of the practice through pipeline management, staffing, forecasting, project profitability, and operational leadership.
Represent Cushman & Wakefield as an industry leader through client presentations, market engagement, and thought leadership initiatives.
Serve as a trusted advisor with internal and external clients to ensure successful delivery of project management services, client goals and objectives are established and achieved; project action plans are implemented, anticipate/respond to all client needs, and generally act as a trusted advisor for comprehensive real estate work
Act with fiduciary responsibility to client projects, including complete financial management of project: establish and manage project budgets, maintain monthly forecasts and cash flow analysis, prepare anticipated cost reports and any other reports as required by the client
Management of due diligence, programming, design, entitlements, bidding, permitting, procurement, design team selection, schedule creation/management, contractor selection, vendor selection, sustainability and post construction services.
Identify and address areas of concern regarding potential liabilities and risk (fee, our reputation, errors and omissions, etc.) with Market Leader.
Provide an appropriate level of on-site supervision to ensure proper performance criteria are being met.
Leverage PDS technology, processes and best practices to improve project delivery, decision making, and client outcomes.
Active management of PDS staff, including adherence to company policy/procedures, staff development, performance management, and team motivation.
Convey and ensure adoption of policies and practices to the team.