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.

Key ResponsibilitiesDevelopment & Project Execution

• Manage real estate development projects from initial feasibility and site selection through entitlements, 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 job-site coordination.
• Review and approve pay applications, loan draws, and supporting documentation.
• Coordinate inspections, testing, punch-list completion, certificate of occupancy, and project closeout.

Financial & Analytical Support

• 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.

Asset & Stakeholder Management

• 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.

Qualifications & Experience

• 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 means and 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.

What We're Looking For

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.

About Ketone 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.

More information is available at

.

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.