Housing Developer III

Department: Real Estate Development | Reports to: Chief Real Estate Development Officer (CREDO) | Direct Reports: None | FLSA Status: Exempt | Compensation: $120,000 – $144,000

About the role

The Seattle Social Housing Developer (SSHD) is a Public Development Authority committed to creating, owning, and stewarding permanently affordable, mixed-income social housing that is publicly financed, publicly controlled, and free from market speculation. The Housing Developer III manages the development of complex multifamily mixed-income rental housing projects from concept through feasibility, design, permitting, construction, and closeout, operating with substantial autonomy to keep projects on track, mitigate risks, and collaborate across agency departments and with external partners.

Responsibilities

New Construction Projects

• Project Management: Manage project development from site selection through closeout; host regular team meetings and maintain project records; analyze feasibility, financial, and reputational risks and implement mitigation strategies; keep the CREDO informed at all phases.
• Site Selection: Evaluate new opportunities, score potential sites, and make recommendations to the CREDO; present projects to the Real Estate Committee; assist with site control negotiations and manage the land acquisition process.
• Feasibility: Complete preliminary capital and operating proformas; order and analyze third-party due diligence reports (environmental, geotechnical, survey, arborist, etc.); review title reports and resolve title objections with legal counsel, seller, and title company; assemble the development team including architect and preconstruction vendor; present project to the Board of Directors.
• Design and Permitting: Manage biweekly team meetings; ensure SSHD leadership provides design input at key milestones (feasibility, schematic design, design development); include Resident Governance and Facilities staff for input on amenities, staff spaces, product choices, and maintenance impacts; collaborate with the design team on expedited permitting and special zoning/permit permissions available to SSHD; prepare Housing Cooperation Agreement materials for City HCA approval process with CREDO and CEO.
• Financing: Propose project budget to CREDO and manage within approved spending authority; manage value engineering; assist with applications for public, private, philanthropic, or government financing; manage underwriting and closing in collaboration with senior staff; approve project bills, predevelopment draws, and monthly construction draws.
• Construction: Manage general contractor selection via State GC-CM or design-bid-build process; review plans and specs for regulatory compliance and SSHD Project Labor Agreement compliance; manage construction contract execution; oversee monthly draws, LNI prevailing wage compliance, lien releases, contingency budget, and SSHD Owner’s Rep; troubleshoot issues with Owner’s Rep, architect, GC, and CREDO; represent SSHD in monthly OAC meetings.
• Close Out: Notify COO at least 120 days before completion to begin staff-up and rent-up; manage closeout including substantial completion approval, prevailing wage and PLA compliance, retainage release, final lien releases, O&M manuals, as-built drawings, warranties; schedule warranty inspections and connect facilities staff with GC for warranty issues; hand off key documents to COO or CFO; prepare financial records for cost certifications.
• Community Relations: Coordinate with SSHD Director of Communications for community and public presentations; maintain relationships and represent SSHD with community stakeholders.

Acquisition Projects

• Evaluation & Strategy: Partner with the Director of Acquisitions to identify, evaluate, and structure property acquisitions, including preliminary feasibility and financial analysis; prepare presentations for CREDO, CEO, Board Real Estate Committee, and Board on alignment with Acquisition Values, financial benchmarks, and risks.
• Due Diligence Oversight: Direct due diligence investigations including Phase I/II environmental reports, physical needs assessments, title/encumbrance reviews, and risk analyses.
• Transaction Negotiation: Support negotiation of Purchase and Sale Agreements and related transaction documents in coordination with the Director of Acquisitions and legal counsel.

General SSHD Process Compliance and Collaboration

• Procurement: Procure all vendors and negotiate contracts in compliance with SSHD’s Procurement and Contracting Process.
• Insurance: Work with CFO or COO and SSHD’s insurance agent to arrange insurance for new land acquisitions and builder’s risk during construction.
• Record Keeping: Maintain records in compliance with department electronic filing protocols and the Public Records Act.
• Cross-Functional Representation: Participate in SSHD staff meetings, Housing Development team meetings, Board Real Estate Committee meetings, and Board presentations on development projects.
• Operations Improvement: Participate in agency-wide initiatives to build capacity, including information management systems, reporting formats, policy frameworks, and tools for monitoring benchmarks.
• Policy Contribution: Assist in evaluating and advancing policy changes (zoning, land use, public funding mechanisms) that further SSHD’s development goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Real Estate, Urban Planning, Finance, Architecture, Construction Management, or a related field.
• 5+ years of progressive, deep-domain professional experience in affordable housing finance, project management, or construction management.
• Strong working knowledge and mastery of affordable housing finance tools and regulatory compliance.
• Strong commitment to housing equity and experience working with communities most impacted by displacement and housing instability.
• Highly organized, independent, and capable of managing multiple high-priority deals and stakeholder relationships in a fast-moving environment.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Real Estate, Finance, or Architecture.
• Demonstrated experience with sustainable and resilient building frameworks (e.g., Passive House, green building, LEED).
• Understanding of the real estate market across various Seattle neighborhoods.
• Multilingual abilities and/or culturally grounded community engagement experience.