Executive VP of Development

About Urban Villages

Urban Villages Inc. (UVI) is a mission-driven real estate development and investment company committed to creating sustainable and impactful properties. We believe in harmonizing planet with profit and delivering remarkable outcomes through innovative solutions. Our team thrives on being problem solvers and innovators, demanding rigor in all we do to deliver significant impact. As we continue to grow, we are looking for passionate individuals who share our commitment to these core principles.

UVI has acquired, developed, and managed over $3 billion in transformative mixed-use real estate assets in multiple markets. Our portfolio of projects includes the largest net-zero energy housing project in the US (West Village at UC Davis), the revitalization of Denver’s original main street (Larimer Square), the first carbon-positive hotels in the US (Populus Denver and Populus Seattle), and one of the largest adaptive re-use LEED Platinum developments in the country (RailSpur Seattle). Today, Urban Villages has approximately $1B of mixed-use real estate assets under management and a $1.5B development pipeline with land control, as well as 35+ full time employees in three separate offices (Denver, Pittsburgh, Seattle). Our projects are among the most environmentally transformative, socially responsible, and financially sustainable developments seen in the industry today.

Role Description

Urban Villages is seeking an Executive VP of Development (EVPD) to oversee all aspects of ground-up development, project execution, construction management, and major renovations. The EVPD will manage an existing development portfolio valued at $1+ Billion and will collaborate with the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) to grow and expand the future development pipeline. The ideal candidate has a minimum of 10 years of work experience overseeing complex projects and leading teams of professionals in mixed-use real estate developments and renovations. This person is a high-performance leader who is deeply committed to the pursuit of impactful projects rooted in sustainability and stewardship and to developing best-in-class project executives and management teams. In addition to development responsibilities, this position will also support acquisition opportunities in collaboration with the ELT, through networking with brokers and property owners, and by monitoring targeted markets and comparable properties.

This role is based in Urban Villages’ corporate offices in downtown Denver and includes travel to development projects around the country. The EVPD will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer and work collaboratively with the ELT.

Key Responsibilities

Project Development & Delivery

• Oversee all aspects of development including feasibility assessment, underwriting, community relations, partnership management, project team oversight, design, entitlements, construction, financial oversight, and transition to operations for multiple projects simultaneously.
• Enforce project specifications and contract requirements, and review work in progress to ensure compliance with contracts and obligations.
• Oversee and provide guidance to project leads to identify, evaluate and recommend professional consultants; oversee bidding, contract negotiations, setting of performance standards and contract enforcement.
• Provide guidance to project executives on project status briefings to ELT and collaborate with them on development of regular investor reports.
• Provide regular analysis to ELT to identify conflicts or delays, and seek input related to schedule intersections with legal, financing, and investor relations.

Financial Oversight

• Lead initial financial analysis, market studies, and sensitivity analysis for development projects; update development proformas as new information arrives.
• Partner with ELT in exploring capital stack options, prioritizing preferred structures, and procuring final equity and debt partnerships. 
• Oversee and manage all project budgets, schedules, communications, reviews, and approvals to ensure a timely and cost-effective project.
• Liaise with Accounting team on job cost tracking, analyze costs versus budget, and collaborate with Investor Relations leads on cash needs and preparation for capital calls.
• Identify and document best practices related to feasibility analysis, financial underwriting, and development finance management.

Team Leadership

• Supervise, coach, mentor and develop internal and external project executives, consultants, and area experts, and provide guidance on comprehensive schedule for each project.
• Oversee project executives in employing critical path method for identifying milestones, enumerating tasks and dependencies, and setting deadlines.
• Continually improve metrics, systems and processes for project management to enable improved oversight of teams and development projects; train and monitor project leads on the use of these tools.
• Provide guidance to project executives in identifying decisions and developments requiring ELT-level management discussion and/or approvals.
• Oversee and provide guidance with project leads to coordinate internal entitlement and design expertise in support of projects; create scopes of involvement, set deadlines, and monitor progress.

Growth & Corporate Strategy

• Participate with asset management and acquisition leads to establish parameters, identify, and perform feasibility analyses of potential real estate acquisitions.
• Seek out development opportunities that fit with the agreed upon parameters and goals.
• Cultivate deal flow by building and maintain relationships with brokers and local property owners in targeted markets and submarkets.
• Analyze the feasibility of potential development sites, and evaluate and strategize around associated development schemes.
• Partner with asset management colleagues in the assessment of opportunities via cash flow analysis, research of market opportunity, review of constraints, and investigation of asset quality/condition.
• Other tasks as necessary to support the development function, process, and success.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Experience: 10+ years of relevant leadership experience in real estate project management, development, and/or construction management. Preference for experience in mixed-use urban real estate project management.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree related to construction management, real estate, architecture, engineering, business, or finance. Preference for graduate degree in real estate, planning, design, or related field.
• Development Knowledge: Strong knowledge of real estate development processes, concepts, systems, and best practices.
• Technical Skills: Advanced capabilities in proforma financial modeling, project budgeting, and project management software and systems.
• Capital Markets: Strong understanding of capital markets, financing dynamics, real estate valuations and value-creation, and capital structuring. 
• Analytical & Organizational Skills: Exceptional analytical thinking, meticulous organizational skills, and the ability to synthesize complex financial data into actionable insights.
• Prioritization & Anticipation: Proven ability to manage and track multiple priorities and schedules to minimize delays and consequences of unexpected events.
• Communication: Excellent written and oral communication skills, and able to present complex financial information to diverse audiences, including executive leadership and external stakeholders.
• Team Collaboration & Leadership: Able to excel in a cross-collaborative, team-oriented environment, with proven experience in leading projects and influencing outcomes across departments.
• Commitment to Excellence: A strong drive for remarkable outcomes, with a proven track record of delivering high-quality work and exceeding expectations.
• Problem-Solving & Innovation: A proactive and innovative problem-solver who can identify challenges, develop creative solutions, and embrace new approaches in a dynamic environment.
• Rigor and Impact: Possesses exceptional analytical rigor and attention to detail, with a clear focus on delivering measurable impact and driving tangible results for the company.
• Travel: Ability to travel as needed by development project timeline and location.
• Sustainability Mindset: A genuine commitment to sustainability and stewardship, aligning financial strategies with environmental and social responsibilities.

Benefits

Compensation & Benefits

The expected salary range for this position will be in the $275-325K range plus bonus opportunity. Full-time employee benefits include:

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability
• 401k retirement plan
• Flex time off and paid holidays
• Medical and parental extended leave
• Company-wide volunteer days
• Public transit pass