Senior Vice President – Senior Housing Development

About the role

Gilbane Development Company is seeking an accomplished and entrepreneurial Senior Vice President – Senior Housing Development, to lead and expand its national senior housing development platform. This executive will be responsible for establishing and executing the strategic vision, building and leading a high-performing development team, and driving the identification, capitalization, development, and successful delivery of senior housing communities across the United States. The platform will encompass the full continuum of senior housing, including Active Adult (55+), Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care communities, as well as integrated campuses offering multiple levels of care. The Executive Director, Development - Senior Housing will have national responsibility for the platform, with an immediate emphasis on expanding development opportunities in Utah, Texas, Florida, and Virginia. The ideal candidate will bring a minimum of 20 years of progressive real estate experience, including at least 10 years directly involved in senior housing development, along with a demonstrated track record of originating, capitalizing, and executing successful projects. This individual must combine strategic leadership, entrepreneurial thinking, strong financial acumen, and deep knowledge of the senior housing industry.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Platform Growth

• Develop and execute a comprehensive national growth strategy for Gilbane’s senior housing development platform.
• Establish and implement market-specific development strategies, initially prioritizing Utah, Texas, Florida, and Virginia.
• Identify opportunities across the full spectrum of senior housing, including Active Adult, Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and continuing care or integrated senior living communities.
• Establish annual and long-term development objectives, including pipeline growth, capital deployment, project starts, and investment performance.
• Evaluate demographic trends, market fundamentals, competitive supply, operating performance, and evolving consumer preferences to identify attractive development opportunities.
• Build and maintain a scalable national development platform supported by disciplined investment underwriting, execution processes, and strategic relationships.

Development Origination & Execution

• Lead the sourcing, evaluation, underwriting, entitlement, capitalization, and execution of senior housing development opportunities nationwide.
• Oversee the full development lifecycle, including site selection, land acquisition, feasibility analysis, due diligence, zoning and entitlements, design, construction, lease-up, stabilization, and disposition or long-term ownership strategies.
• Direct market feasibility and financial analysis, including development budgets, operating projections, investment returns, and sensitivity analyses.
• Ensure development projects are structured to achieve established investment return objectives while appropriately managing execution and operating risks.
• Oversee project design and product positioning to ensure communities are competitive, operationally efficient, and aligned with resident needs and market demand.
• Coordinate with internal construction, finance, legal, investment, and asset management teams to ensure successful project execution.
• Maintain executive-level oversight of development schedules, budgets, project risks, and investment performance.

Team Leadership & Organizational Development

• Recruit, develop, and lead a national team of real estate development professionals responsible for sourcing and executing senior housing projects.
• Establish clear accountability, performance expectations, and measurable objectives across the development organization.
• Provide strategic direction and mentorship to regional development leaders and project-level development professionals.
• Determine organizational structure and staffing requirements as the platform expands into additional geographic markets.
• Foster a collaborative, entrepreneurial, and results-oriented culture emphasizing disciplined execution, financial performance, and long-term value creation.
• Serve as the senior executive responsible for the overall performance and growth of the senior housing development business.

Capital Markets & Investment Management

• Collaborate with Gilbane’s capital markets and investment teams to support the capitalization of senior housing development projects, including institutional equity, joint venture structures, construction financing, and other appropriate capital sources.
• Provide development expertise, market intelligence, project underwriting, and investment analysis to support capital raising and financing activities.
• Assist in cultivating and maintaining relationships with institutional investors, private equity firms, family offices, lenders, and other capital partners active in senior housing.
• Support the preparation and presentation of investment opportunities, development strategies, and financial projections to internal investment committees and external capital partners.
• Work collaboratively with the capital markets, legal, and investment teams in evaluating and negotiating transaction structures, joint venture arrangements, and financing terms.
• Monitor project-level and portfolio-level investment performance to ensure alignment with established financial objectives.
• Coordinate with corporate leadership and the capital markets team to evaluate capital requirements, establish development priorities, and support the execution of the national senior housing development pipeline.

Senior Housing Operations & Strategic Partnerships

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with established senior housing operating companies and management partners.
• Evaluate and select operating partners based on demonstrated performance, market expertise, financial strength, and alignment with the company’s investment strategy.
• Collaborate with operating partners throughout the development process to optimize building design, unit mix, amenity programming, staffing considerations, and operational efficiency.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the operating economics of Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care communities, including occupancy, rental rates, care revenue, labor costs, operating margins, and stabilization timelines.
• Ensure development strategies account for applicable state licensing requirements, regulatory considerations, and operational complexities associated with different