Development Director Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Role Overview
We are looking for a development professional who can identify, shape, and execute ground-up development opportunities from raw land through entitlement and project readiness.

This role is not focused on construction management or tenant improvements. It is responsible for creating viable development deals—starting with site selection and ending with a fully entitled, executable project ready for construction.

If you have not led the front end of development projects (site selection, concept design, entitlements, and budget creation), this is not the right role.

You will operate as the point person for pre-development, working directly with leadership to turn land into actionable deals.

Primary Responsibilities

Site Sourcing & Evaluation
• Identify and evaluate vacant land opportunities for ground-up development
• Assess site feasibility including zoning, utilities, access, and physical constraints
• Work with brokers, municipalities, and local stakeholders to surface viable sites

Pre-Development Leadership
• Lead all front-end development activities from site control through entitlement
• Coordinate conceptual site planning, building layouts, and design direction
• Work closely with architects, engineers, and consultants to shape executable projects
• Drive municipal approvals, zoning, and entitlement processes

Budgeting & Feasibility
• Develop and manage conceptual project budgets with a high degree of accuracy
• Coordinate with internal and external resources to validate construction costs
• Ensure projects are underwritten within acceptable budget tolerances (target ≤5% variance)
• Identify risks early and adjust scope, design, or approach accordingly

Deal Creation & Structuring
• Translate site opportunities into actionable build-to-suit development deals
• Collaborate with internal team members on financial modeling and deal structuring
• Help position projects for leasing, financing, and execution

Project Handoff & Continuity
• Deliver fully scoped, approved, and executable projects to the construction team
• Maintain involvement through early construction to ensure continuity of vision and budget
• Ensure no gaps between pre-development assumptions and execution

Required Experience

• Demonstrated experience leading pre-development for ground-up real estate projects
• Strong understanding of site selection, zoning, entitlements, and municipal processes
• Experience developing conceptual site plans and coordinating design teams
• Ability to create and manage development budgets with accuracy
• Proven ability to move projects from concept to shovel-ready

Preferred Background

·         Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business, Urban Planning, or related field

·         5+ years of experience in real estate development, project management, or related field

·         Strong financial analysis and underwriting skills

·         Knowledge of zoning, entitlement, and construction processes

·         Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously

·         Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership skills

·         Proficiency in project management and financial software

·         Experience with build-to-suit development as Project Manager

·         Familiarity with industrial, commercial or medical office product types

·         Strong relationships with municipalities, consultants, legal teams, and design professionals

·         Exposure to working with investors and leaders in a development context

Key Characteristics

• Strategic thinker who can see a project from raw land to finished asset
• Highly persistent and able to push projects through obstacles and resistance
• Strong communicator capable of aligning municipalities, consultants, and stakeholders
• Independent operator who takes ownership of outcomes
• Practical and solutions-oriented with a “find a way” mindset

Performance Expectations

• Source and advance multiple land opportunities simultaneously
• Deliver 2 successful build-to-suit development projects within 24 months
• Achieve a combined project value exceeding $50M
• Maintain budget accuracy within acceptable thresholds (target ≤5% variance)
• Ensure projects move efficiently from concept to construction-ready

Work Environment

• Michigan-focused with potential expansion into the Midwest
• Highly entrepreneurial environment with direct access to leadership
• Significant autonomy with accountability for results

This role is designed for someone who can take a site from raw land to a fully executable development—and is motivated by building projects, solving problems, and driving outcomes.