Development Manager
Multi-Family Residential Development
North York, Ontario
Reports to: Director of Development
Work Arrangement: Full-time, in-office
Travel: Regular travel to development sites throughout the GTA and Southern Ontario
$125,000 - $145,000
Development Manager the Opportunity
Our client is a growing, vertically integrated real estate organization focused on developing and operating high-quality purpose-built rental communities across Ontario.
With development, construction, and property operations working closely together, the organization takes a long-term approach to its assets. Projects are evaluated not only on design and financial performance, but also on constructability, durability, resident experience, and operational efficiency.
Our client is seeking a hands-on Development Manager to oversee a small portfolio of active multifamily projects through planning, design, municipal approvals, construction, and turnover to property management.
This is an execution-focused position for someone who enjoys working directly with consultants, resolving design and coordination issues, maintaining control of budgets and schedules, and moving projects decisively toward completion.
Development Manager Key Responsibilities
Development and Project Leadership
- Manage approximately two concurrent purpose-built rental developments through the various stages of the development lifecycle.
- Establish project priorities, deliverables, schedules, budgets, and reporting requirements.
- Drive projects from early due diligence and entitlement through detailed design, permitting, construction, and operational turnover.
- Maintain visibility into project performance and ensure key decisions are made in a timely manner.
- Identify risks affecting approvals, costs, design, or schedule and present practical mitigation strategies to senior leadership.
Planning and Municipal Approvals
- Coordinate rezoning, Official Plan Amendment, site plan, and building-permit processes, as applicable.
- Act as a key point of contact with municipal planning and building departments.
- Track approval requirements, submissions, comments, conditions, and milestone dates.
- Work with planning and technical consultants to address municipal feedback and maintain project momentum.
- Support the assessment of prospective acquisitions through zoning analysis, development feasibility, and planning input.
Design and Consultant Management
- Procure and lead multidisciplinary consultant teams, including architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, civil, landscape, and planning professionals.
- Provide clear direction to consultants and actively advance design decisions toward resolution.
- Coordinate drawings and technical information across disciplines before permit and construction submissions.
- Review design options through the combined lenses of appearance, constructability, resident experience, durability, and long-term building operations.
- Lead value-management discussions without compromising the quality or functionality of the finished asset.
- Administer consultant scopes, contracts, fees, proposals, and invoices throughout the project.
Financial and Investment Oversight
- Prepare and maintain development budgets, cash-flow projections, cost forecasts, and project pro formas.
- Contribute development assumptions and technical input to acquisition and investment underwriting.
- Monitor financial performance against approved budgets and investigate variances.
- Prepare concise monthly reports outlining financial status, schedule progress, upcoming milestones, and key risks.
- Provide senior leadership and investment stakeholders with clear and reliable project information.
Construction Coordination
- Represent the ownership group through preconstruction and construction.
- Coordinate the transition of project information, budgets, and design documentation to the construction team.
- Participate in tender reviews, design clarifications, change-order assessments, RFI resolution, and schedule monitoring.
- Work collaboratively with Project Managers and site teams to resolve issues affecting cost, quality, or delivery.
- Maintain owner-side oversight while allowing the construction team to manage day-to-day site execution.
Operational Readiness
- Engage property-management and operations stakeholders throughout design and construction.
- Consider leasing, unit mix, amenity programming, material selection, building functionality, maintenance, and resident experience during project planning.
- Coordinate the transition from construction completion to building operations.
- Ensure operational requirements are incorporated before final design and procurement decisions are made.
Development Manager Qualifications & Experience
- Approximately five to eight years of progressive experience in multifamily development, residential construction management, or a closely related field.
- A bachelor’s degree in civil, structural, mechanical, building, or another relevant engineering discipline from a recognized institution.
- Practical knowledge of Ontario’s land-use planning and development-approval processes.
- Experience managing site plan, rezoning, Official Plan Amendment, and building-permit submissions.
- Demonstrated ability to create and manage development budgets, cash flows, forecasts, and pro formas.
- Strong technical and design judgment, with the confidence to challenge assumptions and provide direction to consultants.
- Experience reviewing multidisciplinary drawing packages and resolving coordination issues.
- Excellent written communication skills and the ability to prepare clear reporting for investors and senior leadership.
- Strong organization and project-management capabilities across multiple developments and municipalities.
- A valid driver’s licence and the ability to travel regularly to project sites throughout Southern Ontario.
Technology
The successful candidate should be comfortable working with:
- Microsoft Excel for budgeting, forecasting, and financial modelling.
- Procore or comparable construction-management platforms.
- Microsoft Project or similar scheduling software.
- Bluebeam for drawing review, markups, and technical coordination.
Why Consider This Opportunity?
- Join a collaborative, integrated development organization with direct exposure to development, construction, investment, and property operations.
- Take meaningful ownership of projects and influence decisions throughout the complete development lifecycle.
- Work on purpose-built rental communities designed for long-term ownership and operation.
- Gain exposure to multiple aspects of the real estate development business.
- Receive mileage reimbursement for required project travel.
- Access a defined career path toward a Senior Development Manager position as the portfolio and organization continue to grow.
Interested?
Apply below
Similar role titles:
Senior Development Manager
Senior Development Coordinator
Real Estate Development
Multi-Family Residential Development
Residential Real Estate Development
Only applicants with the legal right to work in Canada can be considered for this opportunity.
We thank all those who express interest in this opportunity however only those short-listed we be contacted.