Director of Development

Director of Development – West Region | Denver, CO

Lead multifamily real estate development projects throughout the West Region—including TX, ID, CO, NV, AZ, and MT—from initial LOI through construction loan closing.

As Director of Development at Thompson Thrift, you will oversee a portfolio of multifamily development projects while coordinating the critical decisions that move projects forward. From initial LOI, entitlements, and due diligence through design, budgeting, municipal approvals, and construction loan closing, you’ll help turn development opportunities into high-quality multifamily communities throughout the West Region.

Why Thompson Thrift?

Thompson Thrift is an integrated, full-service real estate company engaged in the development, construction, leasing, and management of high-quality multifamily communities nationwide. We’re committed to building exceptional places — and developing the people who make them possible.

At Thompson Thrift, you’ll find:

Values-Driven Culture — Excellence, Service, and Leadership guide everything we do

Career Growth — Training, mentorship, and long-term development opportunities

Work-Life Support — Competitive benefits, flexibility, and wellness programs

Real Impact — Hands-on involvement in industry-leading multifamily projects

Your Role as Director, Development

As Director of Development, you will oversee and drive results for a small to medium portfolio of multifamily real estate development projects throughout the West Region, from initial LOI through construction loan closing. You’ll maintain accountability for projects throughout the entitlement and development process while ensuring alignment with Thompson Thrift’s quality, process, and business standards.

You’ll collaborate closely with Acquisitions, Development, Construction, legal counsel, and company leadership while serving as a primary liaison with city officials, architects, zoning attorneys, civil engineers, utilities, regulatory agencies, and other external partners. You’ll also help establish project budgets, schedules, approvals, and development strategies.

Key Responsibilities

- Maintain accountability for multifamily development projects from initial LOI through construction loan closing

- Serve as a primary liaison with city officials to advance development efforts and secure required approvals

- Partner with the Acquisitions team to review financial pro formas and apply an understanding of yield, spread, cap rates, and general real estate underwriting principles

- Develop and manage due diligence timelines and cost schedules

- Secure consultant proposals aligned with company objectives and lender requirements

- Coordinate zoning, entitlement, and approval processes

- Partner with legal counsel to review and resolve title and survey issues

- Evaluate utility availability, connection fees, and infrastructure improvement costs

- Conduct and oversee site investigations and manage resulting reports

- Support Development, Acquisitions, and Construction leadership in developing comprehensive project budgets

- Coordinate civil engineering and architectural design professionals from initial site concepts through final construction drawings and specifications

- Represent Thompson Thrift at public hearings and meetings with neighborhood groups, utilities, regulatory agencies, and consultants

- Maintain organized and current project documentation

- Escalate material risks early, with recommended solutions

Our Ideal Candidate for this Role

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related field.

Experience

- Minimum of 6 years of relevant real estate development experience

- At least 3 years of management experience

Skills & Attributes

- Strong knowledge of real estate transactions and multifamily development processes

- Excellent verbal and written communication skills

- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities

- Understanding of financial pro formas, yield, spread, cap rates, and general underwriting principles

- Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel

- Detail-oriented and purpose-driven approach

- Ability to establish priorities, manage deadlines, and drive multiple development projects forward

- Leadership skills with a focus on mentoring, coaching, and developing team members

Actual compensation may vary from posting based on geographic location, work experience, education and/or skill level.

* The hourly or salary range is the range Thompson Thrift in good faith believes is the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. The Company may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in Colorado. This range may be modified in the future. No amount is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable under the terms and conditions of the applicable policies and plans. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company's sole discretion, consistent with the law Colorado Pay Range $150,000 — $165,000 USD Use of AI in Hiring

Thompson Thrift uses AI-assisted tools within our applicant tracking system to support parts of the recruiting process. These tools assist recruiters but do not make hiring decisions or independently determine candidate outcomes. All hiring decisions are made by human reviewers. If you have questions about our hiring process, please contact us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]).

By submitting your application, you acknowledge this information and confirm that the information you have provided is accurate and complete to the best of your knowledge.