Director of Real Estate Development in Senior Housing

Posted 8 days ago

benchmark senior living nashua crossingsWaltham (MA)

Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers New Housing For-Sale Builders

SENIORITY

Manager

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About the role

Director of Development– Senior Housing Benchmark has been a trailblazer in senior living for nearly 30 years, operating 70 communities with 7,400 associates across the Northeast. With $3 billion in assets under management and $700 million in annual revenue, the company is experiencing historic growth, expanding its footprint from Boston to Washington DC. Benchmark offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, and continuing care retirement communities, positioning itself as a leader within this growing real estate sector. Senior housing has consistently ranked among the top three real estate sectors for long-term investment returns, and with the Baby Boomer 80+ population projected to grow over 5% annually through 2030, demand is surging.

Position Overview: We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Director of Development to lead and execute expansion projects across a growing portfolio of senior housing assets throughout New England. This role will be responsible for managing the full lifecycle of development projects—from early-stage feasibility and entitlements through design, construction, and project delivery. The ideal candidate will have strong project management experience, a deep understanding of real estate development processes, and the ability to coordinate cross-functional teams, third-party consultants, and internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Overview:

Lead expansion projects across an existing senior housing portfolio, including additions, renovations, and repositioning initiatives
Oversee all phases of development, including feasibility, design, permitting, construction, and closeout
Coordinate and manage third-party consultants, including architects, engineers, planners, and attorneys
Develop and maintain project schedules, budgets, and reporting systems
Acquisitions & Due Diligence
Identify adjacent land target to acquire to support expansion plans.
Negotiate purchase and sale agreements.
Conduct due diligence on potential expansion opportunities, including acquisition of adjacent land parcels
Coordinate third-party reports, site investigations, and feasibility analyses
Entitlements & Permitting
Manage zoning, entitlement, and permitting processes across multiple jurisdictions in New England
Prepare and submit applications for approvals, variances, and permits
Represent projects at public hearings and community meetings
Design & Construction Coordination
Oversee architectural and interior design processes to ensure alignment with project goals and brand standards
Manage the bidding, selection, and oversight of contractors
Coordinate construction activities and ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget
Oversee installation of FF&E and other owner-provided scopes
Financial Analysis & Reporting
Develop project budgets and support preparation of project underwriting models
Track project financial performance, including cost management, schedule management, and variance reporting
Investor & Executive Communication
Prepare and deliver presentations to investors, executives, and internal stakeholders
Prepare investment committee memoranda and present recommendations to executive leadership
Provide regular updates on project status, risks, and financial performance

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Finance, Architecture, Engineering, or a related field (Master's degree preferred)5–7 years of experience in real estate development, construction management, or a related field
Experience managing ground-up or expansion projects, ideally within senior housing, healthcare, or multifamily sectors
Strong understanding of zoning, permitting, and entitlement processes
Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
As a Home Office associate at Benchmark, you will have immediate access to a variety of benefits including, but not limited to, the following:10 paid holidays plus 1 floating holiday
Vacation and Health & Wellness Paid Time OffTuition Reimbursement Program
Physical & Mental Health Wellness Programs
Medical, Vision & Dental Benefits provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield 401K Retirement Plan with Company MatchLong Term Care Insurance
Company-provided Life Insurance & Long-Term Disability*Eligibility may vary by employment status

Benchmark Senior Living is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We embrace and encourage our associates' differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our associates unique.

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