Job OpportunityChief Development Officer - Housing Hub of New Brunswick (HHNB)

Are you interested in leading the development of affordable housing in communities across New Brunswick? Are you proactive and diligent with experience managing multiple live construction projects that are at various stages of development, honouring schedules and maintaining a safe work environment? Do you have experience working in real estate, construction, or economic development and want to apply these skills to drive positive social change? If so, keep reading. We're looking for someone like you.

The Housing Hub of New Brunswick (HHNB) is part of the growing non-profit real estate development sector in Canada, and you will be a part of our small and dynamic team responsible for helping rural communities develop housing that is affordable and helping them realize their development vision. The Chief Development Officer (CDO) will be responsible for leading construction teams, contractors and consultants and managing several multi-residential affordable housing development projects from conception through completion. You will also be responsible for staff management, financial planning, fundraising, monitoring cashflows, and you will report the Board of Directors.

HHNB was created in 2022 to work in collaboration with non-profit and cooperative housing organizations, all levels of government, and businesses to facilitate the development of affordable housing in New Brunswick. You will initially report to the HHNB Board of Directors to launch this important initiative and to establish the process for housing development to be used by HHNB.

Key Accountabilities:

The CDO will lead the formation of HHNB and the development process by which HHNB will meet its housing development objectives. In addition to initially overseeing HHNB staff, reporting to the board, fundraising/managing finances, and ensuring legal duties are met, the CDO will:

• Manage relationships with non-profit and cooperative housing groups, businesses, and all levels of government to identify viable housing development projects.
• Establish roles and responsibilities and provide excellent communication with all project partners.
• Guide and assist clients in accessing necessary pre-development grants, funding, and project financing.
• Work with consultant teams to develop scope of work and manage consultant teams through design, engineering, and necessary municipal approvals.
• Establish development schedule and administer the construction process, including architect and contractor selection, contract execution, inspection of work in progress, monitoring of the project budget, review and approval of change orders and requisitions, and coordinating contractors and professional consultants.
• Deliver affordable housing development projects on time and within budget.
• Manage and update project cashflows and budgets.

Specific Accountabilities:

Board Partnership
Builds strong relationships and effective communications with the board and Housing Hub partners by developing a rigorous development process, demonstrating a high degree of housing development competence that produces a superior housing product.

Project Housing Development
Work with stakeholders through the development process and lead the management and execution of affordable high-quality housing construction projects through the housing needs assessment, planning, pre-feasibility, pre-construction and construction phases, and also ensure the project is on time and on budget.

• Stakeholder Needs
  Manage non-profit project partner relationships and other stakeholder engagements by working with them to identify their needs and develop scopes of work for various housing development projects.
  
• Strategic Planning
  Assist the non-profit housing partner in developing a solid business plan that can be approved by resolution to make it official that they want to move forward and establish the delivery requirements.
  
• Project Pre-feasibility
  Administer the pre-feasibility process: Direct the work team architects and engineers to prepare conceptual design plans, liaise with authorities to review building permit conditions, review by-laws and impact assessments and obtain approval authority. At this stage the team will prepare the critical path and the estimated cost of development for approval by the non-profit partner and present the plan to funding partners for financing consideration.
  
• Project Pre-construction
  Administer the pre-construction process: Ensure the preparation of final designs and drawings, obtain construction permits, prepare budget and cashflow projections, obtain financing, draft permission and site master plan, hire an experienced contractor, order materials, tender the project, and negotiate and award contracts.
  
• Project Construction
  Administer the construction process: Hire a project construction manager, prepare the final critical path and the schedule of work, initiate construction preparation work, schedule trade work, conduct construction management and coordination on all phases of construction, monitor budgets, ensure inspections of work in progress, manage work order changes and requisitions, and obtain a certificate of completion and compliance.

Operations
Manage the organization's resources including working with the consultant and construction teams and assuring a smooth-functioning, competitive and efficient organization that delivers superior experience, results and added value to members and stakeholders.

Support Services
Provide efficient and effective support to HHNB partners involved in housing development projects by engaging, responding, and adapting services to their needs and their projects that meet their development objectives and create value for their members.

Financial
Manage project cashflows and budget to generate adequate levels of earnings to better serve the needs of stakeholders. Provide assistance and support to help housing members obtain funding.

Staff, Contractors and Consultants
Manage and motivate the development team to ensure productivity and excellence in execution and stakeholder/customer service.

Legal Duties
Ensure compliance with appropriate laws, legislation and by-laws, and ensure that appropriate practices are in place to support compliance.

Education and Experience

• Ten years of experience in housing development projects or commercial development and housing management
• Demonstrated ability to oversee and work collaboratively with sector professionals, contractors and staff to deliver projects on time and on budget
• Familiarity with applicable housing programs and regulations
• A bachelor's degree in business, engineering, or related housing sector
• High-level strategic thinking and planning; ability to envision and convey the organization's strategic future to the staff, board, stakeholders and general public
• Experience in governance and skill in working with a board of directors
• Able to effectively communicate to a variety of stakeholders, volunteers and the overall community
• Strong financial management skills, including budget preparation, financial analysis, decision-making and reporting
• A history of successfully generating new revenue streams and improving financial results
• High-integrity leadership and transparency
• Previous success in establishing relationships with individuals and organizations of influence including stakeholders, funders, partner agencies and volunteers
• Proficiency in Canada's official languages strongly desired

Deadline for applications: December 6, 2022
To apply please send your resume to: [email protected]