Director of Development

Acara Solutions is seeking a direct hire Director of Development for our client a development company located in Williamsville NY. This is a senior-level, hands-on role responsible for taking real estate projects from idea to reality.

Responsibilities:

1. Lead projects from concept to completion

• Evaluate potential sites and decide if they make financial and strategic sense.
• Oversee due diligence (environmental, zoning, utilities, feasibility).
• Guide projects through entitlements, approvals, and permitting.
• Coordinate design and pre-constuction activities.
• Stay involved through construction to ensure projects stay on track.

2. Manage people and partners

• Lead and mentor development staff.
• Manage outside architects, engineers, surveyors, and consultants.
• Act as their representative with municipalities, regulators, and tenants.
• Maintain strong relationships with contractors, property owners, and partners.

3. Be the municipal & regulatory point person

• Work directly with towns, cities, and planning boards.
• Navigate zoning laws, approvals, variances, and public processes.
• Ensure projects comply with local regulations while keeping timelines moving.

4. Support financial and strategic decision-making

• Help evaluate project feasibility and returns.
• Support budgeting, scheduling, and reporting.
• Provide leadership with clear, data-driven updates on project status and risks.

5. Represent the company

• Serve as a trusted face of tenants, municipalities, and partners.
• Attend key meetings, site visits, and presentations.
• Occasionally travel to project sites or partner meetings nationwide.

• Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Business, Finance, Planning, Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in real estate development, construction project management, or a related field.
• Strong analytical capabilities with hands-on experience managing project budgets and schedules.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders.
• Solid understanding of zoning regulations, entitlements, and municipal approval processes.
• Proven leadership experience with the ability to manage and mentor cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated success leading ground-up development projects.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness and ability to travel as needed.