Housing Development Associate II

CommonBond•St. Paul, MN

About The Position

Under the direction of the Director of Acquisitions & Development and other senior A&D staff, the Housing Development Associate II supports and manages key aspects of affordable housing development projects, including new construction, acquisition, rehabilitation, preservation, and recapitalization. The Associate independently manages defined components of complex projects and may lead lower-complexity projects with oversight from a Senior Project Manager or Director. The role involves project coordination, financial analysis, due diligence, financing and funding activities, construction coordination, and resident engagement, in collaboration with internal departments and external development partners. The Associate supports Project Managers and Directors and assumes direct responsibility for assigned project activities and lower-complexity projects. The role includes assessing project feasibility, coordinating development teams and stakeholders, preparing funding applications and financial analyses, managing schedules and budgets, supporting financing and project closings, and maintaining project records and reports. For rehabilitation and construction projects, the Associate leads or coordinates resident communications and engagement, helps address resident concerns and relocations, and coordinates construction activities with the Owner’s Representative, contractors, and other partners. The Associate also supports construction closeout, lease-up, equity installments, initial tax credit reporting, and transition of completed projects to operations and Asset Management. The position requires a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or an equivalent combination of education and experience, plus at least three years of progressively responsible experience in a related area. Affordable multifamily housing development experience, including Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and other affordable housing financing programs, is preferred. The role requires access to reliable transportation, travel up to 25% of the time with occasional overnight travel, and attendance at meetings that may occur in the evening.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in real estate, urban planning, business administration, finance, public administration, political science, or a closely related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
At least 3 years of progressively responsible experience in real estate development, affordable housing, construction, project management, finance, planning, community development, or a related field.
Strong research, analysis, risk-identification, and recommendation-development skills.
Strong financial and analytical skills, including experience preparing or reviewing development budgets, operating pro formas, sources and uses, and other real estate financial analyses.
Ability to interpret and implement requirements of municipal, state, federal, lender, investor, and affordable housing programs.
Working knowledge of real estate development and finance concepts, including debt, equity, tax credits, public funding, and other affordable housing financing tools.
Strong project management skills and ability to independently manage significant responsibilities, priorities, schedules, and deadlines.
Ability to identify project issues, evaluate solutions, exercise sound judgment, and determine when to escalate issues or seek guidance.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work professionally with residents, staff, contractors, architects, attorneys, lenders, investors, funders, community representatives, government officials, agencies, and other partners.
Ability to coordinate across internal departments and external organizations and advance work involving multiple parties.
Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex project and financial information to different audiences.
Ability to work independently, establish priorities, anticipate next steps, and follow through with limited day-to-day supervision.
Ability to approach resident and community interactions with professionalism, respect, responsiveness, sound judgment, and cultural awareness.
Ability to sit for extended periods, open and close file drawers, lift and carry up to 15 pounds, file documents, and type data into a computer.
Must have access to reliable transportation.
Must be willing and able to travel up to 25% of the time, including occasional overnight travel.
Must be willing and able to attend city council, planning commission, neighborhood, community, resident, and other meetings that may be scheduled in the evening.

Nice To Haves

Affordable multifamily housing development experience, including experience with Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and other public or private affordable housing financing programs.
Experience with MS Project or other project management tools.

Responsibilities

Conduct and coordinate project and site due diligence, including feasibility, highest and best use, planning and zoning, and review of legal, environmental, market, and physical-needs information.
Prepare and maintain development budgets, operating pro formas, working capital needs, sources and uses, multi-year cash flow projections, and other project financial models.
Coordinate project planning and implementation with internal departments and external partners.
Prepare and submit funding applications to state, local, federal, and other funding providers, coordinating required information and deadlines.
Prepare approval memos, financial analyses, presentations, and supporting materials, and present project recommendations for internal review and approval.
Participate in or lead meetings with government officials, community groups, funders, and other stakeholders to advance projects and obtain approvals and support.
Lead or coordinate community and resident engagement activities for assigned projects.
Coordinate development teams that may include owners, architects, general contractors, attorneys, lenders, investors, consultants, internal staff, and public funding partners.
Support or lead assigned components of debt and equity financing, including due diligence, applications, document review, closing requirements, and project closings.
Manage assigned schedules, budgets, deliverables, and deadlines; identify issues affecting cost, schedule, financing, or implementation.
Maintain accurate project records and prepare updates, presentations, briefing materials, and status reports for internal and external audiences.
Manage lower-complexity development, acquisition, rehabilitation, or recapitalization projects with oversight from a Senior Project Manager or Director.
Develop and coordinate resident communication plans, including notices, construction updates, meetings, and accessible or translated materials.
Serve as a primary development team contact for resident construction questions and concerns; document issues, escalate them as needed, and follow through to resolution.
Coordinate with project partners to anticipate resident impacts, address concerns, and minimize construction-related disruptions.
Coordinate resident relocations and temporary accommodations when required, including schedules, notices, reimbursements, documentation, and communications.
Identify accessibility needs, safety concerns, and other resident issues, and coordinate appropriate responses and accommodations.
Help ensure compliance with applicable resident notice, privacy, access, relocation, and other requirements.
Identify recurring resident concerns or construction impacts and work with the project team to improve solutions and coordination.
Coordinate construction activities with the Owner’s Representative, CommonBond Project Managers, general contractors, and other project team members.
Monitor construction schedules, milestones, budgets, and outstanding issues in coordination with the Owner’s Representative and Project Manager.
Participate in construction meetings, walk-throughs, inspections, and related activities; represent CommonBond on assigned project matters as appropriate.
Coordinate information, decisions, and follow-up among project partners, including contractors, architects, consultants, and Property Management.
Review and process construction draws and monitor development and construction expenditures against approved budgets.
Track construction issues, change orders, decisions, and completion items and facilitate timely resolution.
Assist with review and coordination of changes affecting project budget, schedule, resident impact, or scope, and escalate significant issues as appropriate.
Coordinate project closeout, including punch-list tracking, turnover to Property Management, warranties, documentation, and other required items.
Manage post-construction activities, including monitoring lease-up, coordinating equity installments, completing initial tax credit reporting requirements, and supporting transition to operations and Asset Management.
Assess proposed projects against CommonBond’s project selection criteria, identify risks and opportunities, and recommend next steps.
Support evaluation of development, acquisition, preservation, rehabilitation, and recapitalization opportunities.
Participate in networking organizations, conferences, industry events, and community meetings to build relationships and expand industry knowledge.
Maintain timely reporting on project status, finances, schedules, risks, and other critical department information.
Identify and help implement improvements to internal tools, processes, project management practices, and cross-departmental coordination.
Provide guidance and support to less-experienced team members on project processes, tools, and assigned activities as appropriate.
Prioritize workload and independently manage activities and deadlines across multiple projects.
Complete other related projects and duties as assigned.