Lead Site Development Manager - Real Estate

Western Governors University•Salt Lake City, UT

14d•Onsite

About The Position

WGU is undertaking a significant, multi-phase development of its national headquarters in downtown Salt Lake City, aiming to create a one-million-square-foot urban campus capable of housing up to 5,000 employees. The Lead Site Development Manager will be instrumental in this project, representing WGU in managing environmental remediation, demolition, and early site preparation activities essential for the campus's vertical construction. This role involves overseeing environmental consultants, demolition contractors, civil engineers, surveyors, and regulatory bodies, while also contributing to cost forecasting, schedule planning, and risk management for the early stages of site development. This is a long-term position integral to a multi-year development and construction program. As initial enabling works are completed, the role will evolve to encompass broader construction and development responsibilities across the headquarters project, ensuring continuity and leveraging institutional knowledge throughout the campus's development phases.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, environmental science, or a related field.
Approximately 7–12 years of experience in site development, environmental remediation, demolition, or early-stage construction activities for large commercial, mixed-use, or institutional developments.
Demonstrated experience managing environmental consultants, demolition contractors, and early site preparation activities.
Familiarity with environmental regulatory processes, remediation strategies, and permitting requirements.
Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary consultant teams and contractors in a complex development environment.
Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Experience coordinating with local government agencies and regulatory authorities.
Based in or willing to relocate to Salt Lake City.

Nice To Haves

Experience with complex urban developments, campus-scale projects, or large institutional developments strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage environmental consultants responsible for site investigations, remediation planning, and implementation of mitigation strategies.
Coordinate environmental permitting, regulatory approvals, and agency engagement related to remediation and site preparation activities.
Monitor remediation work to ensure compliance with environmental regulations, permits, and reporting requirements.
Identify environmental risks and coordinate mitigation strategies with consultants and project leadership.
Oversee demolition of existing structures and associated enabling works required to prepare the site for development.
Coordinate demolition sequencing, hazardous material abatement, and utility disconnections in collaboration with consultants and contractors.
Monitor contractor performance to ensure adherence to safety standards, regulatory requirements, and project specifications.
Coordinate site logistics planning for demolition and early construction phases including staging, site access, and traffic coordination.
Support implementation of site safety protocols in collaboration with contractors and project consultants.
Identify and manage risks associated with site conditions, adjacent properties, regulatory compliance, and construction sequencing.
Support development and maintenance of cost estimates and schedule forecasts related to remediation, demolition, and site preparation activities.
Track progress against cost and schedule milestones and report status, risks, and variances to project leadership and executive stakeholders.
Maintain clear documentation of site-related activities, approvals, and decisions to support project governance and reporting.
Represent the owner in coordinating the work of environmental consultants, demolition contractors, civil engineers, surveyors, and other advisors involved in site preparation.
Oversee consultants, surveyors, and civil engineers to identify site information necessary to support project design and development planning.
Support procurement processes and assist with development and evaluation of scopes of work for site-related services.
Facilitate coordination among consultants, contractors, and internal project leadership to maintain alignment with project objectives.
Coordinate with government entities to establish site access approvals and support relocation or modification of existing easements.
Manage parcel boundary line adjustments by overseeing survey updates and navigating administrative processes with local government agencies.
Monitor and support tracking and resolution of submittents, shop drawings, mock-ups, requests for information, and change orders related to site preparation and early construction activities.
As site preparation activities conclude, support broader construction and development activities across the headquarters project as directed by project leadership.