Professional Development Manager

Life Care Services•Des Moines, IA

2d•$128,000 - $166,000

About The Position

As a Project Development Manager (PDM), you will lead the planning, development, and repositioning of senior living communities across independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. The role oversees projects throughout the lifecycle, from identifying development opportunities to bringing projects to completion and guiding communities toward 90% occupancy. Working with a Director of Development, project ownership or sponsors, and supporting stakeholders, you will recommend project concepts and positioning strategies; lead development teams; coordinate design, finance, approvals, construction, marketing, and operations; and represent the owner and Life Care Services to outside parties. You will help deliver financially feasible projects aligned with client and operational needs, manage project budgets and schedules, support financing and occupancy development, and ensure orderly move-in and project closeout. The position involves travel 50–75%. Estimated salary is $128,000–$166,000, with actual compensation determined based on skills, qualifications, experience, and other relevant factors. A post-offer background check, including references, is required.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience working in the senior living industry, with deep knowledge of developing projects for the selected market segment and location.
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field.
Strong organizational and leadership skills.
Knowledge of the development process and ability to position a project for its selected market segments and location.
Excellent communication skills and ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders, clients, or nonprofit boards.
Understanding of project budgets—including capital costs, construction, furniture and fixtures, advertising, operations, cash flows, and financing plans—and ability to help clients balance needs and wants in the interests of the client, investors, and residents.
Ability to get things done through people with varied backgrounds, ages, and expertise.
Ability to overcome obstacles and keep projects moving, with strong problem-solving and decision-making skills and a pragmatic work style.
Knowledge of the design process and ability to coordinate architectural design activities to achieve functionality and an aesthetically pleasing, residential-style building.
Ability to travel 50–75%.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with MS Excel and PowerPoint.
Ability to navigate scheduling software such as MS Project or Smart Sheets.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with a Director of Development, stakeholders, and project ownership or sponsors to recommend the project concept and development positioning strategy, including size, quality, character, target market, design budget, pricing, and merchandising schedule.
Lead, direct, motivate, manage, and monitor development team members throughout the project lifecycle.
Prepare a market- and financially feasible development plan aligned with the client and operations, including scope, product pricing, seed capital requirements, and project positioning.
Prepare the design space program and project team proposal requests in conjunction with design management.
Establish and revise capital cost budgets with finance management throughout development.
Obtain required government approvals directly or through compliance staff, attorneys, and consultants.
Select the architect and interior designer with the client and Design Manager.
Direct and monitor the project architect throughout development in conjunction with the Design Manager.
Establish and refine the master project schedule throughout development.
Act as the owner's representative to project team members.
Establish occupancy development and marketing budgets with community and regional marketing staff.
Monitor and direct advertising and public relations firms in accordance with the marketing strategy and in conjunction with occupancy development staff.
Monitor sales and cancellation pace, adjust prices to manage budgeted entry fee pools or rent rates, and assist occupancy development, including presenting to potential residents where possible.
Direct and assist finance or investment banking team members with borrowing, including seed capital, construction, and permanent financing.
Establish criteria for and implement resident selections for potential modifications to independent living residences during construction.
Review and negotiate construction change orders and time extension requests with the project architect and any supporting Project Manager staff.
Establish quality expectations, punch-list procedures, and final acceptance processes with any supporting Project Manager and the project architect.
Work with Marketing, Operations, and any supporting Project Manager to facilitate an orderly move-in process, including sending proper notice to buyers.
Represent the project and Life Care Services to outside parties, including local officials, the general public, and news media.
Ensure project closeout, including obtaining final lien waivers, owner training, and the final certificate of occupancy.