Executive VP of Development

About Urban Villages

Urban Villages Inc. is a purpose-led real estate development and investment firm focused on building properties that are both sustainable and meaningful. The company aims to balance environmental responsibility with strong financial performance, using innovative thinking to deliver exceptional results. Its culture values rigorous problem-solving, creativity, and high standards in everything it does.

To date, Urban Villages has acquired, developed, and managed more than $3 billion in transformative mixed-use real estate assets across several markets. Its portfolio includes the largest net-zero energy housing project in the United States, the renewal of Denver’s historic main street, the first carbon-positive hotels in the country, and one of the largest adaptive-reuse LEED Platinum projects nationwide. The company currently manages about $1 billion in mixed-use real estate assets and has a $1.5 billion development pipeline with land control. It employs more than 35 full-time team members across offices in Denver, Pittsburgh, and Seattle.

The organization is seeking a senior leader who is passionate about impactful development and committed to sustainability, stewardship, and building exceptional teams. This role is based in the downtown Denver corporate office and requires travel to project sites across the country. The position reports to the Chief Executive Officer and works closely with the Executive Leadership Team.

Role Overview

The Executive VP of Development will lead ground-up development, execution, construction oversight, and major renovation work across a portfolio valued at over $1 billion. The role also supports future growth by partnering with the Executive Leadership Team on new opportunities, market evaluation, and capital-related strategy.

Project Development and Delivery

• Direct all phases of development work, including feasibility, underwriting, community engagement, partnership coordination, project-team leadership, design, entitlements, construction, financial management, and handoff to operations for several projects at once.
• Ensure compliance with project specifications and contractual obligations by reviewing work in progress and confirming that requirements are being met.
• Guide project leaders in selecting consultants, managing bids, negotiating contracts, defining performance expectations, and enforcing contract terms.
• Support project executives in preparing status updates for executive leadership and contributing to regular investor communications.
• Monitor schedules and project progress, flag risks or delays, and coordinate with legal, financing, and investor relations teams when timing issues arise.

Financial Oversight

• Lead early-stage financial review, market research, and sensitivity analysis for development opportunities, and refresh development pro formas as new information becomes available.
• Work with the Executive Leadership Team to evaluate capital stack structures and secure preferred equity and debt arrangements.
• Oversee budgets, schedules, approvals, and project communications to keep work efficient, timely, and cost-conscious.
• Coordinate with accounting on job cost tracking, review expenses against budget, and collaborate with investor relations on cash requirements and capital call preparation.
• Document and improve best practices for feasibility analysis, underwriting, and development finance processes.

Team Leadership

• Coach, mentor, and develop internal and external project executives, consultants, and subject matter experts, while supporting each project’s overall schedule.
• Ensure project executives use critical path methods to define milestones, tasks, dependencies, and deadlines.
• Continuously improve project management metrics, systems, and processes, and train teams to use them effectively.
• Help project executives determine which issues require executive leadership review or approval.
• Guide teams in coordinating entitlement and design expertise, defining scopes of involvement, assigning deadlines, and tracking progress.

Growth and Corporate Strategy

• Work with asset management and acquisitions teams to define criteria and evaluate potential real estate opportunities.
• Identify new development possibilities that align with company goals and investment parameters.
• Build and maintain relationships with brokers and property owners in target markets to strengthen deal flow.
• Assess potential development sites and compare possible development strategies and schemes.
• Partner with asset management on opportunity review through cash flow analysis, market research, constraint assessment, and evaluation of asset condition and quality.
• Handle additional duties needed to support the development function and overall success of the team.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of relevant leadership experience in real estate development, project management, and/or construction management, ideally with experience in mixed-use urban projects.
• Bachelor’s degree in a field such as construction management, real estate, architecture, engineering, business, or finance; a graduate degree in real estate, planning, design, or a related discipline is preferred.
• Strong command of development processes, concepts, systems, and industry best practices.
• Advanced ability in pro forma modeling, project budgeting, and project management tools and systems.
• Solid understanding of capital markets, financing structures, real estate valuation, value creation, and capital stack strategy.
• Highly developed analytical and organizational ability, with the skill to turn complex financial data into practical recommendations.
• Proven capability to manage multiple priorities and timelines while reducing the impact of delays and unexpected issues.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present complex financial information to executive and external audiences.
• Strong collaboration and leadership skills in cross-functional, team-based environments, with experience influencing outcomes across departments.
• Demonstrated commitment to quality, strong results, and performance beyond expectations.
• Creative, proactive problem-solver who can adapt and introduce new approaches in a changing environment.
• High attention to detail, strong analytical discipline, and a clear focus on measurable business impact.
• Willingness and ability to travel as required by project needs and locations.
• Genuine commitment to sustainability and stewardship, with the ability to align financial decisions with environmental and social responsibility.

Compensation and Benefits

The expected base salary range for this position is $275,000 to $325,000, plus bonus opportunity. Full-time benefits include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; short-term and long-term disability coverage; a 401(k) retirement plan; flex time off and paid holidays; extended medical and parental leave; company-wide volunteer days; and a public transit pass.