For more than 60 years, A.J. Dwoskin & Associates has invested in, developed, and managed real estate throughout Northern Virginia. Our long-term approach allows us to make thoughtful investment decisions, maintain strong relationships throughout the region, and give experienced professionals the opportunity to see the impact of their work. We’re seeking an experienced Development Manager – Retail Construction to lead the construction delivery of development, redevelopment, and tenant build-out initiatives across our retail portfolio. This is a hands-on role with significant project ownership and direct access to executive leadership. You’ll carry projects from vanilla shell delivery through tenant build-out, managing general contractors and construction administration directly, while also leading the entitlement and permitting work that gets a project to groundbreaking in the first place. You’ll help shape decisions that affect the long-term performance of the portfolio. What You’ll Do
- Lead construction delivery for retail development and redevelopment projects, vanilla shell delivery, tenant build-out coordination, and base building construction, from permitting through occupancy.
- Manage general contractor selection, bidding, and contract negotiation, along with day-to-day construction administration: RFIs, submittals, change orders, payment applications, and punch list through closeout.
- Administer tenant work letter obligations and coordinate tenant-performed improvement work, construction schedules, tenant signage compliance, and tenant move-in/move-out across a diverse retail tenant mix.
- Manage the entitlement and zoning process, including rezonings, special exceptions, site plans, and public hearings across Fairfax, Arlington, Fauquier, and other Northern Virginia jurisdictions.
- Evaluate project feasibility and prepare development budgets, schedules, and pro forma inputs.
- Select, qualify, and manage architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and other project partners.
- Administer contracts, change orders, project accounting, and invoice/draw approvals within delegated authority.
- Oversee capital improvement planning across the retail portfolio.
- Identify project risks, resolve issues, and maintain accountability for budgets, schedules, quality, and critical milestones.
- Partner across leasing, property management, finance, accounting, and executive leadership.
- Provide clear project reporting and recommendations directly to the EVP and company leadership.
What You Bring
- Bachelor’s degree in real estate, construction management, civil engineering, architecture, finance, or a related field.
- 7–10 years of progressive experience managing the construction of retail or shopping-center projects specifically. Standalone retail/shopping-center construction experience is required, general mixed-use or multifamily development with incidental ground-floor retail does not meet this requirement.
- Hands-on experience managing general contractors through vanilla shell delivery and tenant build-out construction.
- Demonstrated experience personally leading entitlement and permitting processes; experience working within Northern Virginia jurisdictions is strongly preferred.
- Strong knowledge of development budgets, financial analysis, pro forma inputs, contracts, and lease/work-letter requirements.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects, consultants, contractors, schedules, and competing priorities.
- Strong judgment and the ability to communicate effectively with executives, ownership, government officials, consultants, tenants, and internal stakeholders.
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and experience with project scheduling and development/construction management tools.
Why A.J. Dwoskin? At AJD, experienced professionals aren’t several layers removed from decisions. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with executive leadership, take meaningful ownership of projects, and see those projects through from strategy to execution.
We offer:
- Base salary: $160,000–$190,000, commensurate with experience
- Direct access to executive leadership and high visibility into ownership-level decisions
- Significant responsibility and ownership across a well-established Northern Virginia portfolio
- The opportunity to influence projects from initial concept through completion
- A collaborative environment with experienced professionals across development, leasing, operations, and finance
- Investment in continued professional development
- Competitive benefits and incentive opportunities
- The stability and long-term perspective of a company with more than six decades of experience in the Northern Virginia market
If you’re looking for an opportunity where your judgment, experience, and ability to execute will directly influence the portfolio, we’d like to hear from you. In your application, please name up to three retail or shopping-center projects you personally led, including the retail square footage involved. Build what comes next with A.J. Dwoskin & Associates. A.J. Dwoskin & Associates is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.