Manager of Site Readiness

The Cleveland Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund (“Site Fund” or “SRF”) is seeking an entrepreneurial, resourceful, and highly organized professional to serve as Manager of Site Readiness. The Site Fund is working to bring underutilized industrial land across Cleveland back into productive use, attracting businesses, creating quality jobs, and building long-term economic opportunity for Cleveland residents.

The Manager of Site Readiness will help move the Fund’s properties from acquisition and environmental cleanup to fully prepared, market-ready sites. This involves coordinating the many components required for development, including permitting, zoning, entitlements, infrastructure, site plans, renderings, and community benefits.

The role combines hands on project coordination with strategic problem solving. The Manager will work across multiple properties and transactions to identify what is needed to make each site ready for development, address outstanding issues, and prevent delays before they become barriers. This may involve researching property records, understanding utility capacity, clarifying zoning requirements, coordinating with City departments, and working with developers and brokers to answer specific questions about a property's potential.

Beyond individual properties, the Manager will help advance broader initiatives that streamline development across the Fund’s portfolio. These may include zoning improvements, expedited permitting, standardized community benefits agreements, and support for the proposed Advanced Energy District in the Midline.

This is an opportunity for someone who understands the value of effective government and wants to help make good things happen more efficiently. The ideal candidate enjoys navigating complex systems, building relationships, solving problems, and bringing structure to work that requires persistence and follow through.

About the Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund (SRF)

In June 2023, Mayor Justin Bibb and Cleveland City Council dedicated $50 million of the City's American Rescue Plan allocation to seed a $100 million site fund charged with bringing 1,000 acres of underutilized brownfields back into productive use. Since then, working in partnership with the Cleveland Foundation — where the SRF’s corpus is held as the Samuel T. Wellman Site Readiness Fund — and partners including KeyCorp and the Rockefeller Foundation, the SRF has grown its available capital pool to $85 million and leveraged an additional $20 million of cleanup and planning capital from other sources. SRF has aggregated over 350 acres throughout the City of Cleveland, with nearly 90 acres shovel-ready today, and — with partners — has built a deal pipeline of roughly one million square feet.

SRF identifies areas of the city with promise for industrial redevelopment, works with the Cuyahoga Land Bank to acquire and assemble parcels, prepares sites for development through demolition, remediation, and infrastructure, engages surrounding neighborhoods on desirable end uses define development criteria, and markets properties to companies and developers.

Position Summary

The Manager of Site Readiness is responsible for coordinating the work needed to make Site Fund properties as close to shovel ready as possible, ensuring prospective companies and developers have the information, approvals, and due diligence needed to quickly evaluate sites, make informed decisions, and move forward with development. The Manager will proactively identify and address outstanding requirements, coordinate necessary approvals and information, and ensure the Site Fund can respond quickly and accurately to questions, reducing uncertainty and delays and helping bring new development to Cleveland.

Working closely with the Site Fund team, City of Cleveland departments, County offices, utility providers, developers, brokers, consultants, and other partners, the Manager will ensure each property is thoroughly researched, well documented, and supported by the information and approvals needed for prospective companies and developers to make informed decisions.

The Manager will take ownership of multiple site readiness workstreams, identifying outstanding requirements, coordinating solutions, and keeping projects moving. The position will also lead or support broader efforts to improve development processes across the Midline and the Site Fund portfolio, while maintaining strong relationships with existing employers and supporting their continued success.

Key Responsibilities

Site Readiness and Development Coordination

• Coordinate the work needed to prepare individual Site Fund properties for development, ensuring each site has the necessary zoning, entitlements, permits, infrastructure information, site plans, engineering studies, and other due diligence materials.
• Develop a clear understanding of each property's development potential and outstanding requirements, including utility capacity, electrical service, water and sewer infrastructure, environmental considerations, access, easements, and other site specific constraints.
• Identify gaps in site readiness and develop practical plans, timelines, and next steps to resolve outstanding issues before they delay a potential transaction or development project.
• Research property records, title information, recorded easements, ownership history, zoning maps, and other public records to identify potential issues affecting development. Coordinate with attorneys, brokers, and other specialists when additional research or expertise is needed.
• Coordinate with Cleveland Planning, Building and Housing, Cleveland Public Power, County offices, utility providers, and other agencies to clarify requirements, obtain information, and resolve development barriers.
• Work with prospective companies and developers to understand their operational and infrastructure needs, including power requirements, utility capacity, zoning, and permitting, and determine whether a site can accommodate their intended use.
• Develop and maintain a consistent site readiness framework and checklist to evaluate properties, document outstanding requirements, track progress, and ensure accurate and complete information is available across the portfolio.

Transaction and Developer Support

• Serve as a key point of contact for companies, developers, and brokers exploring Site Fund properties, helping them understand site conditions, development requirements, available resources, and the steps needed to move a project forward.
• Coordinate due diligence and work directly with prospective developers and companies, government agencies, and other partners to navigate regulatory requirements and resolve barriers to development.
• Anticipate questions and potential obstacles that could affect a transaction and proactively gather information, engage the appropriate stakeholders, and identify solutions.
• Translate complex regulations, technical requirements, public processes, and approval timelines into clear information and actionable next steps.
• Prepare and maintain organized property information packages and data rooms that provide prospective companies, developers, and brokers with accurate, complete, and readily accessible information.
• Build productive relationships with the people and departments responsible for moving development projects forward, using sound judgment, persistence, and personal influence to keep transactions progressing.
• Identify opportunities to reduce delays, simplify requirements, and make Site Fund properties more competitive for business attraction and investment.

