New Development Manager
19 hours ago
New York
The New-Development Manager is a design-fluent, market-savvy member of our New Development team responsible for shaping the product before it ever hits the market and ensuring it lands with impact when it does. Working alongside our Director of New Development Leasing, Sales, leasing teams, and developer clients, this role serves as the brokerage's in-house design and programming consultant across the full arc of new residential developments, from pre-construction through stabilization. From floorplan review through interior finish selection, amenity programming, and overall design direction, the New-Development Manager translates tenant preferences, comparable data, and lifestyle trends into specific, actionable recommendations that maximize marketability, absorption pace, and price per square foot. As a project moves toward launch, this person plays a hands-on role in bringing it to market. This person is equal parts designer's eye and broker's instinct - someone who can walk a developer through a unit mix revision in the morning, curate a cabinetry and finishes package by the afternoon, and still have an informed opinion on why a particular line of units isn't leasing and what to do about it. Core Responsibilities Floorplan Review & Layout Strategy • Conduct detailed reviews of architectural floorplans and provide written and verbal feedback on unit layouts, flow, room proportions, storage, additions, and livability., • Benchmark proposed unit mixes against comparable buildings, current absorption data, and active buyer demand to recommend adjustments to bedroom counts, square footage allocations, and layout typologies., • Identify functional issues early - awkward layouts, undersized kitchens, poorly placed columns, unsellable bedroom configurations - and propose alternatives in collaboration with the project architect., • Maintain a living library of best-in-class floorplans across price points and product types for reference and benchmarking. Finishes & Specifications • Review proposed interior finish schedules and FF&E specifications across kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, millwork, hardware, lighting, and appliances., • Work with the Director of New Development to advise developer clients on finish packages that align with target consumer profile, price positioning, and competitive set - balancing aspiration, durability, and cost. Amenity Programming • Assist the Director of New Development with amenity strategy conversations: what amenities to include, feedback about how much square footage to allocate, where to locate them, and how they should be programmed and operated post-launch., • Translate target consumer lifestyle into a concrete amenity mix - fitness, wellness, co-working, hospitality, outdoor, pet, package, and resident services., • Pressure-test amenity proposals against operating cost, common-charge impact, and resident utilization data from comparable buildings. Interior Design Direction • Provide assistance with design direction working with the developer’s interior designer or recommending one when needed., • Curate or review concept presentations, palette boards, and renderings to ensure design intent matches positioning and price., • Conduct site visits during construction, model build-out, and punch list walkthroughs; Stay fluent in current and emerging design trends, materials, and brands across the residential market, and translate those into recommendations grounded in resale value and longevity. Cross-Functional Coordination • Prepare written advisory memos, comparison decks, and finish/amenity recommendation reports for internal and client-facing use., • Brief the on-site leasing/sales team on design intent, finish stories, and amenity narratives so they can sell the product accurately and confidently., • Contribute to pitch materials and pre-listing presentations for prospective new development assignments., • Ensure that all pre-dev assets are stored and organized in an accessible drive. Project Launch & Marketing Support • Support listing setup and launch across StreetEasy, RLS, and other rental platforms — ensuring pricing, unit details, and creative assets are aligned, • Collaborate with the marketing team on building decks, offering summaries, and launch materials that communicate the project's design story clearly, • Help organize broker previews and project launch events, contributing to event content and project narrative., • Act as a consistent point of contact across the leasing effort, helping the team stay aligned on project status, priorities, and any issues that need to escalate to leadership. What we're looking for Required Qualifications • 3–7 years of experience in new development residential real estate, interior design, architectural design, or development advisory - with direct exposure to floorplan and finish-level decision-making., • Demonstrated ability to read and critique architectural drawings (plans, elevations, sections, RCPs) at a professional level., • Strong working knowledge of residential interior finishes, materials, and FF&E across multiple price tiers., • Familiarity with amenity trends and operations in modern condominium and rental developments., • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to write clear advisory memos and present confidently to developer clients and senior leadership., • Proficiency with Bluebeam or Adobe Acrobat (for plan markup), basic CAD or PDF take-off tools, and presentation software (Keynote, PowerPoint, or InDesign)., • Active real estate salesperson license, or willingness to obtain within 6 months of hire. Preferred Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, Architecture, Real Estate Development, or a related field., • Prior experience inside a developer, architecture firm, or design firm working on multifamily residential projects., • Working knowledge of local zoning, code, and building department review processes as they intersect with unit layout and amenity programming., • Existing network of designers, vendors, and showrooms in the local market., • Experience contributing to sales gallery design, model unit selection, or marketing collateral. Skills & Competencies • Sharp design eye balanced with commercial instinct — understands what is beautiful AND what sells., • Highly organized; able to manage multiple projects at different stages of pre-development simultaneously., • Comfortable giving direct, well-supported feedback to developers, architects, and designers., • Detail-obsessed without losing sight of the bigger product narrative., • Collaborative, low-ego, and able to thrive at the intersection of creative and commercial conversations. What We Offer • A seat at the table on some of the most ambitious new development projects in our market., • Direct mentorship from senior new development leadership and exposure to top-tier developers, architects, and design firms., • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits; 401(k); health and wellness subsidy, unlimited PTO. Pay: $75,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year Benefits: • 401(k), • Dental insurance, • Health insurance, • Health savings account, • Paid time off, • Vision insurance Location: In-person