Development Manager - Real Estate Construction

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Grade: Professional 312Pay Range: $109,900.00 - $170,400.00

Job Description

The Development Manager for our Real Estate Construction team serves as the Owner's representative responsible for coordinating and executing development activities from planning through occupancy. This role integrates internal and external stakeholders, manages due diligence and entitlement activities, supports property transition efforts, and advances project objectives while aligning development initiatives with project goals, schedules, and financial requirements.

Primary Responsibilities

Development Planning and Execution

• Manage day-to-day development activities from planning through occupancy.
• Coordinate development initiatives across internal and external stakeholders.
• Track commitments, action items, and critical development activities.
• Support preparation of executive updates, presentations, and decision support materials.
• Assist in evaluating development alternatives, feasibility considerations, and strategic project decisions.

Due Diligence and Site Readiness

• Coordinate due diligence activities including title, survey, geotechnical, environmental, and property condition investigations.
• Support site readiness activities such as utility coordination, remediation, demolition, site access, and infrastructure requirements.
• Support acquisition due diligence and evaluation of adjacent properties as needed.

Entitlements, Permitting, and Agency Coordination

• Coordinate project entitlements, permits, approvals, and regulatory requirements.
• Interface with municipalities, public agencies, utility providers, and regulatory stakeholders.
• Track approval requirements and support resolution of agency comments and compliance obligations.

Property and Asset Transition Management

• Coordinate transition activities associated with existing properties and redevelopment sites.
• Support tenant communications, lease transitions, relocations, and turnover activities.
• Coordinate relocation of utilities, telecommunications infrastructure, easements, and third-party facilities as required.

Consultant and Stakeholder Management

• Coordinate activities among architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, property managers, and specialty advisors.
• Monitor deliverables and support timely resolution of project issues.
• Facilitate meetings, workshops, and stakeholder coordination efforts.
• Support administration of third-party agreements and development-related contracts.

Procurement and Contract Support

• Support procurement planning and consultant selection activities.
• Coordinate development-related scopes of work and procurement initiatives.
• Assist with negotiation, implementation, and administration of development agreements, easements, access agreements, utility agreements, and related arrangements.
• Monitor contractual deliverables and support compliance efforts.

Development Reporting and Governance

• Prepare development reports, presentations, and project updates.
• Monitor development activities against approved milestones and coordinate corrective actions to maintain commitments.
• Maintain development records, project documentation, and information flow among project teams and stakeholders.
• Support governance, approval, and reporting processes.

Collaboration

• Partner across Design, Construction, Finance, Project Controls, and Cost Management to align development decisions with project requirements.
• Coordinate with Development Accounting on expenditures, commitments, and reporting needs.
• Support Procurement on consultant engagements, contracts, and development-related procurements.

This job description includes a general representation of job requirements rather than a comprehensive inventory of all required responsibilities or work activities. The contents of this document or related job requirements may change at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong stakeholder coordination, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams and navigate complex development processes.
• Knowledge of due diligence, entitlement, permitting, utility coordination, and development execution activities.
• Ability to integrate development activities with schedule, budget, and business objectives.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Urban Planning, Architecture, Construction Management, Engineering, Business, Finance, or a related field.

Experience

• 8+ of experience in real estate development, owner's representation, project management, construction, planning, or related disciplines.
• Experience coordinating due diligence, acquisitions, entitlements, permitting, agency approvals, stakeholder management, and development execution activities.
• Experience supporting large-scale commercial, institutional, mixed-use, hospitality, higher education, corporate headquarters, or comparable complex developments.
• Experience working with architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, public agencies, utility providers, and owner organizations.

Experience in lieu of education

Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements. Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is at the discretion of the hiring manager.

Preferred Qualifications

None specified.

Travel

This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements.

Position & Application Details

Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.