Project Director, Coco Palms

Reef Capital Partners•Kapaʻa, HI

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Reef Capital is seeking an experienced Project Director to oversee construction and development of its Coco Palms project in Wailua, Kauai, Hawaii. The Project Director is the senior owner-side authority during active construction and is accountable for delivering the approved development business plan on time, within budget, and to Reef’s quality standards. The role leads construction execution within the approved plan and coordinates Reef’s development and construction organizations to maintain disciplined execution and alignment with the plan approved by the Development Director and PSG. The Project Director oversees construction contracts, cost and schedule controls, the General Contractor, field coordination, design and technical issues, and construction-related risks. The role works closely with development, design, finance, and operations stakeholders, and escalates material deviations and issues to the appropriate senior leaders in accordance with delegated authority and governance protocols.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Real Estate Development, or a related field.
12+ years of progressive experience in construction management, owner’s representation, or development delivery.
At least 5 years in a senior, project lead, or director-level role.
Proven experience serving as the owner’s representative on large, complex real estate development projects through active construction.
Experience delivering large-scale hospitality, mixed-use, resort, or complex urban development projects.
Prior experience working within a vertically integrated real estate development and construction organization.
Familiarity with development financial models, cash-flow forecasting, and schedule integration.
Demonstrated success managing General Contractors under GMP contracts, including cost control, change management, and schedule enforcement.
Strong understanding of construction means and methods, contract administration, cost controls, scheduling, and quality assurance.
Experience coordinating with development, design, finance, and operations teams within a structured development organization.
Ability to execute within a clearly defined business plan and governance framework, with discipline around authority limits and escalation protocols.
Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder-management skills, including the ability to lead meetings, drive accountability, and resolve issues decisively.

Nice To Haves

Hawaii work experience; priority will be given to candidates currently working in Hawaii or with extensive previous work experience there.
Professional certification such as PMP, CCM, PE, or equivalent.
Proficiency with project management tools such as Primavera P6, MS Project, or Procore.
Previous experience using AI tools such as Claude.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary owner-side authority during active construction.
Lead construction execution to ensure conformance with approved scope, budget, schedule, and quality standards.
Ensure field execution aligns with the development plan approved by the Development Director and PSG.
Enforce construction contracts, GMPs, and change-management processes.
Review and approve pay applications, change orders, and contingency usage within delegated authority thresholds.
Monitor schedule performance and drive corrective actions to address slippage.
Escalate material cost or schedule deviations exceeding delegated authority to the Development Director and Development Operations Manager.
Act as the primary point of contact between ownership and the General Contractor.
Lead OAC meetings, field coordination sessions, inspections, and milestone tracking.
Ensure quality, safety, and compliance standards are upheld throughout construction.
Partner with the Design Execution Manager to resolve RFIs, submittals, and field issues.
Maintain approved design intent while addressing constructability, sequencing, and field challenges.
Escalate material design deviations to the Development Director and VP of Design for approval before implementation.
Proactively identify execution risks related to cost, schedule, quality, and safety.
Escalate risks with business-plan implications to the Development Director.
Escalate construction execution issues, including methodology, sequencing, and General Contractor performance, to the EVP of Construction.
Keep the Development Operations Manager informed of material field developments affecting cost, schedule, or cash flow to support model and forecast accuracy.