Director of Real Estate Development

Description

New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) is a community development corporation committed to sustainable development in housing opportunities, economic development, vacant land strategies, community engagement, health and wellness, and real estate development. NKCDC advances social equity and economic empowerment by nurturing and creating opportunities for residents to live and actively shaping their neighborhoods of choice. To that end, NKCDC provides free resources to residents and businesses in the Kensington, Fishtown, and Port Richmond neighborhoods.

NKCDC has a strong reputation, both locally and nationally, with longstanding credibility of serving as a trusted and valuable partner and collaborator. The organization is one of only two community development organizations in Philadelphia chartered members of the NeighborWorks America network. Our current work using a trauma-informed community engagement model, applying a racial equity lens across the organization, and leading programs at the intersection of health and housing are keeping NKCDC at the cutting edge of community development. NKCDC draws on the strengths of the communities in Kensington, Fishtown, and Port Richmond — a population of over 62,800, 23% of whom live below the federal poverty level — to make sure neighborhood development benefits all residents. More information can be found at nkcdc.org.

Function

The Director of Real Estate Development will play a crucial role in advancing the NKCDC's real estate initiatives. This individual will be responsible for supporting the Vice President of Real Estate and Economic Development and overseeing the planning, execution, and management of property acquisition, redevelopment, and related activities. The Director of Real Estate Development will work collaboratively with the VP to achieve programmatic and operational goals, supporting the implementation of the mission-driven real estate development strategy and strategic economic development plans.

Funding

This position is fully funded by developer fees and real estate department income.

The position and the funding for it will be reviewed annually in line with our fiscal calendar year (July 1). 

Reports to

Vice President of Real Estate and Economic Development

Direct Report/Supervises

Real Estate and Resident Services Manager

Real Estate and Open Spaces Manager

Responsibilities

Property Acquisition and Redevelopment; Property Management

• Oversee the planning and execution of property acquisition, redevelopment, and repair/ improvement projects.
• Measure and monitor performance of NKCDC real estate portfolio; identify options to improve performance. 
• Oversee property maintenance functions, including insurance coverage, tax payments, appeals, and abatements, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Contract Management:

• Manage competitive selection processes for real estate development professionals such as architects, contractors, property managers, and other professionals.
• Manage contracts with real estate development professionals.
• Ensure compliance with project budgets, schedules, and scopes of work.
• Review and provide feedback on proposals, bids, schedules, contract documents, drawings, submittals, invoices, and other deliverables.
• Process purchase orders, invoices, contracts, and grant/ loan draws.
• Complete other tasks as needed to keep projects moving.
• Monitor and improve contract performance.

Grant and Loan Applications and Compliance:

• Prepare proposals and applications for loans and grants to support real estate development activities.
• Ensure compliance with grant and loan requirements; prepare reports and complete other compliance tasks.
• Help develop and maintain bank and funder relationships.

Business Participation and Growth and Workforce Development:

• Develop and implement strategies to increase the participation of small, minority-owned businesses and foster their sustained growth.
• Help develop opportunities for neighborhood residents to work on NKCDC facilities and projects.

Strategic Collaboration:

• Work closely with colleagues and partners on strategic real estate development goals.
• Identify new methods of financing and structuring of housing and other kinds of community development including green, commercial, and mixed-use properties.
• Engage with neighborhood residents and businesses regularly.
• Assist in NKCDC’s advocacy work related to housing and community development.
• Assist with the management of other Real Estate Department functions; participate in responsibilities shared by all NKCDC managers.

Innovation and Growth: 

• Collaborate with colleagues in the evaluation and development of strategies to enhance revenue generation and funder engagement.
• Support the development and implementation of trauma-informed practices, DEI strategies, and HR policies that align with the organization's strategic goals, fostering a more inclusive and impactful community engagement.
• Serve as a leader in the organization, participating in regular meetings of directors and managers, contributing to the development of internal policies and procedures, strategic planning and funding strategies.

Other Duties: 

• Carry out other Real Estate Department activities and duties as assigned.
• Supervise Real Estate Department employees as assigned.

Compensation

Salary for this position will be $89,313.64 /yr. with a full-time schedule, 35 hours per week. To counter pay inequality and uphold internal parity, we use a nonnegotiable starting salary system, while benchmarking our pay to competitive markets in the nonprofit sector. Excellent benefits include an HMO health plan, long- and short-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid vacation, and a 403(b)-retirement plan. This position is eligible to request one regular, recurring telecommute day per week, subject to approval and organizational needs. Work hours are from 9am-5pm. This position will be on-site at our central office, 2771 Ruth Street, Suite 1, Philadelphia, PA 19134.

Application process

Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume via the Paylocity Job Application. Applications received by Sunday, March 29, 2026, will be given full consideration. All candidate resumes are given consideration and are kept on file for one year, but we cannot always respond personally depending on the volume of inquiries.

Hiring process

Our hiring process includes a 20–30-minute interview with HR, followed by an in-person interview with the hiring manager, and finally an hour-long “panel” interview with 3-8 staff members. The submission of a writing sample(s) may be requested after first in-person interview with the hiring manager. Reference checks are conducted after the final interview.

Equal Employment Opportunity

NKCDC provides Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, race, national or ethnic origin, gender identity or expression, religion, language, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or physical ability. We know groups subjected to systemic oppression– including people of color, women, people from working class backgrounds, and people who identify as LGBTQ – are less likely to apply unless and until they meet every requirement for a job. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other communities who are marginalized.? 

Requirements

• 5+ years of progressive experience in real estate development, including acquisition, and/ or property management. Experience with housing development a plus.
• Demonstrated success managing complex real estate projects from planning through completion, including oversight of architects, contractors, and other development professionals.
• Experience with public and private financing tools, including grants, loans, tax-credit programs, and compliance processes commonly used in nonprofit or community development real estate.
• Strong contract management skills, including procurement, bid evaluation, negotiation, and performance monitoring tied to budgets, schedules, and scopes of work.
• Supervisory and leadership experience with a track record of developing staff and fostering an accountable, inclusive, and mission-aligned team culture.
• Knowledge of property maintenance functions, including insurance, tax compliance, appeals/abatements, and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills, with proven ability to collaborate with culturally diverse groups and stakeholders.
• Ability to analyze and monitor real estate portfolio performance using evaluation and assessment tools to measure outcomes and recommend improvements.
• Strong financial and analytical skills, including budgeting, feasibility analysis, and project modeling.
• Experience supporting small business participation, workforce development initiatives, or supplier-diversity strategies is preferred.
• Experience incorporating trauma-informed practices, DEI strategies, or community-based engagement frameworks into real estate or community development work is preferred.
• Familiarity with affordable housing or community development financing tools (e.g., LIHTC, RACP, and PHFA, PHDC and DCED programs) is preferred.
• Strategic thinking and strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple active projects in a dynamic environment.
• Commitment to NKCDC’s mission, community development values, and equitable neighborhood revitalization.
• This is a Philadelphia-based position with a regular on-site presence and may require occasional off-site work, including property visits, community meetings, events, and partner engagements.