Managing Director / Market Leader

Our client is a well-capitalized and very active development firm founded by Goldman Sachs private investment veterans. The firm focuses on large-scale, complex projects ($400 million-$1 billion) with a strong emphasis on distinctive mixed-use projects combining residential, retail, office, life sciences, etc., and select high density multifamily in "in-demand" markets. This Core Legacy vertical utilizes proprietary land strategies, sophisticated capital structuring, and an internal GP platform that raises both fund- and project-specific capital from a network of HNW, PE and institutional investors.

The company currently has several projects in various stages of pre-development in the greater San Francisco Bay area, so this is an immediate need.

Position

The Managing Director / Market Leader will be responsible for the overall growth of the greater San Francisco Bay area. The role is designed so the MD remains focused on high-value external relationships, deal sourcing, investor engagement, and strategic oversight, supported by a dedicated team including a Director of Development, construction manager, associates, and analysts. This is a rare opportunity to join a well-capitalized platform at an advantageous point in the cycle, with the ability to help shape a growing Core Legacy vertical and participate directly in the value created.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the market leader and "face" of the company - building and maintaining relationships with land sellers, brokers, politicians, lenders, and investors.
• Source, underwrite, and advance complex land and development opportunities consistent with the Core Legacy strategy (1-2 deals per market per year of significant scale and complexity).
• Lead full-cycle development oversight from land control and entitlement through design, financing, construction, and delivery, while leveraging strong internal support resources.
• Act as the primary point of contact for LP investors, lenders, and internal executive leadership on all market deals.
• Collaborate closely with the President of Development and cross-functional teams on capital strategy, project economics, and platform priorities.
• Mentor and elevate the local team (Director/VP, owner-rep/CM, associates/analysts) so day-to-day execution and construction coordination remain highly effective.
• Uphold and communicate the platform’s differentiated capital structure, clean promote economics, and long-cycle value-creation approach in the market.
• Identify and pursue proprietary land opportunities with extended contract structures that create differentiated deal flow.
• Support capital formation efforts by engaging the firm’s network of 70-100 investors and contributing to project-specific capital raises.

Qualifications

• 12-20+ years of progressive real estate development experience with a strong track record on complex urban or dense multifamily/high-rise/podium projects (concrete experience preferred).
• Proven ability to source and execute full-cycle deals involving significant land acquisition, entitlement, and long lead times.
• Experience operating as a market or regional leader with external relationship responsibility (brokers, land sellers, public officials, capital partners).
• Comfort with a horizontal, supported operating model rather than a pure siloed P&L structure.
• Strong cultural fit with a collaborative, high-integrity, execution-oriented team.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA, real estate, or related) preferred.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship skills with the ability to represent the platform effectively to sophisticated capital partners and public stakeholders.