Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Urban Development Manager

🎯 Role Definition

The Urban Development Manager leads and coordinates multi-disciplinary development programs, from early feasibility and entitlement through construction close-out, to deliver high-quality, sustainable urban projects. This role combines strategic planning, land-use and regulatory expertise, financial and risk analysis, community and stakeholder engagement, and cross-functional leadership to advance public and private urban regeneration, housing, and mixed-use developments.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Urban Planner (Associate Planner / Senior Planner)
Development Project Coordinator or Assistant Project Manager
Real Estate Analyst or Development Analyst

Advancement To:

Director of Urban Development / Director of Real Estate Development
Head of Urban Regeneration / Development Program Lead
Vice President of Development / Chief Development Officer

Lateral Moves:

Community Development Manager / Community & Economic Development Specialist
Planning Policy Manager / Land Use Policy Advisor

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead end-to-end development project delivery, overseeing site feasibility studies, land use and entitlement strategy, permitting, design coordination, contractor selection, construction oversight, and final close-out to ensure projects meet scope, budget, schedule, and quality targets.
Prepare and manage comprehensive development budgets and pro forma financial models, including sensitivity analysis, cash flow forecasting, capital stack optimization (debt, equity, grants), and ongoing reporting to senior leadership and stakeholders.
Navigate local, regional, and state land-use and zoning regulations; prepare and submit entitlement packages, zoning variances, conditional use permits, and other regulatory filings and shepherd projects through public hearings and governing body approvals.
Serve as the primary liaison with municipal planning departments, elected officials, neighborhood associations, utility providers, transportation agencies, and community stakeholders to build consensus, mitigate opposition, and secure approvals.
Develop and manage public-private partnership (P3) agreements, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), and interagency agreements; negotiate terms with private developers, non-profits, and municipal partners to align objectives and risk allocation.
Lead community engagement programs and stakeholder outreach plans, including organizing public workshops, presentations, charrettes, community advisory committees, and targeted outreach to underrepresented populations to inform project design and mitigate social impact.
Coordinate multi-disciplinary consultant teams (architects, civil engineers, landscape architects, environmental consultants, traffic and transportation experts) to produce schematic design, construction documents, and permit-ready packages while managing scope, schedule, and budget of consultant work.
Oversee environmental review processes (CEQA, NEPA, or local equivalents), manage environmental impact analyses, coordinate mitigations, and ensure compliance with mitigation monitoring and reporting programs.
Develop and implement affordable housing strategies, including inclusionary housing programs, low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) applications, inclusionary zoning compliance, and partnerships with housing authorities and non-profit developers.
Conduct real estate site acquisition and disposition activities, including due diligence, market analysis, title review, appraisal oversight, negotiations, purchase-sale agreements, and relocation or land banking strategies.
Implement sustainable development and resilience strategies—green building standards, energy efficiency, stormwater management, urban forestry, and climate adaptation measures—to meet policy targets and certification goals (LEED, WELL, Passive House).
Prepare staff reports, technical memoranda, briefing materials, and presentations for boards, commissions, funding partners, and elected officials that clearly articulate project rationale, impacts, financials, and recommended actions.
Manage procurement processes for construction and professional services, including preparing RFPs/RFQs, evaluating proposals, conducting interviews, and negotiating contracts to secure high-value vendors within procurement policies.
Create and maintain project dashboards and performance metrics (schedule milestones, budget burn rate, KPI tracking, community satisfaction metrics) and present regular status updates to executive leadership and stakeholders.
Identify grant and subsidy opportunities (federal, state, philanthropic) and lead grant application efforts and compliance reporting to secure gap financing for priority projects.
Mitigate project risk through early identification and management of design, financial, regulatory, environmental, and schedule risks; prepare contingency plans and change order oversight protocols.
Oversee construction administration and contract compliance during construction phases, including managing owner’s representatives, construction progress reviews, pay application approvals, and punch list completion.
Drive policy development and strategic planning initiatives to inform municipal comprehensive plans, urban design frameworks, corridor plans, and redevelopment strategies that encourage compact, transit-oriented, and equitable growth.
Champion placemaking and urban design quality by reviewing design concepts, public realm improvements, streetscape plans, and pedestrian/cycling connectivity to ensure cohesive urban form and improved public amenity value.
Manage and mentor project teams, junior planners, development coordinators, and external consultants; define responsibilities, set objectives, conduct performance reviews, and build capacity in land-use, entitlement, and development finance skills.
Coordinate parking, mobility, and infrastructure planning elements; work with transportation planners and utility providers to integrate transit, micro-mobility, and multimodal access into development designs.
Ensure statutory and contractual compliance with grant covenants, funder requirements, federal and state regulations, fair housing law, prevailing wage rules, and environmental commitments throughout project life cycles.
Lead negotiation of easements, rights-of-way, site access agreements, and relocation plans with property owners, tenants, and municipal departments to secure site readiness.
Conduct post-occupancy evaluations and lessons-learned reviews to measure social, economic, and environmental outcomes, incorporate feedback into future projects, and refine development policies and standards.

