Senior Development Manager

Harmony Senior Services•Roanoke, VA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Development Manager will help lead and supervise the development team responsible for the planning and execution of new senior housing projects, as well as the acquisition, repositioning, and renovation of existing assets. This role provides strategic direction, maintains development standards and processes, and ensures disciplined management of scope, budget, schedule, and risk across a portfolio of projects from inception through construction closeout. The Senior Development Manager will communicate frequently with internal leadership and external partners (operators, consultants, lenders, and governing authorities), providing clear status reporting and driving timely decisions that support successful outcomes.

Requirements

Maintain a flexible schedule with periodic travel to project sites and key jurisdictional meetings as required.

Responsibilities

Assist with leading, coaching, and developing the team; set priorities, assign projects, and ensure consistent execution and accountability.
Maintain development best practices, tools, and processes (budgets, schedules, reporting cadence, document control, contract standards, and risk management).
Provide strategic oversight of site selection and early feasibility, guiding broker engagement, market evaluation, and go/no-go recommendations in partnership with internal analysts.
Oversee Development Managers entitlement and permitting strategy and processing (rezoning, special permits, site plan approvals), including engagement of local civil engineers, attorneys, and municipal stakeholders.
Direct Development Managers consultant and vendor selection and performance (architecture, civil, MEP, survey, geotechnical, environmental, and other third-party due diligence) to ensure quality, responsiveness, and cost control.
Review, negotiate, and approve key development, design, and construction contracts in coordination with leadership and legal; ensure alignment with project objectives and company standards.
Maintain oversight of project budgets and schedules; ensure the team proactively forecast, manage variances, and implement corrective actions.
Partner with operators, general contractors, and internal stakeholders to resolve escalated issues related to scope, constructability, quality, safety, and project delivery.
Provide regular reporting to company leadership on project status, risks, and decisions needed across the development pipeline; prepare concise summaries for internal and external audiences as required.
Ensure disciplined financial controls, including review/approval of invoices, commitment tracking, and accurate internal reporting of development expenditures.
Drive a proactive client-service mindset and cross-functional collaboration; model Smith/Packett values, ethics, and business practices.
Support business growth by contributing to pipeline planning, market strategy discussions, and continuous improvement of development operations.