Economic Development Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL

The Development Manager is responsible for leading all aspects of the pre-development process for Lincoln’s Midwest development projects (industrial, data center, multi-family and mixed-use), from site evaluation and acquisition support through entitlements, design coordination, and construction commencement. The role manages due diligence, consultant teams, municipal approvals, project schedules, and pre-development budgets while partnering closely with acquisitions, finance, leasing, construction, and legal teams to deliver projects that are financially viable, fully entitled, and ready for execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and maintain detailed pre-development schedules and budgets for each project, sequencing entitlement milestones, consultant deliverables, environmental studies, and agency review periods.
• Lead site feasibility analysis including zoning review, utility availability, environmental conditions, traffic, and geotechnical considerations for prospective industrial and multifamily sites.
• Manage the entitlement process: rezonings, planned unit developments, conditional use permits, site plan approvals, plats, variances, and coordinating with municipal staff, planners, and elected officials.
• Oversee third-party consultants (civil engineers, surveyors, environmental consultants, geotechnical engineers, traffic engineers, architects) through schematic design, design development, and construction document phases, holding them accountable to scope, budget, and schedule commitments.
• Collaborate with civil engineers to identify opportunities for value engineering and cost savings while preserving project objectives by optimize grading, stormwater management, utility layouts, site circulation, parking efficiency, and overall site design
• Track critical path items across a multi-project pipeline, proactively identifying schedule risk and developing mitigation plans before delays cascade into closing or construction timelines.
• Identify opportunities to improve project economics through design optimization, constructability reviews, and value engineering during pre-development.
• Participate in acquisition underwriting by preparing and validating development budgets, entitlement schedules, horizontal and vertical construction costs, and site-specific risk assessments.
• Lead regular cross-functional project meetings with acquisitions, finance, leasing, construction, legal, and property management teams to ensure alignment on project objectives and milestones.
• Evaluate how entitlement risk, municipal requirements, utility improvements, environmental conditions, and schedule impacts affect overall project feasibility and investment returns.
• Coordinate Phase I/II Environmental Site Assessments, wetland delineations, and other environmental due diligence; manage remediation planning where needed.
• Work with legal counsel on title review, survey issues, easements, and entitlement agreements.
• Manage community and stakeholder engagement, including neighborhood meetings, public hearings, and presentations to planning commissions and city councils.
• Maintain a pipeline tracker of all active pre-development projects, milestones, and risk items for leadership reporting.
• Coordinate the seamless transition from pre-development to construction, ensuring permits, approvals, consultant deliverables, budgets, schedules, and contract documents are complete prior to project commencement.
• Lead and execute the overall pre-development process from contract execution through construction commencement, ensuring project scope, schedule, budget, entitlements, design, and due diligence remain aligned to achieve targeted investment returns

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, Architecture, Construction Management, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in land planning, entitlement, development or construction, with direct experience in industrial and/or multifamily product types.
• Project management experience, including building and managing complex, multi-workstream schedules with interdependent milestones and external approval timelines.
• Working knowledge of zoning codes, land use law, and municipal approval processes.
• Experience managing civil engineering and environmental consultants, including scope and schedule accountability.
• Understanding of site feasibility factors specific to industrial (truck circulation, parking, etc.) and multifamily (density, parking ratios, unit mix) projects.
• Ability to read civil plans, surveys, and Phase I/II reports.
• Comfort working in or reviewing pro formas and development budgets prepared by acquisitions/finance teams.
• Excellent organizational skills with proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and competing deadlines.
• Strong stakeholder communication skills; comfortable presenting to public bodies and community groups.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel required. Experience with Procore, Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, GIS, or comparable project management software preferred.
• Experience developing industrial, date centers, multifamily, mixed-use, or master-planned projects.
• Experience presenting projects before planning commissions, zoning boards, and city councils.
• Working knowledge of construction estimating and value engineering.

This position is 100% in-office. The role requires working in office during standard business hours. Remote work or telecommuting is not an option for this position.

Pay Range

$100,000 - $135,000 USD

Why Lincoln? 

At LPC you will be supported by a national firm where an entrepreneurial mindset is encouraged. You will be encouraged to explore your potential through training programs, mentorship, exciting work, fast-paced assignments, and an environment of constant learning and dedication to results. Our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k), and paid time off. 

About Lincoln Property Company

Lincoln Property Company (“Lincoln”) is one of the largest private real estate firms in the United States. Offering a fully integrated platform of real estate services and innovative solutions to owners, investors, lenders and occupiers, Lincoln supports the entire real estate lifecycle across asset types, including office, multifamily, life science, retail, industrial, data center, production studio, healthcare, government, universities, sports and entertainment, and mixed-use properties, throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe. Lincoln’s combined management and leasing portfolio on behalf of institutional clients includes more than 720 million square feet of commercial space. For more information, visit: www.lpc.com.

Benefits: 

Lincoln Property Company offers eligible employees a comprehensive benefits package that may include:

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Company-Paid Life insurance
• Company-Paid Long Term Disability
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage
• 401(k) retirement savings plan, Traditional and Roth, with applicable eligibility requirements
• Flexible Time Off (FTO) or vacation benefits, depending on position classification
• Paid sick leave and other legally required leave programs
• Employee assistance and wellness programs where available
• Company-paid holidays
• Additional voluntary benefit offerings that may vary by location and position

Benefit eligibility, coverage levels, waiting periods, and plan provisions are governed by the applicable plan documents and Company policies and may be modified from time to time at the Company's discretion.

Healthcare Benefits Notice: Eligible employees may participate in Company-sponsored medical, dental, and vision benefit plans. Additional details regarding available healthcare benefits will be provided during the hiring process and upon employment eligibility.

Equal Employment Opportunity- Lincoln Property Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. Lincoln does not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, reproductive health decision-making, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. Applicants and employees may raise concerns regarding discrimination, harassment, accommodation, or retaliation without fear of reprisal.

Compensation- Lincoln Property Company is committed to pay transparency and equitable compensation practices. The salary or hourly pay range for this position has been established based on market data, job responsibilities, internal equity, geographic location, experience, education, certifications, and other job-related factors. Actual compensation may vary within the posted range based on these considerations. Certain positions may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, incentives, commissions, or other forms of compensation where applicable.

Reasonable Accommodation: Lincoln Property Company is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application, interview, and employment process. If you require an accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, or to perform the essential functions of a role, please contact Human Resources at hr@lpc.com. Requests for accommodation will be treated confidentially to the extent permitted by law.

Work Authorization/ E-Verify- Lincoln Property Company participates in E-Verify. All offers of employment are contingent upon the candidate providing valid authorization to work in the United States. Lincoln Property Company does not sponsor employment visas, including H-1B, for this position at this time.

Background Check- Employment offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background investigation, which may include verification of prior employment, education, criminal history, and other checks as permitted by applicable federal, state, and local law. The nature and scope of background checks may vary by role and location. Certain roles may require additional screening based on duties (driving history (MVR), financial background check, etc.)

Health and Safety- Lincoln Property Company is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local occupational health and safety regulations, including OSHA requirements. Certain roles may have specific health, safety, or physical requirements that will be communicated during the hiring process. Employees may be required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) or comply with site-specific safety protocols depending on the nature of their assignment.  

Lincoln Property Company does not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters unless they were contractually engaged by Lincoln Property Company to provide candidates for a specified opening. Any such employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume does so with the acknowledgement and agreement that Lincoln Property Company will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity. At this time, we are not working with any agencies.