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Real Estate Development Specialist 4

City of Madison, WI

Madison, WI

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JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$93,996.50–$113,478.30 Per Year
SKILLS
Accounting, Administrative Management, Administrative Skills, Affordable Housing, Analysis Skills, Asset Management, Commercial Real Estate, Community Development, Compensation and Benefits, Computer Software, Construction, Construction Inspection, Construction Planning, Cross-Functional, Customer Support/Service, Dental Insurance, Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), Diversity, Economic Development, Economics, Feasibility Analysis, Finance, Financial Analysis, Financial Planning, Financial Support, Funding, Home Inspections, Insurance, Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Land Use, Leadership, Leasing, Life Insurance, Long-Term Care, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), Market Trend Analysis, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Multicultural, Negotiation Skills, Office Equipment, Office Management, Options Analysis, Physical Demands, Project Development, Project Evaluation, Project/Program Management, Property Management, Public Housing, Rapid Application Development (RAD), Real Estate, Real Estate Development, Real Estate Sales, Regulations, Rentals, Reporting Skills, Request for Proposals (RFP), Staff Policies, Sustainability, Tax Credits, Transaction Processing/Management, Urban Planning, Vision Plan, Zoning
LOCATION
Madison, WI
POSTED
Today
Salary : $93,996.50 - $113,478.30 Annually
Location : Madison Municipal Building, 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Madison, WI
Job Type: PERMANENT FULL TIME
Job Number: 2026-00175
Department: PCED Office Of Director
Opening Date: 05/18/2026
Closing Date: 6/15/2026 11:59 PM Central
Comp. Group/Range: 18/12

General Description
POSTING EXTENDED**This recruitment is being extended due to a limited number of applicants.
Previously submitted applications will remain under consideration.
Prior applicants need not reapply.
We're seeking an experienced Real Estate Development Specialist to take on some of theCity's most complex and high-profile development initiatives. In this advanced level professional real estate position you'll plan, coordinate, construct, and implement economic development projects and transactions including sale and management of real property interests for the City, financial analysis, negotiation, deal structuring, and project management. This position focuses primarily on the Community Development Authority (CDA) Redevelopment agency's real estate portfolio. Additionally, the position leads the affordable housing redevelopment efforts for CDA properties in coordination with CDA Housing Operations staff. This work requires strict adherence to federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations and specific guidance for real estate property redevelopment, and often requires extensive interagency coordination of key stakeholders within and outside of Department of Planning & Community & Economic Development Department (DPCED). This role requires considerable independent judgment and discretion in the full range of economic development activities and places emphasis on the more complex and discretionary elements of real estate development including ongoing project management and leadership of various ad-hoc interdepartmental teams. The position operates under the general supervision of the Administrative Services Manager in the Office of Director with oversight from the CDA Housing Director and CDA Executive Director/PCED Director.
IMPORTANT: THERE ARE TWO (2) SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY QUESTIONS ON THE JOB POSTING.

YOU MUST ATTACH YOUR RESPONSES IN THE ATTACHMENTS SECTION OF YOUR APPLICATION.

(To view the questions, click on the supplemental question tab OR view the bottom section of the job bulletin)

**APPLICATIONS RECEIVED WITHOUT ATTACHED ESSAY RESPONSES WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM CONSIDERATION.**

Employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness through the .

Black, Indigenous, people of color, women, trans, nonbinary, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We value the unique blend of lived experiences and diverse perspectives that comes from non-traditional education pathways and the variety of transferrable skills each candidate brings to the table. We value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Even if every item on the job posting doesn't match your experience perfectly, we encourage you to apply and share how your skills and experience can best serve our community.
Examples of Duties and Responsibilities
Project Management
  • Conduct site searches for City Real Estate or CDA Housing Development and Redevelopment projects.
  • Hire through requests for proposals (RFP) developers, architects, and contractors serving on housing development project teams.
  • Manage complex real estate projects and lead housing development project teams.
  • Participate in and/or lead City/CDA staff teams to lead and develop housing projects including their planning, financing, construction, and ongoing asset management.
  • Negotiate complex financial packages for housing development projects (e.g. Section 42 tax credits, bank financing, etc.)
  • Analyze options and recommend deal structures for housing projects such as lease versus own, ground leasing, condominium, levels of affordability, etc.
Financial and Project Analysis
  • Oversee and/or prepare reports to determine findings of blight, suitability for development, economic feasibility, zoning and land use conformance, probability of project success, and other related information related to financial and project analysis.
  • Conduct financial and feasibility analysis of housing and other real estate projects, including those requesting financial support from the City.
  • Provide comprehensive reporting to staff colleagues and policy makers regarding findings of financial and project analysis.
Property Acquisition and Disposal
  • Negotiate and manage transactions for the acquisition and/or sale of City real estate.
  • Determine and administer the process for the acquisition and/or disposal of land banked and surplus property.
  • Coordinate with the City of Madison Attorney's Office as needed to support property transactions.
General
  • Track and analyze real estate housing market data and trends.
  • Respond to housing inquiries from general public and elected officials.
  • Make presentations on housing development projects to committees and community groups.
  • Attend training, develop skills, and remain current on issues impacting housing development.
  • Support special projects to expand and improve affordable housing program delivery in Madison--including grant and program funding applications, HUD property removal applications, RAD applications.
Perform related work as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
Four (4) years of experience applying all of the following:
  • Theories, principles, practices, documents and laws applicable to real estate development.
  • Theories, principles, and practices of commercial real estate finance (discounted cash flow, IRR, basic accounting).
  • Private and governmental sources of financing and of local, state and federal programs to encourage affordable housing development (such as Public Housing, RAD, Section 8, HOME, CDBG, and/or Section 42 tax credits) and economic development as a whole.
  • Real estate market trends and data.
  • Theories, principles, practices, documents and laws pertinent to real estate acquisition, leasing, and sale within a governmental context.
Two (2) years of experience in the following:
  • Governmental agency operations as they relate to real estate development activities.
  • Computer software applicable to position responsibilities (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
  • Effective project management techniques.
Familiarity with urban planning, construction, and sustainability principles.

