Director of Development

Overview

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
.

Location:

Williamsville, NY with monthly travel to Florida

Duration:
Fulltime

Pay Expectations:
Up to $160K, DOE

• 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-construction 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.

Aleron companies (Acara Solutions, Aleron Shared Resources, Broadleaf Results, Lume Strategies, Talent Rise, Viaduct) are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Race/Color/Gender/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Veteran.

Applicants for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position does not meet the employment requirements for individuals with F-1 OPT STEM work authorization status.