Director, Real Estate Development

About the role

The Director of Development is a critical team member responsible for leading major real estate development initiatives for Vanderbilt University, with a primary focus on the Innovation Neighborhood. The role oversees developer solicitation, pre-development planning, negotiations, implementation, design and construction oversight, activation planning, and ongoing coordination with internal and external stakeholders.

Key Functions And Expected Performance

• Lead the developer solicitation process, including preparing RFP materials, coordinating internal review, evaluating proposals, and managing procurement workflows.
• Negotiate business terms for P3 structures, ground leases, phased development agreements, and related transaction documents.
• Collaborate with Legal, Finance, Procurement, Corporate Partnerships, Academic Affairs, VU Enterprises and senior leadership to ensure agreements align with Vanderbilt’s objectives and financial and operational requirements.
• Manage project governance and prepare materials for executive and Board-level decision-making.
• Provide oversight of developer-led design and construction activities, ensuring alignment with campus design guidelines, infrastructure standards, and operational considerations.
• Coordinate technical review with VU internal departments (Planning, Design, and Construction, Maintenance & Operations, Mobility/Parking, Environmental Health & Safety) to ensure integration with campus systems.
• Maintain continuous oversight to ensure developer performance meets Vanderbilt expectations.
• Conduct feasibility studies, evaluate development scenarios, and lead financial analysis to assess long-term operating implications, risk factors, and cost/benefit scenarios for major development decisions.
• Review developer financials, budgets, schedules, and pro formas; provide internal recommendations.
• Evaluate deal terms, capital needs, and long-term portfolio impact with REFD Business Operations and Finance.
• Serve as a central project leader for the Innovation Neighborhood, overseeing entitlements, infrastructure planning, public realm development, retail tenanting strategy, tenant recruitment support, and implementation sequencing.
• Coordinate internally with VU departments (Center for Technology Transfer & Commercialization, Corporate Partnerships, schools/colleges, researchers, and community partners) to align district tenanting and recruitment with Vanderbilt’s innovation and academic goals.
• Support public realm planning, open space coordination, and activation strategy, ensuring the district evolves as a vibrant, functional innovation ecosystem.
• Work closely with VU’s Government and Community Relations office on neighborhood relations, meetings, and construction impact mitigation.
• Act as a connector across REFD, Finance, Legal, Planning, Design & Construction, Maintenance & Operations, Administration, academic units, and developer teams.
• Facilitate decision-making processes, manage conflict points, and maintain communication across multiple internal and external workstreams.
• Develop and present clear and compelling executive-level presentations, scenario analyses, and project summaries.
• Aid in regulatory coordination and engagement with Metro Nashville, permitting entities, and other agencies.

Education And Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree required. Degree in Real Estate, Urban Planning, Architecture, Engineering, Finance, Development, or related field preferred.
• Advanced degree or certifications (e.g., real estate development, finance, project management) preferred.

Required Experience and Skills

• 5–8+ years of real estate development experience, with direct involvement in development projects from conception through implementation.
• Experience in P3 development, mixed-use or large-scale campus development, or master developer relationships.
• Demonstrated capability managing design and construction teams, consultants, and technical experts.
• Strong financial modeling and analytical skills, including pro forma development and deal evaluation.
• Experience evaluating and negotiating complex real estate agreements.
• Ability to lead multi-stakeholder initiatives in a complex institutional or corporate environment.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-management skills.

Preferred Experience

• Familiarity with entitlements, infrastructure planning, and public realm/urban design principles.
• Understanding of large-scale district activation and tenanting strategies.