Executive Vice President of Development

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At Cortland, we operate with a forward-thinking approach that challenges conventional norms and actively seeks insights beyond traditional industry boundaries. As a recognized leader in the multifamily sector, our focus on performance, innovation, and disciplined execution continues to drive strong growth and market leadership. We are committed to building a best-in-class organization by empowering top talent with the resources, autonomy, and support needed to deliver results and advance their careers in a high-performance environment.

Role Overview

As the Executive Vice President of Development, you will be responsible for leading the strategy, execution, and growth of the firm’s national development platform. This role will build and manage a geographically distributed team and drive the full development lifecycle from site selection through project stabilization. The EVP of Development will oversee the origination and delivery of a diversified portfolio of multifamily projects—including garden-style, mid-rise, and high-rise developments—across multiple US markets. This position requires sophisticated financial leadership, including the deployment of discretionary capital from Cortland’s managed funds as well as partnering with Cortland’s capital markets team to source project-specific equity and debt financing. This is a role for a dynamic executive leader with deep industry expertise, operational leadership, a proven ability to scale development pipelines in high-growth environments, a performance-driven mindset, and a track record of delivering results in complex, multi-market organizations.

Strategic Leadership: Define and drive Cortland’s long-term development roadmap, expanding the company’s presence in both existing and emerging markets.

Organizational Leadership: Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing development team across the regions included in Cortland’s footprint which currently include Georgia, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Arizona, Tennessee, Virginia, and the Carolinas.

Project Execution: Oversee the full lifecycle of development projects—ensuring delivery on design, budget, timelines, and financial targets.

Pipeline Management: Maintain a diversified pipeline, balancing various capital structures including Cortland managed funds, separate accounts, and venture level merchant-build capital structures.

Risk Mitigation: Identify and navigate entitlement risks, evolving market conditions, and capital challenges.

Market Intelligence: Monitor real estate trends, economic shifts, and competitive movements to refine strategies and maintain Cortland’s market-leading position.

Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business Administration, or related field (MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred).

Experience:

15+ years in real estate development, with significant multifamily project experience.

Proven success leading development teams and scaling platforms in dynamic, geographically distributed environments.

Demonstrated expertise in underwriting, financial modeling, return analysis, and project-level P&L oversight.

Skills & Competencies:

Strategic growth planning and execution

Joint venture and capital structuring expertise

Development lifecycle management

Executive-level communication and cross-functional leadership

Travel:

Willingness to travel frequently to Cortland’s regional offices and project locations across the US

About Cortland

Founded in 2005, Cortland is an international, vertically integrated multifamily real estate investment, development, and management firm with a resident-centric approach to living experiences. Recognized as one of the top 10 multifamily owners and operators in the US, Cortland combines in-house design, construction, and operations to deliver value and innovation across its portfolio.

Join us as we reimagine apartment living and drive outsized returns through purpose, performance, and people.

Cortland is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud to support and celebrate diversity in the workplace. We are committed to equal consideration for all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If you have a disability and need an accommodation or assistance with the application process and/or using our website, please email or call .

Cortland is a drug-free workplace.

Cortland participates in e-verify to verify the employment status of

all persons hired to work in the United States.

Regular Full-Time