Senior Director Construction

The Role:

We are seeking a seasoned construction executive to serve as Senior Director, Ground-Up Construction, responsible for overseeing the successful delivery of multifamily development projects from preconstruction through stabilization. This leader will establish construction strategy, drive operational excellence, and provide executive oversight across a portfolio of complex projects while developing and leading high-performing regional construction teams.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in multifamily development, strong financial and operational acumen, and a proven track record of delivering large-scale projects safely, on schedule, and within budget.

What You'll Do

• Enterprise Construction Leadership

  • Provide strategic leadership for the planning, execution, and delivery of a portfolio of ground-up multifamily development projects.

  • Establish construction standards, operating procedures, governance structures, and best practices across all projects and regions.

  • Partner with Development, Design, Asset Management, Procurement, Finance, and Operations leaders to align construction execution with business objectives.

  • Identify and mitigate portfolio-level risks related to schedule, budget, labor availability, procurement, and project delivery.

• Project & Portfolio Oversight

  • Provide executive oversight of project budgets, schedules, forecasts, and overall construction performance across multiple active developments.

  • Lead preconstruction planning efforts, including budgeting, value engineering, procurement strategies, and constructability reviews.

  • Ensure projects are delivered in accordance with quality standards, financial objectives, and development pro formas.

  • Review and approve major contract awards, change orders, and project financial forecasts.

• Team Leadership

  • Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Directors, Project Executives, Project Managers, and construction professionals across multiple markets.

  • Drive workforce planning, recruiting, succession planning, performance management, and leadership development initiatives.

  • Foster a culture of accountability, safety, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Financial & Operational Management

  • Oversee construction budgets totaling hundreds of millions of dollars in annual development activity.

  • Monitor project financial performance, cash flow forecasts, contingency management, and cost reporting.

  • Evaluate bids, negotiate major contracts, and ensure the organization achieves competitive pricing and strong project outcomes.

  • Drive operational efficiencies and implement processes that improve predictability, scalability, and project performance.

Qualifications

• Education

  • Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Business, or a related field.

  • Advanced degree preferred.

• Experience

  • 15+ years of progressive construction leadership experience, including significant responsibility for ground-up multifamily, mixed-use, residential, or commercial development projects.

  • Demonstrated experience leading large-scale development portfolios and managing multiple projects simultaneously.

  • Experience leading and developing construction organizations across multiple geographic regions.

  • Proven success managing complex projects with substantial capital investment and executive-level visibility.

  • Multifamily development experience strongly preferred.

• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

  • Expert knowledge of ground-up construction processes, building systems, delivery methods, scheduling, procurement, and risk management.

  • Strong understanding of project financials, including development pro formas, forecasting, budgeting, and cost control.

  • Exceptional leadership and organizational management capabilities.

  • Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and drive alignment across diverse business functions.

  • Strong contract administration, negotiation, and vendor management experience.

  • Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, and executive presentation skills.

  • Ability to oversee a geographically dispersed portfolio while managing competing priorities and strategic initiatives.

How AvalonBay Supports You:

We know that our teams are the beating heart of our success and we’re committed to showing our appreciation.

We offer:

• Comprehensive benefits — health, dental and vision, 401(k) with company match, paid vacation and holidays, tuition reimbursement, an employee stock purchase plan and more.

• Growth based on achievement and promotion from within.

• Associate recognition (a company-wide recognition program that celebrates associate efforts and successes in contributing to the overall success of the organization – including destination awards, ‘AvalonBay’s Very Best’ recognition program and others!).

• A 20% discount on our incredible apartment homes.

• A culture built on purpose and our core values - A Commitment to Integrity, A Spirit of Caring, and A Focus on Continuous Improvement.