Strategic Initiatives and Process Improvement

• Lead or coordinate initiatives that improve site readiness and make development easier across multiple properties, rather than addressing requirements one site at a time.
• Work with the City Planning Department and outside consultants to advance a unified zoning overlay for the Midline Business District, helping simplify its current mix of approximately 13 zoning classifications and facilitate future development.
• Explore opportunities to streamline or fast track permitting for targeted industrial uses in collaboration with City officials and other partners.
• Help develop and advance a district wide Community Benefits Agreement or community benefits framework that clarifies expectations, reduces complexity for developers, and supports priorities such as workforce development, resident ownership, environmental sustainability, and greenspace creation and maintenance.
• Collaborate with the Midline Manager, outside consultants, and the Master Energy Developer to support the development of an Advanced Energy District in the Midline.
• Research policies, technical approaches, and successful models from other cities and regions to identify practical opportunities to improve local development processes.
• Identify opportunities to use technology, data, and emerging tools, including AI where appropriate, to improve research, organize property information, streamline documentation, and make information more accessible.
• Bring the right stakeholders together to work through complicated issues and develop practical solutions that balance development timelines with community priorities and long term goals.

Cross Sector Collaboration and Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with City of Cleveland and County officials, planning and permitting departments, utility providers, developers, brokers, businesses, workforce organizations, community partners, and other stakeholders involved in site development.
• Develop an understanding of how local government departments and approval processes operate, including knowing where to go for information, who needs to be involved, and how to navigate processes effectively.
• Coordinate across public, private, and community organizations to align priorities, clarify responsibilities, resolve issues, and maintain project momentum.
• Communicate project needs, technical requirements, potential barriers, and next steps clearly to both technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Work collaboratively with the Site Fund team and organizational partners to ensure individual site projects and broader strategic initiatives support the organization's overall development goals.

Project Management, Organization and Execution

• Manage multiple properties, transactions, deadlines, and interdependent workstreams while maintaining a clear understanding of priorities, dependencies, and outstanding decisions.
• Establish work plans, track milestones, document decisions, and follow up consistently to ensure progress and accountability.
• Organize and maintain accurate, current property information, including preparing and populating standardized data rooms and supporting materials for prospective companies, developers, and brokers.
• Ensure information on the Site Fund website and in property data rooms is accurate, complete, current, and readily accessible.
• Take ownership of complex assignments, anticipate potential obstacles, and address issues before they delay a transaction or development project.
• Bring structure to complicated or evolving projects, exercise sound judgment when information is incomplete, and maintain a strong sense of urgency.
• Balance the immediate needs of individual properties and transactions with longer term initiatives designed to improve the overall development process.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who understands how to navigate government processes and enjoys working across organizations to get things done. This person may have worked in local government, planning, permitting, economic development, real estate, or a related field and understands the steps, relationships, and coordination required to move development projects forward.

The ideal candidate is personable, resourceful, and comfortable working through complicated problems. They know how to find information, ask the right questions, build relationships, and follow through. They are equally comfortable organizing property records and project information, speaking with City officials, and working directly with a developer to figure out what is needed to move a deal forward.

This is a hands on role for someone who takes initiative, enjoys making systems work better, and wants to see tangible results from their efforts.

Must Have:

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, in government, city or regional planning, permitting, economic development, real estate development, project coordination, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience navigating government processes, regulations, approvals, or public sector systems, with an understanding of how local government departments operate and how to work effectively within them.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, track details, maintain accurate records, and consistently follow through.
• Ability to research and interpret information from public records, property databases, zoning maps, regulations, and other technical or government sources.
• Strong technical aptitude and comfort working with databases, spreadsheets, digital documents, mapping tools, and online information systems. Ability to quickly learn new platforms and tools.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships, work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders, and communicate complex information clearly.
• Strong problem solving skills and the ability to work through unfamiliar or complicated issues, identify what information is missing, and determine the right people or resources to engage.
• A proactive, solutions oriented approach, with the ability to take ownership of assignments and move work forward with limited direction.
• Sound judgment, persistence, professionalism, and the ability to build trust with public and private sector partners.

Nice to Have:

• Experience working in a municipal planning, zoning, permitting, economic development, or other local government department.
• Experience working with real estate developers, commercial or industrial properties, brokers, site selection consultants, or other development partners.
• Familiarity with Cleveland and Northeast Ohio government agencies, property records, zoning processes, utility providers, and development resources.
• Experience researching property ownership, title records, easements, zoning classifications, utility infrastructure, or other factors affecting property development.
• Exposure to site development, infrastructure planning, engineering, environmental due diligence, or utility coordination.
• Experience coordinating external consultants, attorneys, contractors, or other professional service providers.
• Experience preparing property information packages, developer data rooms, RFP materials, or due diligence documentation.
• Interest or experience using AI and other technology tools to improve research, organize information, automate routine tasks, and make processes more efficient.

Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree required / master’s degree preferred.

(Ideal master’s degrees: public policy, public administration, urban and regional planning, city planning, city and regional planning)

Most essential though is evidence of drive, analytical rigor, and an entrepreneurial mindset.

Location & Travel

Must live in or relocate to Greater Cleveland. *Given the place-based nature of the role, geographically remote candidates not willing to relocate will not be considered.

Compensation & Benefits

The base salary range for this position is $85,000 - $100,000, commensurate with experience. The Site Fund also offers an attractive benefits package.