Director of Construction & Development

Make Space

3d

About The Position

The Director of Construction & Development oversees the entire lifecycle of development and construction projects across Canada, from initial planning to operational handover. This position is crucial in assessing project viability before construction starts, not just managing successful completion. It is a hands-on leadership role—you're expected to actively drive project execution, collaborating closely with Construction Managers, consultants, contractors, and internal teams. A key focus is ensuring projects support long-term operational success, not merely finishing construction. You will act as a link between development and operations, making sure assets are functional, efficient, and aligned with business needs from the outset.

Requirements

• 10–15+ years of experience in real estate construction and development
• Experience delivering projects valued at $15M+
• Experience running multiple projects at various stages concurrently.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Architecture, Urban Planning, Real Estate, Engineering or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• Project Management Professional PMP designation, or equivalent
• Strong knowledge of contracts, procurement and construction methodologies.
• Multi-story experience
• In-depth knowledge of zoning, site plan, building codes, and environmental regulations.
• Strong financial acumen with experience in budget management and proforma contribution.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to travel as needed.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of new builds, expansions, and redevelopment projects
• Act as the owner’s representative, accountable for scope, budget, schedule, and outcomes
• Manage multiple projects concurrently across different regions
• Partner with the Acquisitions team during site selection and due diligence phases
• Provide input on site feasibility, construction strategy, and cost assumptions
• Support evaluation of development types (greenfield, conversion, multi-story)
• Review and validate pro forma assumptions related to construction costs and timelines
• Engage with municipalities and stakeholders to support approvals and project viability
• Contribute to go/no-go decisions based on construction and development insights
• Stay actively involved in project execution—problem-solving in real time, not just overseeing
• Partner closely with Construction Managers to drive day-to-day progress
• Manage schedules, budgets, and risks, ensuring proactive course correction
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs and improve project returns
• Actively manage construction cost drivers, contingencies, and efficiencies
• Partner with internal teams to align budget, design, and operational outcomes
• Lead tendering, procurement, and contractor selection processes
• Negotiate and manage contracts through to project close-out
• Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors and industry partners
• Prepare, own and accountable for all project budgets and timelines and is a paramount priority and skillset
• Contributes to financial forecasts and is responsible for detailed proforma cost assumptions and inputs.
• Monitor project financials to maintain cost control, addressing variances and ensuring profitability.
• Provide transparent financial and project milestones reporting to the Managing Director and partners.
• Lead land entitlement efforts, including securing zoning, site plan approvals, and other municipal permits.
• Drive effective negotiations with city officials, regulatory agencies, and community boards.
• Navigate environmental considerations and compliance requirements
• Ensure timelines are maintained through proactive stakeholder engagement
• Collaborate with architects and consultants through design development
• Provide constructability and value engineering input
• Balance cost, design intent, and operational functionality
• Ensure seamless handoff from construction to operations
• Partner with operations teams to ensure assets are functional and efficient, easy to maintain and operate, and aligned with customer and business needs
• Incorporate operational feedback into future builds and improvements
• Lead and mentor Construction Managers and project teams
• Foster accountability, ownership, and high performance
• Create alignment across development, operations, and leadership teams

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director