Development Manager

Our client in the real estate development space is seeking a driven and hands-on Development Manager to join a growing real estate development team, overseeing the execution of multiple purpose-built rental residential projects. This is an exciting opportunity for a development professional who enjoys taking ownership of projects from early-stage due diligence and design development through municipal approvals, construction, and final operational handover.

Managing approximately two concurrent projects, typically ranging from 170–200 residential units, you will play a key role in driving project decisions, coordinating multidisciplinary consultant teams, managing budgets and timelines, and ensuring each development moves efficiently from concept to completion.

Reporting to the Director of Development, you will work closely with internal investment and acquisitions teams, construction partners, and property management to bring projects to life. This is a highly collaborative, execution-focused role for someone with strong technical knowledge, sound financial judgment, and a genuine eye for design.

This role is 100% onsite based out of their office in North York.

Key Responsibilities

Development & Project Leadership

• Lead the day-to-day execution of approximately two concurrent multi-residential development projects, overseeing all stages from design development and entitlement through permitting, construction, and operational handover.

• Support due diligence on prospective acquisitions, including zoning and planning reviews, development feasibility, and underwriting assumptions in collaboration with the Acquisitions Team.

• Drive project progress by proactively identifying challenges, making informed recommendations, and ensuring key milestones, budgets, and schedules remain on track.

• Identify and mitigate development risks related to budget, schedule, design, and municipal approvals, escalating key issues with recommended solutions.

Design & Consultant Management

• Procure, lead, and coordinate multidisciplinary consultant teams, including architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, civil, landscape, and planning professionals.

• Provide hands-on direction throughout design development, challenging assumptions and driving design decisions toward resolution.

• Apply a strong design sensibility while balancing aesthetics, constructability, resident experience, long-term durability, and operational requirements.

• Coordinate and review drawings across all disciplines to ensure accuracy, consistency, and constructability ahead of permit submissions and construction.

• Manage consultant agreements, fee proposals, contracts, and invoicing throughout the development lifecycle.

Financial Management & Reporting

• Develop and maintain project budgets, cash flows, cost forecasts, and financial projections.

• Contribute development assumptions and feasibility inputs to acquisition and investment underwriting.

• Prepare monthly investor reporting packages outlining project financial performance, schedule updates, key risks, and milestones achieved.

• Review value-engineering opportunities and make recommendations that balance cost efficiencies with overall design quality and long-term asset value.

Approvals, Construction & Operational Handover

• Lead and coordinate municipal approvals, including site plan applications, rezoning and Official Plan Amendments where applicable, and building permit submissions.

• Build relationships with municipal planning and building officials to support the approvals process.

• Work closely with the construction partner throughout preconstruction and construction, including budget handoffs, tender reviews, RFI resolution, change order assessments, and schedule tracking.

• Collaborate with property management on design and development decisions that influence long-term operations, including unit mix, amenity programming, material selections, and building functionality.

• Oversee the transition from construction completion to operational handover, ensuring a smooth turnover to property management.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Structural, Mechanical, or Building Engineering from an accredited Canadian institution.

• 5+ years of experience in residential or multi-residential development, construction management, or a related field.

• Working knowledge of the Ontario development approvals process, including rezoning, Official Plan Amendments, site plan control, and building permits.

• Demonstrated experience developing and managing complex project budgets, financial models, and development pro formas.

• Strong understanding of the full development lifecycle, from due diligence and design through construction and completion.

• A strong design sensibility and the confidence to provide direction, challenge recommendations, and influence architects and consultants.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear, concise reporting for investors and senior leadership.

• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, competing priorities, and multidisciplinary stakeholders simultaneously.

• Valid driver's licence and willingness to travel regularly to project sites in Peterborough, Scarborough, and Kitchener, from the North York head office.

Technical Skills & Tools

• Financial Modelling: Advanced Excel skills, with experience developing budgets, cash flows, and financial projections.

• Construction & Project Management: Working knowledge of Procore and MS Project.

• Drawing Review & Coordination: Proficiency in Bluebeam.
  

AI may be used to support certain administrative aspects of our recruitment process. However, all applications and resumes are reviewed by qualified human reviewers, and all screening and hiring decisions are made solely by the hiring team.

The posted salary range reflects expected compensation for this role in accordance with Ontario pay transparency requirements. Actual compensation will be determined based on the successful candidate’s experience, skills, and qualifications and may fall anywhere within the range.