Director, Real Estate Development

Reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Real Estate the Director of Development is a critical team member responsible for leading major real estate development initiatives for Vanderbilt University with a primary focus on the Innovation Neighborhood. The role oversees developer solicitation predevelopment planning negotiations implementation design and construction oversight activation planning and ongoing coordination with internal and external stakeholders.

The Director of Development brings deep experience in real estate development including publicprivate partnerships (P3s) mixeduse urban development and complex multiphase projects. The role ensures that major development initiatives align with Vanderbilts institutional vision financial expectations academic and research objectives and longterm operational needs.

About Real Estate:

Vanderbilt Universitys Real Estate portfolio includes approximately 41 buildings consisting of 1 million gross rentable square feet 760000 square feet of commercial space 305 apartment units miscellaneous University ground leases 460000 square feet of leased space the Vanderbilt Legends Club golf course and facilities and West Trace LLC (Holiday Inn Vanderbilt). Additionally Real Estate is tasked with leading the Universitys innovation neighborhood development and managing the Universitys strategic real estate initiatives to include all acquisitions dispositions conversions entitlements and necessary real estate engagements to meet the Chancellors goals throughout the United States.

VURE is part of the Vanderbilt University Real Estate Facilities and Development organization which workscollaboratively to build maintain manage and operate campus infrastructure in a sustainable and cost-efficient manner to support the overarching academic mission and goals of the university.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

Development Partner Procurement Negotiation & Deal Execution

• Lead the developer solicitation process including preparing RFP materials coordinating internal review evaluating proposals and managing procurement workflows.
• Negotiate business terms for P3 structures ground leases phased development agreements and related transaction documents.
• Collaborate with Legal Finance Procurement Corporate Partnerships Academic Affairs VU Enterprises and senior leadership to ensure agreements align with Vanderbilts objectives and financial and operational requirements.
• Manage project governance and prepare materials for executive and Boardlevel decisionmaking.

Design Construction & Technical Oversight

• Provide oversight of developerled design and construction activities ensuring alignment with campus design guidelines infrastructure standards and operational considerations.
• Coordinate technical review with VU internal departments (Planning Design and Construction Maintenance & Operations Mobility/Parking Environmental Health & Safety) to ensure integration with campus systems.
• Monitor design quality construction progress schedule adherence and value management efforts.
• Manage construction communication and impact mitigation in coordination with campus stakeholders and external partners.
• Maintain continuous oversight to ensure developer performance meets Vanderbilt expectations.
  
  

Development Analysis Feasibility & Financial Modeling

• Conduct feasibility studies evaluate development scenarios and lead financial analysis to assess longterm operating implications risk factors and cost/benefit scenarios for major development decisions.
• Review developer financials budgets schedules and pro formas; provide internal recommendations.
• Partner with REFD Business Operations and Finance to evaluate deal terms capital needs and longterm portfolio impact.
  
  

Innovation Neighborhood Leadership & District Management

• Serve as a central project leader for the Innovation Neighborhood overseeing entitlements infrastructure planning public realm development retail tenanting strategy tenant recruitment support and implementation sequencing.
• Coordinate internally with VU departments (Center for Technology Transfer & Commercialization Corporate Partnerships schools/colleges researchers and community partners) to align district tenanting and recruitment with Vanderbilts innovation and academic goals.
• Support public realm planning open space coordination and activation strategy ensuring the district evolves as a vibrant functional innovation ecosystem.
• Serve as liaison with Metro Nashville agencies alongside development partner and VUs Government and Community Relations office.
• Work closely with VUs Government and Community Relations office on neighborhood relations meetings and construction impact mitigation.

Stakeholder Management & CrossFunctional Coordination

• Act as a connector across REFD Finance Legal Planning Design & Construction Maintenance & Operations Administration academic units and developer teams.
• Facilitate decisionmaking processes manage conflict points and maintain communication across multiple internal and external workstreams.
• Develop and present clear and compelling executivelevel presentations scenario analyses and project summaries.

Assist with regulatory coordination and engagement with Metro Nashville permitting entities and other agencies.

Supervisory Relationships:

This position does have supervisory responsibility; this position reports administratively and functionally to theAssistant Vice Chancellor for Real Estate

Education and Certifications:

• Bachelors degree required.

• Degree in Real Estate Urban Planning Architecture Engineering Finance Development or related field preferred.

• Advanced degree or certifications (e.g. real estate development finance project management) preferred.

Experience and Skills:

Required

• 58 years of real estate development experience with direct involvement in development projects from conception through implementation.
• Experience in P3 development mixeduse or largescale campus development or master developer relationships.
• Demonstrated capability managing design and construction teams consultants and technical experts.
• Strong financial modeling and analytical skills including pro forma development and deal evaluation.
• Experience evaluating and negotiating complex real estate agreements.
• Ability to lead multistakeholder initiatives in a complex institutional or corporate environment.
• Excellent communication presentation and relationshipmanagement skills.

Preferred

• Experience in higher education research campuses or innovation district development.
• Familiarity with entitlements infrastructure planning and public realm/urban design principles.
• Understanding of largescale district activation and tenanting strategies.