Director, Development Operations chez Chicago Housing Authority

The Director of Development Operations is a key, strategic leadership role in CHA’s Development Department. This person is responsible for ensuring Department operations are effective, efficient and continuously improving with the goal of adding further capacity to grow CHA’s affordable housing development pipeline. In collaboration with department leadership, the Director oversees implementation of the Development Department’s budget, affordable housing development project financial operations, procurement and contract management, design and construction monitoring, and data management and reporting functions. Key responsibilities include preparing, tracking and monitoring the Department’s capital plan and administrative budgets, ensuring CHA-funded construction projects are progressing on-schedule, on-budget and per agreed-upon standards, ensuring design reviews for large-scale housing development proposals meet regulatory standards, and supporting continuous process improvement to meet department and agency-wide targets. This person will collaborate with internal departments to ensure that procurements are timely and effective, vendor billing is correct, vendor payments are made in a timely manner, and Department operations run smoothly. This person will also actively participate in the Development leadership group to improve coordination, systems and processes.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Direct and manage the team responsible for annual budget preparation, monitoring and tracking. 

• Guide and coordinate with Department and agency leadership on developing, implementing and managing CHA’s 5-Year Capital Plan budget. 

• Direct and manage the team responsible for reviewing design and monitoring construction of third-party and CHA self-and co-developed housing developments. 

• Oversee CHA’s mixed-finance construction draw reviews and change orders from initial closing through permanent loan conversion including all aspects of CHA draw and change order review and approval, and required resolution of construction related issues.

• Direct and manage the team responsible for Departmental third-party procurement and contracting of real estate due diligence services and oversee the Department’s buying plan.

• Work collaboratively with CHA Legal and Procurement teams to coordinate procurement and contracting efforts for the Department.

• Develop, plan, implement and/or support cross-departmental collaborative process improvement projects such as process mapping, Department data management, analysis of closed development loans performance and reporting, and other special projects. 

• Manage the Department’s Annual Moving to Work (MTW) Plan reporting requirements, and other regular statutory internal and external reports, and ad-hoc data reporting requirements as needed.

• Provide operational and financial compliance support for CHA affiliate entities, collaborating with other Departments as needed. 

• Support data and information management to ensure compliance with all third-party funding requirements, including ensuring that compliance obligations are being fulfilled and reporting requirements are being met.

• Represents the Department on current and future agency-wide enterprise system working groups to ensure Development’s technical requirements are reflected in agency systems. 

• Provide support for CHA affiliates, working with other departments to ensure operational and financial compliance.

• Perform other duties as assigned, consistent with the roles goals and objectives.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics or Public Administration, Engineering, Construction Management, Management, Architecture, other related fields or similar experience required. Advanced degree preferred. 7+ years experience of relevant government funding, real estate, development, not-for-profit or other applicable operations required. 3+ years of increasingly responsible management positions required. Knowledge and experience in government and/or real estate operations is instrumental. Demonstrated experience developing and executing strategic plans and programs, developing and managing budgets and producing quality deliverables within stated timeframes. Ability to understand and improve complex systems. Excellent communication skills, including strong written, verbal and presentation skills. Ability to prioritize and manage work against critical project timelines in a fast-paced environment. Ability to provide staff support and direction, solve a diverse range of project and systems issues, and meet real deadlines. Strategic thinker who has an eye for detail, is organized, and can manage multiple programs simultaneously. Demonstrated proficiency in facilitating teams and diverse groups. Strong process improvement experience and demonstrated advance planning and problem-solving capabilities. High level analytical skills required. Experience with project management software and systems strongly preferred. Computer proficiency required: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook skills. Ability to maintain confidentiality of privileged information. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected.

BENEFITS AT-A-GLANCE

• Vacation, Sick and Personal, competitive PTO package       

• Medical (HMO, PPO, and No employee cost High-Deductible PPO) Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance

• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance

• Long-Term Care Insurance

• Pet Insurance

• Parking Transit

• Prepaid Legal Services

• Brightstar 529 College Savings Plan

• Identity Theft Protection

• Hospital Indemnity Insurance

• Voluntary Critical Illness Insurance

• Deferred Compensation Plan: Empower 457/401(a) with a 3% employer match

• Pension Plan: CHA makes contributions on behalf of the employee, along with the employee's 3% contribution; 100% vesting occurs after 6 years of continuous employment or opt-out of CHA's Retirement Plan and continues to participate in the Municipal Employees Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago

• Hybrid work schedule (position specific) This position may be eligible for remote work following a successful completion of a 90-day probationary period according to CHA’s established policies and procedures.

"Applications will be accepted for 30 days from the date of posting. However, the position may be closed at any point if a sufficient number of qualified applications are received.”

Salary Range: $125,000 - $130,000

Grade: S10

FLSA: Exempt

Union: None