Shea Homes

Northern California

Job Description

Job Title: Community Development Manager, Monterey Peninsula

Department: Community Development

Reports to:   Vice President of Community Development

SUMMARY

Responsible for managing and leading engineering, entitlements, processing, approvals and permitting for master plan development project on the Monterey Peninsula.  Oversee and direct external consultants and internal team members to produce designs for major entitlements, environmental resources, civil improvements, architecture, landscape, and other areas as required for masterplan development projects including both residential, office and retail uses.  Develop and implement strategies for obtaining discretionary approvals and achieving project goals including the development of schedules and budgets.  Responsible for project oversight through approvals, construction, sales, and close-out to ensure that regulatory conditions are satisfied, and project strategy is implemented.  Company liaison with elected officials and agency staff.  Responsible for negotiation of discretionary conditions of approval and all regulatory and private agreements necessary for project implementation. Communicate and coordinate with other internal team members to ensure that production and financial goals are achieved.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

          I.    Land Use Entitlement, Planning and Permitting

·         Work closely with other dedicated masterplan team members including Vice President of Community Development, Director of Community Relations and Entitlements, and Director of infrastructure and operations as well as other related team members to advance project goals and strategies associated with significant masterplan community and other related projects.

·         Coordinate with sales and marketing, operations, and finance to develop Project Land Use Program and Vision for new residential communities.

·         Work with outside consultants to prepare and submit all land use approval applications as may be necessary including General Plan Amendments, Specific Plans or Specific Plan Amendments, Annexations, Zoning, Tentative Subdivision Maps and Development Agreements.

·         Assist in the preparation and review of various environmental assessments as mandated by CEQA, NEPA or other regulations, including the development of appropriate responses to public reports such as Draft Environmental Impact Reports.

·         Negotiate conditions of approval with agency staff or elected officials.  Represent the proposed project at public hearings, including making public presentations.

·         Obtain necessary permits and approvals from such agencies as California Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Regional Water Quality Control Board, State Water Board, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency and others, including wetlands fill permits, stream crossing and/or alteration permits, species take permits, etc.

        II.    Project Management

·         Determine tasks necessary to implement project and direct the project team on timing and prioritization of those tasks.  Determine how and when to approach various agencies for necessary approvals in a manner most likely to assure accomplishment of project goals. 

·         Engage professional consulting firms as necessary including civil engineers, land use planners, architects, attorneys, utility designers, title companies, etc.  Negotiate scopes of work and contracts for such work in accordance with adopted company policies.

·         Prepare and maintain Budgets for Entitlement, Planning and Permitting tasks.  Track budget variances from original project underwriting. and prepare budget updates with cash flow estimates on a regular basis as required to support the business plan update process (minimum Quarterly).

·         Develop and manage a project schedule for accomplishment of necessary tasks.  Prepare reports outlining current projected timing of milestone tasks including comparison to original underwriting and current proforma assumptions.  Explain schedule variances where necessary.

·         Organize and lead regular (weekly or biweekly) internal team meetings for assigned projects to review status of project with all related departments, Land Development, Operations, Sales and Marketing, National Purchasing Office, Design Center, Finance.

       III.    Strategic Planning

·         In conjunction with the Sales & Marketing Department, identify customer profile in order to determine the land use programming, amenity package, and housing products necessary to assure competitive market positioning and financial success.

·         Monitor market conditions, regulatory variances and other unanticipated events.  Propose alternative strategies to maximize project performance in light of such events.

·         Determine appropriate use of financing mechanisms including public financing such as Assessment Districts, Community Facility Districts, and Lighting & Maintenance Districts.  Develop alternative financing strategies where appropriate, including the use of joint venture arrangements, land dispositions, etc.

      IV.    Project Implementation

·         Negotiate all private and public agreements such as School Impact Mitigation Agreements, Grading Releases, Access Easements, etc. necessary to implement the project.

·         Communicate necessary conditions of approval to the Operations Department and monitor the development of plans and improvements to ensure that such conditions are satisfied.

·         Communicate all project characteristics with the Sales & Marketing Department necessary for buyer disclosures and other marketing purposes including project description, key conditions of approval, information necessary for the completion of DRE processing, etc.

·         Participate in Homeowner Association Board of Directors and/or activities as appropriate in order to implement the project plan and to ensure smooth operation of the association from inception to complete turnover.  This includes providing necessary leadership, oversight, participation as a board member, holding necessary office (President, Vice-President, Secretary or Treasurer) and assisting customers in understanding the purpose of the Association and obtain input on homebuyers needs and assure that developer obligations are fulfilled.

·         Participate with the Operations Department and the Sales & Marketing Department in determining the appropriate phasing of construction releases and the staging of various project improvements.

REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from four-year College or university, advanced degree, engineering license, licensed surveyor, or other certifications preferred; min of seven to ten years related experience and/or training required.

SKILLS PROFILE

Command of the following primary skills is required to perform this job; functional and technical knowledge of residential land development and entitlements for home building; drive for results; organizational savvy; political acumen; independent problem solving; sophisticated communication skills; integrity; negotiation strategy; organizational agility; priority setting; strategic agility; timely decision making; written communication skills; and computer skills as noted below.  Additional or secondary skills as required based on job assignments.

COMPUTER SKILLS

Proficient to high performing skills are required in each of the following Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Bluebeam, and MS Project.  Various other web-based application knowledge and skills as required to complete job requirements.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read and interpret documents such as plans, engineering and environmental studies, conditions of approval, legal agreements, operating and maintenance instructions, planning and regulatory documents, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers, public officials, and employees of the organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.  Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.  Skilled at independently assessing a complex set of circumstances and facts and setting in motion the most appropriate course of action to advance project and company interests.

PHYSICAL DEMAND/WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by and individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the associate is regularly required to talk and hear. The associate frequently is required to walk and sit, and occasionally is required to stand. The associate must occasionally lift and/or move up to approximately 50 pounds.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. On the jobsite, caution should be taken to avoid noise levels.

EOE M/F/D/V