Director of Real Estate Development

Director of Real Estate Development | Queens Village, New York | $155,000 to $175,000 per year | On-site 

Equal Access is partnering with a real estate developer, owner, and investment firm focused on strategic acquisitions, disciplined operations, and long-term value creation across its portfolio. The firm is serious about its work in affordable housing, and equally serious about the people it brings in to lead it. This search is for a Director of Real Estate Development who can carry projects from first concept through lease-up, while staying grounded in the financial detail and community relationships that make that work real.

This is a role for someone who has done this before, who understands the full affordable housing development lifecycle and can move fluidly between underwriting a deal, sitting across from a city agency, and holding a construction schedule accountable. It reports to the Managing Director and carries meaningful autonomy, but that autonomy is earned through execution and judgment, not assumed.

This is not a strategy or planning role that stays at arm's length from projects. You will be in the work.

What This Role Is, and Is Not

This role is:

• End-to-end project leadership, from acquisition and pre-development through construction and lease-up

• A relationship-intensive position requiring fluency with NYC agencies (HPD, HDC, EDC, DCP, DEP), lenders, equity investors, and community stakeholders

• Financially rigorous, with direct accountability for development budgets, schedules, and profitability

• A leadership post, setting priorities for the development team and managing toward milestones and annual targets

• Community-facing, with active engagement in outreach and an understanding of what these projects mean to the neighborhoods they go into

This role is NOT:

• A back-office or support function for someone else's deals

• Appropriate for candidates without direct NYC affordable housing experience and agency relationships

• A fit for someone who treats underwriting and community engagement as separate worlds

• A role where someone else manages the hard conversations with regulators, partners, or lenders

Required Experience & Traits

• 8 or more years in affordable housing or community development, with direct experience managing projects through construction and into operations

• Deep knowledge of New York City's development landscape, including financing programs and agency relationships with HPD, HDC, EDC, DCP, and DEP

• Demonstrated ability to underwrite deals and conduct due diligence with real financial rigor

• Experience managing consultant selection, contract scopes, and design and construction document review

• Comfort negotiating regulatory, redevelopment, and municipal agreements, and liaising with lenders and equity investors as a primary point of contact

• Strong communicator who can represent the organization credibly with funding agencies, joint venture partners, municipal planners, and community members

• Knowledge of LIHTC Year 15 exit strategies and tenant-in-place substantial rehabilitations is a meaningful plus

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field required; a Master's in Real Estate, Planning, or Business is preferred, though track record will carry more weight than credentials

Key Responsibilities

Project Development and Lifecycle Management

• Lead affordable housing projects from inception through completion, covering acquisition, pre-development, construction, and lease-up

• Guide transitions from construction to operations, including refinancing and handoff to property management

• Maintain project budgets and schedules, and hold direct accountability for the financial performance of each development

Financial Analysis and Underwriting

• Conduct underwriting analysis and due diligence on prospective and active projects, assessing financial viability against organizational goals

• Collaborate with the team on financial projections, operating budgets, and lease-up strategies

• Serve as the primary liaison to lenders and equity investors, ensuring financing is secured and actively maintained

Regulatory Navigation and Municipal Engagement

• Manage compliance with municipal, state, and federal requirements, including zoning and land use processes

• Drive negotiations for regulatory, redevelopment, and municipal agreements, building the relationships that make approvals move

• Cultivate working relationships with funding agencies, joint venture partners, investors, and city planners to secure funding and approvals

Design, Construction, and Consultant Coordination

• Coordinate with external design teams and consultants on the preparation and review of design and construction documents

• Manage the bidding and selection process for consultants, including preparing contract scopes and overseeing executed agreements

Team and Community Leadership

• Set priorities for the development team and ensure key milestones and annual targets are met within established timeframes

• Lead community outreach and engagement efforts, maintaining open communication channels with residents and neighborhood stakeholders

Why EqualAccess

EqualAccess partners with best-in-class organizations and supports candidates beyond placement. Every candidate we place receives 3 months of post-hire coaching and career support, ensuring long-term success and growth.