Secondary Functions

Support periodic policy analyses, market studies, and demographic trend reports to inform strategic priorities and identify catalytic development opportunities.
Maintain relationships with lenders, equity partners, foundations, and community development financial institutions (CDFIs) to expand funding options and leverage resources for public benefit developments.
Represent the organization at industry conferences, planning forums, public hearings, and neighborhood meetings to promote projects and communicate impacts and benefits.
Provide technical assistance to internal teams on land-use code interpretation, development feasibility, and process navigation; prepare standard operating procedures for project approvals and permitting workflows.
Support emergency or ad-hoc project needs including accelerated entitlement or remediation plans, rapid response to political or regulatory changes, and coordination for critical infrastructure timelines.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Land use and zoning expertise (municipal code interpretation, zoning ordinance application, variances, conditional use permits).
Entitlement and permitting process management (local permitting, CEQA/NEPA coordination, environmental permitting).
Real estate financial modeling (pro forma development, IRR, NPV, sensitivity analysis, capital stack structuring).
Project and program management (MS Project, Primavera or equivalent; schedule development and earned value tracking).
Construction contract administration and procurement (RFP/RFQ development, contract negotiation, change order control).
Development financing and subsidy programs (LIHTC, tax increment financing, HUD programs, state housing programs, grant administration).
Urban design and placemaking principles (site planning, public realm design, transit-oriented development).
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for site analysis and mapping; familiarity with tools such as ArcGIS.
Technical writing and report preparation (staff reports, EIR/EIS support documents, grant narratives).
Environmental and sustainability standards (LEED, energy efficiency, stormwater management, climate resilience strategies).
Software proficiency: Microsoft Office Suite (Excel modeling, PowerPoint presentations), project management tools, and common design review tools (AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit familiarity desirable).
Data analysis for market studies and demographic assessments (use of census data, housing needs projections, market absorption analysis).

Soft Skills

Strategic thinking and commercial acumen to align urban projects with policy goals and fiscal responsibility.
Excellent stakeholder engagement and public-speaking skills; ability to present complex technical information to non-technical audiences and elected bodies.
Negotiation and conflict resolution skills to obtain approvals and mitigate community or partner disputes.
Leadership and people management: coaching, team building, talent development, and cross-functional coordination.
Strong written communication, persuasive report writing, and clear documentation of decisions and contracts.
Political savvy and diplomacy, able to navigate competing interests among public agencies, developers, and communities.
Problem-solving under ambiguity and the ability to prioritize competing objectives in fast-moving projects.
Cultural competence and commitment to equity and inclusive engagement practices.
Time management and organizational skills to oversee multiple concurrent projects and deadlines.
Adaptability and resilience in response to regulatory changes, funding shifts, or project disruptions.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Public Policy, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Real Estate, Geography, or closely related field.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree (MUP, MURP, MCRP, MPA, MBA, or equivalent) with specialization in urban planning, real estate development, or public administration.
Professional certifications desirable: AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners), PMP (Project Management Professional), LEED AP, or similar.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Urban Planning / Regional Planning
Real Estate Development / Real Estate Finance
Architecture / Urban Design
Civil Engineering / Environmental Engineering
Public Policy / Public Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5–10 years of progressive experience in urban development, real estate development, municipal planning, or project management.

Preferred:

7+ years managing multi-disciplinary urban projects with demonstrated success in entitlements, permitting, community engagement, and development finance.
Prior experience working with municipal governments, public agencies, non-profits, or private developers on mixed-use, housing, transit-oriented, or regeneration projects.
Track record of securing approvals, negotiating public-private partnerships, and delivering projects on budget and on schedule.