VP Real Estate Development

LaCasa, Inc. • Goshen, IN

2d • $75,000 - $85,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Vice President of Real Estate Development is a member of Lacasa’s Leadership Team and leads the organization’s real estate development strategy and portfolio. The role oversees the full development lifecycle, from project conceptualization, financial modeling, site selection, acquisition, and funding through design, construction, closeout, and transition to asset management or disposition. The VP works with executive and organizational leaders to align development activities with Lacasa’s mission, community impact goals, growth objectives, and long-term sustainability.

The VP directly supervises the Real Estate Development Team and is accountable for departmental strategy, budgets, operating plans, performance, and resource allocation. The position leads relationships with public and private partners, investors, government agencies, community stakeholders, contractors, and professional service providers. It also oversees the Owner-Occupied Repair Program and other housing rehabilitation initiatives, advances sustainability across the development portfolio, and supports effective transitions to long-term operations.

This is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week position, Monday through Friday. Work is hybrid, with office work and travel to development sites. The position requires travel around Elkhart County and occasional travel for training and stakeholder meetings. The work may include exposure to active construction sites and requires traversing properties and facilities, along with periods of sitting, standing, walking, stair climbing, and occasional lifting or moving of items up to 25 pounds. A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation are required. The employee must provide a personal cell phone; Lacasa provides a monthly expense allowance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, urban planning, construction management, or a related field; an equivalent combination of acceptable education and progressively responsible experience may be considered if it demonstrates the required knowledge, advanced financial acumen, judgment, and leadership capability.
• At least 5 years of real estate development experience, including site acquisition, project financing, design, construction, and zoning.
• Proven success managing multiple concurrent projects at different stages of development.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex capital projects.
• Proven senior leadership experience focused on operations, strategy, and organizational management.
• Experience working with government entities, lenders, and other development partners.
• Experience with environmental reviews and sustainability or green building practices.
• Successful track record of closing complex real estate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and foster a collaborative, values-driven culture.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Proficiency in project and construction management software.
• Exceptional strategic thinking and analytical skills, including the ability to synthesize complex data and guide long-term planning and decisions.
• Strong leadership presence and ability to inspire, develop, and retain a high-performing team.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to explain financial concepts clearly.
• Ability to collaborate across departments and work with people from diverse backgrounds and roles.
• Ability to deliver projects that meet or exceed financial performance targets, including ROI, P&L, and cost containment.
• Dependability and flexibility in responding to evolving organizational needs.
• Ability to manage construction quality, safety compliance, and risk mitigation effectively.
• Adaptability, a solutions-focused approach, and initiative in identifying operational improvements and advancing the mission.
• Effective oversight of budgets, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Ability to maintain a positive and professional image with staff, clients, and external stakeholders.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Ability to traverse properties and facilities to assess building and construction progress; perform periods of sitting, standing, walking, and stair climbing; and occasionally lift or move items up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to communicate clearly in office and construction environments and manage multiple competing deadlines and needs while maintaining accuracy and empathy.
• Ability to provide an employee-owned cell phone.

Nice To Haves

• Background in affordable housing development, such as LIHTC, HOME, or CDBG.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute short- and long-range real estate development plans aligned with Lacasa’s mission, community impact goals, and growth targets.
• Contribute to organizational business, financial, and operational strategies, and align development work with organizational priorities and long-term sustainability.
• Lead departmental budgets, annual operating plans, performance metrics, and resource allocation.
• Guide pipeline planning, site selection, strategic acquisitions, and investment decisions.
• Integrate real estate development, financial planning, and community development strategies to optimize portfolio performance.
• Identify opportunities to diversify funding, strengthen financial returns, leverage public and private investment, and expand community impact.
• Lead annual and multi-year capital planning with Finance and Asset Management.
• Attract, develop, coach, and retain a high-performing team; set expectations and development plans and manage performance.
• Foster communication and coordination within the development team and across departments.
• Ensure staff follow safety protocols, construction-site requirements, organizational policies, and applicable regulatory codes.
• Provide executive oversight of projects from concept through construction closeout, including feasibility, acquisition, financing, design, and construction.
• Establish and improve policies and project management standards supporting efficiency, accountability, compliance, and consistent outcomes.
• Represent Lacasa and manage relationships with development partners, investors, regulatory agencies, architects, engineers, and other stakeholders.
• Evaluate project-level risks and implement mitigation strategies addressing legal, environmental, financial, and safety requirements.
• Oversee compliance with federal, state, and local funding requirements, environmental reviews, grant regulations, and development standards.
• Direct relationships with contractors, consultants, vendors, and professional service providers to deliver projects on schedule, within budget, and to quality standards.
• Partner with municipal agencies, elected officials, and community stakeholders to secure zoning approvals, entitlements, incentives, and other approvals.
• Oversee development procurement in accordance with organizational policies, funding requirements, and budgets.
• Participate in and lead acquisition and disposition activities, including due diligence, financial evaluation, negotiations, and closings.
• Direct portfolio sustainability initiatives, including energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, resiliency planning, and environmentally responsible construction.
• Provide strategic oversight of the Owner-Occupied Repair Program and other housing rehabilitation initiatives, ensuring effectiveness, compliance, measurable outcomes, and customer service.
• Coordinate with Asset Management leadership to support transitions from development to long-term operations.
• Coordinate with Financial Empowerment and other stakeholders on marketing, client engagement, and disposition strategies for for-sale housing.
• Participate in staff, leadership team, board, and Annual Meeting sessions, as well as community and professional meetings and training as directed.
• Complete required training and continuing education, and perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Nine paid holidays.
• Medical, vision, and dental health insurance.
• Vacation and sick time.
• Health Savings Account; Lacasa’s contribution depends on the medical coverage selected.
• Life insurance paid for by Lacasa.
• 403(b) retirement plan: after the initial 90-day period, Lacasa contributes 3% of salary; beginning in the second year, Lacasa matches voluntary contributions for regular full-time employees.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Mileage reimbursement.
• Monthly allowance for employee-owned cell phone expenses.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive