📍 Location: Dallas, TX
🏢 Asset Class: Retail
🕒 Employment Type: Full-Time | In-Office (+ Minimal Travel)

Position Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Director, Retail Development to join Provident's owner-side development team in Dallas, Texas. This role reports directly to the President and works alongside the Managing Directors of Retail and Mixed-Use. You will lead the planning, entitlement, design, and construction management of retail development projects - both new ground-up developments and active projects already in motion.

The ideal candidate is a licensed Architect or Civil Engineer with a strong background in retail design and construction management, municipal approvals, and zoning. You understand how to read and direct complex sets of plans, communicate through CAD mark-ups, navigate lease work letters, and manage construction contracts - all without needing to pick up a pencil yourself. You are a seasoned leader who can build and manage a team while working closely day-to-day with the Director -Retail Development and the Managing Director, Mixed-Use.

This in-office role will require minor travel to project sites, city hearings, and off-site meetings.

Key Responsibilities:
Development Leadership & Project Delivery

• Oversee all phases of retail development from site acquisition support and pre-development through design, permitting, construction, and project closeout.
• Assume immediate ownership of active retail projects already in progress and carry them through to completion without disruption.
• Serve as the primary owner's representative in coordination with architects, engineers, contractors, and consultants.
• Direct and manage the external design and engineering team - holding them accountable to scope, schedule, budget, and quality standards.

Entitlement, Zoning & City Approvals

• Lead the entitlement and zoning process for retail projects, coordinating with municipalities, planning departments, and regulatory bodies.
• Represent Provident at city council meetings, planning commission hearings, and community engagement sessions.
• Navigate complex approval processes with confidence, managing outside counsel, land use consultants, and civil engineers as needed.

Design & Construction Management

• Review and provide direction on architectural and civil drawings, providing mark-ups via CAD and written comments to guide the design team.
• Evaluate design documents for constructability, budget alignment, and compliance with lease and entitlement requirements.
• Review tenant work letters in coordination with the leasing team; ensure design and construction obligations are clearly defined and executable.
• Review and comment on construction contracts as they are drafted, identifying scope gaps, risk allocation issues, and non-standard terms.
• Review contractor pay applications, change order requests, and project cost reports; maintain accountability for budget and schedule outcomes.

Team Management & Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with Director of Retail Development and Managing Director, Mixed-Use, on all active, cross-functional and pipeline retail projects.
• Maintain clear communication with the President on project status, budget, risk, and milestone achievement.

Qualifications & Experience:
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, or closely related technical discipline.
• Licensed Architect (AIA) or Civil Engineer (PE) with a minimum of 10 years of professional experience.
• Demonstrated retail development experience spanning design management, construction oversight, and city entitlement - from the owner's side.
• Deep knowledge of retail project types including inline, big box, power center, lifestyle, and mixed-use retail formats.
• Proven experience managing municipal approval and zoning processes across multiple jurisdictions.
• Strong ability to read, interpret, and provide direction on full sets of architectural and civil drawings; comfortable communicating through CAD mark-ups.
• Proficiency reviewing Excel-based project budgets, schedules, and financial reports; ability to track and comment on project cost information.
• Experience reviewing and commenting on tenant work letters and construction contracts as they are prepared and negotiated.
• Proven ability to hire, lead, and develop a small, high-performing project team.
• Willingness to travel to project sites, city hearings, and industry meetings as needed.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Prior experience working for a real estate developer, REIT, or institutional investor on ground-up retail or mixed-use development.
• Experience working with national and regional retail tenants, understanding their prototype requirements and construction processes.
• Relationships with retail-focused architects, civil engineers, and general contractors in key Provident markets.
• Working knowledge of LEED or sustainable design standards as they apply to retail development.

Core Competencies:
Technical & Design Acuity
Reads and directs complex drawing sets with confidence; communicates clearly through CAD mark-ups and written comments.Entitlement & Regulatory Navigation
Manages complex city approval and zoning processes, representing the owner's interests effectively through hearings and negotiations.Project & Budget Ownership
Takes full accountability for project schedule, cost, and quality; identifies risks early and drives proactive resolution.Team Leadership
Builds and leads high-performing project teams; provides clear direction and develops talent over time.Collaborative Communication
Communicates project status, risk, and financial performance clearly at all levels, from field teams to the President.Adaptability & Entrepreneurial Drive
Thrives in lean, fast-moving teams where resourcefulness and sound judgment matter more than headcount.

Benefits:

• Competitive base + bonus, and the unique ability to invest in the Provident Employee Fund
• Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Company-Provided Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• 401k with Company Match
• 529 College Savings Plan
• 3 Weeks PTO
• Paid Holidays
• Maternity/Paternity Leave

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