Senior Real Estate Development Project Manager

Senior Real Estate Development Project Manager

Ketone Partners is seeking a Senior Real Estate Development Project Manager to lead and support commercial real‑estate development projects from site selection through entitlement, construction, and stabilization
. This role is ideal for a hands‑on development professional who enjoys owning projects end‑to‑end and working within a small, entrepreneurial firm where impact, visibility, and responsibility come early.

The Senior Development Project Manager will work directly with senior leadership and external partners and will be deeply involved in every phase of the development process
, with a primary focus on industrial and office projects
, including both new construction and redevelopment of existing assets.

• Manage real estate development projects from initial feasibility and site selection through entitlement, construction, occupancy, and closeout.
• Lead entitlement and permitting efforts
  , including coordination with municipalities, zoning authorities, land‑use attorneys, engineers, and planners.
• Oversee the design process, including management of architects, civil engineers, structural engineers, MEP consultants, and other professional service providers.
• Prepare, manage, and track development budgets and schedules; identify and mitigate cost, schedule, and execution risks.
• Lead the bidding process for general contractors
  , including preparation of bid packages, evaluation of proposals, and recommendation of contract awards.
• Negotiate and administer construction contracts and consultant agreements in coordination with ownership.
• Oversee the general contractor during construction, including progress monitoring, change order review, cost control, schedule adherence, quality assurance, and site‑coordination.
• Review and approve pay applications, loan draws, and supporting documentation.
• Coordinate inspections, testing, punch‑list completion, certificate of occupancy, and project closeout.

• Assist with development pro formas, project feasibility analyses, and underwriting assumptions.
• Monitor project‑level financial performance against approved budgets and projections.
• Participate in sensitivity analyses related to construction costs, timelines, leasing assumptions, and investment returns.
• Support lender and investor reporting throughout the development and construction process.

• Support transition from construction to property and asset management
  , including coordination with property managers, leasing teams, and ownership.
• Assist with operating budget preparation, capital planning, and post‑completion performance analysis.
• Maintain strong working relationships with brokers, lenders, municipalities, consultants, contractors, and internal stakeholders.
• Represent ownership in meetings with public agencies, utilities, consultants, and project partners.

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, architecture, real estate, finance, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5+ years of experience in commercial real‑estate development or construction project management.
• Demonstrated experience managing entitlements, permitting, and ground‑up or major renovation projects
  .
• Proven ability to manage architects, engineers, general contractors, and consultants.
• Strong understanding of construction methods, development budgets, scheduling, and contract administration.
• Financial literacy sufficient to understand development pro formas, budgets, and investment return metrics.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to operate independently while coordinating closely with ownership in a lean, fast‑moving environment.

This role is best suited for someone who thrives in a small‑company environment and prefers ownership over hierarchy
. The successful candidate will be given meaningful authority and responsibility early and will be expected to take a proactive, solutions‑oriented approach to project leadership.

We value professionals who are comfortable making decisions, managing complexity, and representing ownership in the field and in front of public agencies and partners.

Ketone Partners is a real‑estate development and advisory firm providing integrated commercial real‑estate solutions across the United States. We specialize in complex commercial projects, with a focus on disciplined execution, long‑term value creation, and hands‑on project leadership.

Ketone Partners is an equal‑opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.