Senior Development Manager

Senior Development Manager

Location: Mountain West — Based In-Region (Relocation Support Available)

Travel: Regular travel to project sites across Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and Utah

Cardinal Lands is hiring a Senior Development Manager to lead the execution of its design-driven residential communities in the Mountain West. This is not a traditional construction PM role. We are looking for someone with an architect’s eye, a builder’s instincts, and the entrepreneurial drive to help shape a growing platform from the inside.

The right person for this role understands that the quality of the product is deeply intertwined with the company’s strategy. The ideal candidate has helped deliver residential projects where design, craftsmanship, and guest experience are non-negotiable. They know what it takes to hold a high standard through every phase of development, from site planning and test fits through punch lists and launch, without letting schedule or budget pressures erode the elements that make a project exceptional.

Reporting directly to one of two Managing Partners, this role carries a direct path to leadership of Cardinal Lands’ development efforts as the company’s portfolio grows, including the opportunity to build and lead the development team.

About Cardinal Lands

Cardinal Lands is an investment platform for the development and operations of private residential communities in the most naturally-rich areas of America. We are setting a new standard for residential communities built on design, stewardship, and hospitality-rooted operations. Our properties feature amenities rooted in their natural context and are supported by a fully managed rental and caretaking program exclusive to owners.

With properties in Teton Valley, ID and Big Sky, MT and pipeline projects in Sun Valley, ID, Whitefish, MT, and Jackson, WY, Cardinal Lands targets high-growth outdoor leisure markets across the Intermountain West.

Our core beliefs: Stewardship Through Ownership, Tradition Starts with Intent, People Make the Place, and Devotion to Craftsmanship are at the core of how we work and what we build.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead project management during pre-construction and construction for active development projects across the Cardinal Lands portfolio.
• Serve as the quality gate between design intent and field execution. Evaluate and challenge architectural documents for constructability, coordination, and adherence to the project’s design vision before they reach the field.
• Direct the work of external consultants including architects, interior designers, landscape architects, engineers, contractors, and specialty providers.
• Advance land planning, design, entitlement, and permitting processes with discipline, foresight, and a thorough understanding of local regulatory environments.
• Manage project budgets, schedules, and contracts with rigor — surfacing risks early and holding all parties accountable to scope and timeline.
• Represent Cardinal Lands in OAC meetings, site visits, design reviews, and municipal hearings.
• Produce clear, detailed reporting for investors, lenders, and internal stakeholders.
• Partner with the Managing Partners on underwriting, pro formas, and presentations for new development opportunities.
• Build the project management infrastructure — systems, templates, cadences — that allows Cardinal Lands to scale from two concurrent projects to six.

Qualifications

• 7–12+ years of relevant experience in real estate development, construction management, or architecture with direct responsibility for delivering complex, design-driven projects.
• Architectural licensure, formal design training, or demonstrated experience working at the intersection of design and construction is strongly preferred.
• Experience with luxury, hospitality-branded, or resort residential communities. Candidates who have delivered projects for operators such as Auberge, Montage, Four Seasons, Aman, 1 Hotels, or comparable brands will be given strong preference.
• Direct entitlement and permitting experience, ideally in Mountain West jurisdictions.
• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects under tight timelines and exacting quality standards.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication. Ability to distill complexity into clarity for stakeholders ranging from contractors to investors.
• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Construction Management, Engineering, Urban Planning, or a related field.

Technology & Tools

• Proficiency in Procore, Asana, or comparable project management platforms.
• Fluency in reading and interpreting architectural and structural drawings. Familiarity with Bluebeam, AutoCAD/Revit, or similar platforms for design coordination.
• Strong working knowledge of Excel for budgeting, scheduling, and financial analysis.
• Comfort with collaboration platforms including Slack, Google Workspace, Dropbox, DocuSign, and Adobe Acrobat.

The Ideal Candidate

• Has an instinct for quality that goes beyond checking boxes. You notice when a material specification doesn’t match the design intent. You push back when a contractor proposes a shortcut that compromises the product. You understand that the details are the product.
• Operates comfortably in the field, the design studio, and investor meetings with equal credibility and composure.
• Is a relentless, resourceful problem solver. When something doesn’t have an obvious answer, you figure it out. You don’t wait for instructions; you diagnose, propose, and move.
• Thrives in ambiguity and builds systems where none exist. This is a startup. You will be creating the playbook, not following one.
• Balances discipline around cost and schedule with a deep, genuine respect for design and placemaking.
• Has experience and empathy for operating in niche, character-driven markets where community relationships and local context matter as much as the pro forma.
• Brings the judgment, discretion, and resilience to contribute directly to the DNA of a growing company.

Location

This role requires being based in the Intermountain West with the ability to drive to project locations across Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and Utah on a regular basis. Ideal home bases include Jackson, WY; Driggs/Victor, ID; Ketchum/Sun Valley, ID; or Bozeman/Big Sky, MT.

Cardinal Lands will provide relocation assistance for the right candidate who is committed to establishing themselves in the region if they are not already. We believe proximity to our projects and communities is essential to the quality of work we deliver and the relationships we build.

This is an opportunity to build a lasting company and shape some of the most compelling residential projects in the American outdoors. We are looking for someone who sees this work the way we do: as a craft, not a job.

Interested candidates are invited to send a cover letter and current resume to [email protected].

Preference will be given to candidates with a demonstrated ability to establish a high standard of work while creating a culture of excellence, accountability, and collaboration.