Development manager Jobs in Waterloo, ON

About the Role

The Senior Vice President, Development is responsible for the full lifecycle execution of the company’s real estate development portfolio — from land acquisition and planning, through design, build to occupancy.

This role is designed for a seasoned development professional who has come up through the site. Someone who deeply understands how projects are assembled, financed, designed, and built, and who can confidently lead complex development initiatives from raw land to completed asset.

As the Founder transitions toward retirement, this individual will play a critical role in safeguarding the company’s development standards, building robust processes and systems, mentoring the next generation of leaders, and progressively assuming broader strategic leadership responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

Property Development Strategy & Portfolio Leadership

• Lead the execution of the company’s development pipeline across all asset classes.
• Support the evaluation of new land acquisition opportunities.
• Support the VP finance with financial modeling, pro forma development, and risk assessment.
• Guide planning and rezoning strategies in partnership with consultants and municipal stakeholders.
• Manage trade partner relationships, negotiations, and contracting.
• Ensure alignment between development strategy and long-term corporate objectives.

End-to-End Project Execution

• Direct projects from site acquisition through delivery.
• Oversee consultants including planners, architects, engineers, and legal advisors.
• Drive project design decisions with an eye toward constructability, cost control, and market positioning.
• Ensure disciplined budget management and schedule adherence.
• Identify and mitigate risks at every stage of the development cycle.

Building & Delivery Oversight

• Provide executive oversight of pre-construction, estimating, tendering, value engineering, and procurement.
• Ensure seamless transition from development to build.
• Maintain deep understanding of building sequencing, cost drivers, and project controls.
• Troubleshoot complex site issues and provide hands-on leadership when required.
• Protect margins through disciplined cost management and decision-making.

Financial & Capital Stewardship

• Lead development budgeting and lender/investor presentations.
• Oversee project cash flow management and financing milestones.
• Maintain strong relationships with lenders and equity partners.
• Ensure development returns meet or exceed pro forma expectations.

Team Leadership & Succession

• Build and mentor a high-performing development team.
• Establish rigorous processes and standards across the development function.
• Serve as a thought partner to the Founder during the succession transition.
• Gradually assume broader executive responsibilities as appropriate.

Market & Stakeholder Leadership

• Represent the company in negotiations with municipalities, consultants, and partners.
• Monitor market conditions, industry trends, and regulatory changes.

Requirements

• 15+ years of progressive real estate development experience.
• Proven success dealing with founder/active ownership.
• Strong leader who can lead, coach, and mentor teams
• Demonstrated experience leading projects from land acquisition through completion.
• Direct involvement in underwriting, planning, design management, and construction oversight.
• Strong financial acumen with experience building and analyzing development pro formas.
• Proven ability to manage complex multi-stakeholder environments.
• Background that includes time spent in construction, or site-level execution.
• Experience with mid-rise/high-rise residential, mixed-use, and commercial developments.
• Track record of delivering multiple successful large-scale developments.

Core Competencies

• Strategic and operational leadership
• Deep construction literacy
• Financial rigor and analytical strength
• Decisive risk management
• Strong negotiation and political acumen
• Mentorship and succession capability
• High accountability and ownership mindset

Personal Attributes

• Builder’s mentality — understands how developments actually get built.
• Calm under pressure and comfortable making high-stakes decisions.
• Respected by on site teams and trusted by capital partners.
• Hands-on leader who can zoom in and zoom out effectively.
• Long-term thinker aligned with legacy preservation and sustainable growth.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary
• Performance-based annual incentive program
• Comprehensive health and dental benefits
• Vision care coverage
• Paid vacation and personal time off
• Vehicle allowance and/or mileage reimbursement (if applicable)
• Mobile phone and technology allowance (if applicable)
• Opportunity to play a significant leadership role in the future growth and succession of the organization

Accommodations

Premier Project Consultants Ltd. is committed to providing an accessible and supportive recruitment experience for persons with disabilities. If you require accommodations at any stage of the recruitment process, please notify us in advance at hr@kingsleyca.com

AI Usage

As part of our hiring process, we use AI-powered tools to assist in screening resumes. These technologies help us efficiently identify candidates whose qualifications align with the role, ensuring a fair and consistent evaluation process. By clicking "Apply," you acknowledge and consent to the use of AI in our recruitment workflow.

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