OR
  • Two (2) years of highly responsible, varied, and complex professional experience in the areas of economic development, real estate development, or real estate finance comparable to that gained as a with the City of Madison. AND
  • Bachelor's degree in Economics, Business, Finance, Urban Planning, Real Estate, or other related field.
Other equivalent combinations of experience, training, and education that demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the duties and responsibilities of this position will also be considered.

For a complete list of the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, please see the .

The City of Madison strives to provide exceptional customer service to all its residents and visitors. Therefore, successful candidates will have demonstrated ability to effectively work with multicultural communities.

Special Requirements
Ability to meet the transportation requirements of this position.

The employee will be expected to attend meetings and provide presentations outside the normal work schedule, including evenings and weekends.

Physical Requirements:

Work is generally performed in an office environment, using standard office equipment. However, the employee must have the physical ability to perform on-site inspections of buildings and property. The employee will be expected to travel throughout the City to visit city-owned property or property under consideration for acquisition.
The City of Madison offers excellent pay and benefits for employees. City Ordinances, handbooks, and labor contracts provide specifics; the description here is not to be considered a binding statement but offers an informal summary.
Compensation
The City of Madison strives to pay competitive wages. View the current for pay for all classifications. Employees receive increases based on tenure with the City.
Benefits
The City offers a competitive benefits package, including a generous leave package, a variety of insurance options, and non-traditional benefits such as optional pet insurance, a bus pass for all employees, and the possibility of flexible work schedules. A brief summary of benefits is listed below. Please visit our for more information.

Leave
Vacation is earned upon starting employment and can be used after completion of probation. The general vacation schedule is below.
0-3 years 10 work days of vacation
After 3 years 12-1/2 days
After 7 years 15 days
After 11 years 17-1/2 days
After 15 years 20 days
After 19 years 25 days
After 27 years 27 days
Employees earn 3.5 personal days in addition to vacation.
Employees receive eight official paid holidays (New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day), as well as 3 paid leave days (the Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve).

Employees also earn 13 sick days annually that may accrue to a total of 150 days.

Retirement
The City of Madison participates in the Wisconsin Retirement System through the State of Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds.
Insurance
The City of Madison offers a variety of optional insurance programs including:
  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Pet Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Income Continuation Insurance (for short and long-term disability)
  • Long Term Care Insurance

Other Benefits
The City offers numerous other benefits and programs for employees, including:
• 457(b) deferred compensation plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Bus Pass on Madison Metro
• Flexible Work Schedules
• Employer-paid Training
01

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY--YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO ANSWER THE FOLLOWING SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS AS PART OF YOUR APPLICATION. You can answer the questions using a word processing program and attach as a .docx or .pdf file. You must attach the document in the "Attachments" section of the application or you will not receive further consideration for this position. Your responses will be evaluated on your writing ability including: spelling, grammar and your ability to express your thoughts in a logical fashion. By checking this box, you acknowledge the above and understand that your response is required and failure to attach your essay response will immediately eliminate you from consideration.
  • AGREED

02

Please describe your level of experience with the following real estate responsibilities: a. Managing or developing multifamily housing; b. Managing or developing Public Housing or income-restricted housing, including use of any of the following funding programs: Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), Section 42 tax credits, Other federal affordable housing programs; c. Real estate finance including any of the following: Discounted cash flow, Internal rate of return (IRR), Basic accounting; d. Conducting real estate negotiations.
  • My two page response is attached separate from my cover letter in the Attachment section of my application.

03

As Madison grows, it is an increasingly diverse city, with over 50% of the students in the Madison Metropolitan School District identifying as students of color. Recent census data shows that over half of Madison's renter households are "cost-burdened", spending over 30% of their income on housing. An important role of this position is to work on teams supporting more housing choice and complete and connected neighborhoods for all of Madison's residents. Please share how your experiences have prepared you to help lead efforts to address the needs of households less able to afford quality housing in areas with convenient access to daily amenities. Include the diverse populations you have worked with and provide at least one example of related work in which you held a leadership role. For this example, describe the project, your role, and the outcome.
  • My one page response is attached separate from my cover letter in the Attachment section of my application.

Required Question

About the Company

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City of Madison, WI