Director of Real Estate & Development

Director of Real Estate & Development

Brownsville, TX
• Full-Time
• Exempt

About Us

cdcb is a nationally recognized, mission-driven affordable housing organization building pathways to home ownership across South Texas. We combine innovative financing, modular construction, counseling, and community partnerships to help families dream bigger and achieve long-term stability.

We are expanding our real estate development team as we scale neighborhood development, modular housing, and new community-building initiatives. If you are driven, collaborative, and excited about doing work that matters, this role may be a strong fit, even if you have never worked in affordable housing before.

The Opportunity

Are you a builder of projects, partnerships, and solutions? Do you thrive in complex, fast-moving environments where your work has a direct impact on families and communities?

As the Director of Real Estate & Development
, you will lead the planning and execution of housing projects from concept through completion. You will guide acquisitions, financing, design, and construction while working with diverse partners including architects, engineers, contractors, lenders, city officials, and community members.

You do not need to arrive with LIHTC or affordable housing finance expertise. If you bring strong project management, analytical skills, and a commitment to learning,
cdcb will train you on specialized housing tools, regulations, and funding programs.

What You Will Do Lead Development Projects that Change Lives

• Manage the end-to-end development of affordable housing from feasibility, to construction, to lease-up/stabilization.
• Oversee site acquisition, due diligence, project design, permitting, and entitlements.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams including architects, engineers, contractors, legal counsel, and consultants.

Guide Financial & Strategic Decision-Making

• Develop budgets, proformas, and project financial models (training provided as needed).
• Prepare and support applications for grants, tax credits, bonds, and public/private capital.
• Work closely with lenders, funders, and public partners to structure viable projects.

Shape cdcb’s Future Pipeline

• Identify new development opportunities aligned with community needs and organizational strategy.
• Collaborate with the Executive Team to plan long-range growth and evaluate neighborhood-level impact.

Lead and Support a High-Performing Team

• Supervise and mentor development and construction staff.
• Work cross-functionally with counseling, lending, asset management, and resident services.
• Represent cdcb at public meetings, community gatherings, and partner convenings.

What Sets You Up for Success

You may be a strong candidate even if you have never worked in affordable housing. We are looking for people who are:

Core Skills & Qualities (Required for Success)

• Proven project manager able to turn complex ideas into clear plans.
• Comfortable with budgets, timelines, and coordinating multiple stakeholders.
• Strong communicator able to explain complex issues to varied audiences.
• Analytical thinker with sound judgment and the ability to make decisions with incomplete information.
• Mission-driven with a commitment to housing equity and community impact.
• Organized, accountable, and excited to learn new systems.

Experience

You likely have 3+ years of experience in one or more of the following:

• Project management
• Construction, real estate, urban planning, or architecture
• Public administration, policy, or community development
• Finance, analysis, consulting, or operations
• Nonprofit or government program management

Housing-Specific Skills (Nice to Have, Not Required)

We will train you in:

• LIHTC and other affordable housing finance tools
• Public subsidies, grants, and compliance
• Housing development timelines and regulatory processes
• Working with TDHCA, HUD, municipal partners, and investors

If you have any experience with these already, great! If you do not, we will train you.

What We Offer (took figures from what is posted now)

• Salary: $80,000 – $90,000, depending on experience
• Bonus: Based on project and production goals
• Benefits:
  • 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision
  • Life insurance
  • 401(k) (no match required)
  • 16 paid holidays
  • Vacation & personal days based on length of service
• Collaborative work environment with strong mentorship from experienced leaders
• Professional development and training across multiple disciplines: housing finance, LIHTC, project design, community development, modular construction, and more
• Opportunity to shape a growing organization with regional and national impact

A Note to Candidates

If you’re excited about this role but do not meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. At cdcb, we invest in people. If you bring the right mindset, core skills, and commitment to the mission, we will teach you the rest.

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