VP of Predevelopment

Location: Austin, TX (On-Site)

A rapidly growing real estate investment and development firm is seeking a Vice President of Predevelopment to lead pre-construction initiatives across a portfolio of purpose-driven communities. This senior leader will take charge of critical phases spanning land evaluation, entitlement execution, and infrastructure planning—transforming raw land into shovel-ready residential and mixed-use developments.

This is a high-impact, on-site leadership role offering the opportunity to shape community landscapes from the ground up, in collaboration with a fully integrated team of development, construction, and capital professionals. The right candidate will have deep knowledge of the Central Texas entitlement landscape and a track record of delivering full-scale communities—not just paper deals.

Key Focus Areas:

Land Strategy & Feasibility Assessment

• Analyze prospective development sites with a critical eye on density, grading, infrastructure access, and long-term viability.
• Identify potential project risks early and recommend creative, practical solutions to optimize land yield and cost-efficiency.
• Guide cross-functional diligence efforts to support informed investment decisions and risk modeling.

Entitlements & Municipal Approvals

• Lead entitlement planning and secure key development approvals such as zoning adjustments, site plans, PUDs, and variances.
• Cultivate working relationships with city staff, councils, and regulatory bodies to support project momentum.
• Represent projects at public hearings and community meetings with professionalism and confidence.

Site Planning & Infrastructure Design

• Oversee engineering consultants on civil plans, utility layouts, drainage, and grading to ensure constructability and cost containment.
• Act as the bridge between infrastructure design and vertical construction planning—minimizing change orders and preserving timelines.
• Coordinate with service providers across water, sewer, power, and telecom to secure timely and aligned utility delivery.

Cross-Team Collaboration

• Partner with internal construction and capital teams to unify strategy and ensure site readiness for vertical development.
• Maintain firm ownership of the predevelopment lifecycle while welcoming advisory input across disciplines.
• Push for outcomes that balance architectural ambition with construction feasibility and operational success.

Consultant Oversight

• Manage and direct the work of civil engineers, planners, surveyors, and other external consultants.
• Drive accountability around timelines, budgets, and solution-oriented execution.
• Maintain control of the vision while ensuring every partner operates with practical, delivery-focused intent.

Ideal Background:

• 7+ years in real estate development, land planning, or civil-led entitlement roles with a developer or merchant builder.
• Proven success taking residential or BTR (Build-to-Rent) projects from raw land through construction.
• Strong command of Central Texas entitlement processes and political dynamics.
• Skilled in utility coordination, infrastructure planning, and public engagement.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage consultants through complex, high-stakes projects.

Bonus Points For:

• Civil engineering background or equivalent infrastructure planning experience.
• Experience with horizontal rental communities or build-to-rent housing.
• Familiarity with public-private partnerships or negotiation of development agreements.

Success Profile:

The best candidates for this role are strategic yet grounded, blending vision with tactical execution. You’re the type who thrives in municipal meetings just as much as reviewing engineering plans. You balance development ambition with construction sensibility and take ownership without ego.

This is your opportunity to take the lead on transformative community projects while joining a mission-driven firm that values long-term partnership, transparency, and discipline in delivery.

About Blue Signal:  

Blue Signal is an award-winning, executive search firm specializing in various specialties. Our recruiters have a proven track record of placing top-tier talent across industry verticals, with deep expertise in numerous professional services. Learn more at bit.ly/46Gs4yS