Real Estate Development Manager at NEW KENSINGTON CDC – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) is a community development corporation committed to sustainable development in housing opportunities, economic development, vacant land strategies, community engagement, health and wellness, and real estate development. NKCDC advances social equity and economic empowerment by nurturing and creating opportunities for residents to live and actively shaping their neighborhoods of choice. To that end, NKCDC provides free resources to residents and businesses in the Kensington, Fishtown, and Port Richmond neighborhoods.

NKCDC has a strong reputation, both locally and nationally, with longstanding credibility of serving as a trusted and valuable partner and collaborator. The organization is one of only two community development organizations in Philadelphia chartered members of the NeighborWorks America network. Our current work using a trauma-informed community engagement model, applying a racial equity lens across the organization, and leading programs at the intersection of health and housing are keeping NKCDC at the cutting edge of community development. NKCDC draws on the strengths of the communities in Kensington, Fishtown, and Port Richmond — a population of over 62,800, 23% of whom live below the federal poverty level — to make sure neighborhood development benefits all residents. More information can be found at nkcdc.org.

Function

The Real Estate Development Manager will be a key contributor to NKCDC's real estate endeavors and initiatives, supporting the Vice President of Real Estate and Economic Development. This role involves overseeing property acquisition, redevelopment, and related activities in alignment with the organization's mission-driven real estate development strategy.

Funding

This position is fully funded by developer fees and real estate department income.

The position and the funding for it will be reviewed annually in line with our fiscal calendar year (July 1).

Reports to

Vice President of Real Estate and Economic Development

Direct Report/Supervises

Not Currently Applicable

Responsibilities

Property Acquisition and Redevelopment; Property Management:

• Help lead planning and execution of property acquisition, redevelopment, and improvement projects.
• Measure and monitor performance of NKCDC real estate; identify options to improve performance.
• Oversee property maintenance, including tax payments, appeals, and abatements, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Contract Management:

• Conduct competitive selection processes for real estate development professionals.
• Manage contracts with architects, contractors, property managers, and other professionals.
• Monitor and improve contract performance.
• Ensure compliance with budgets, schedules, and scopes of work.
• Complete other tasks as needed to keep projects moving.

Grant and Loan Applications and Compliance:

• Help prepare proposals and applications for loans and grants.
• Ensure compliance with grants and loan requirements; handle reporting and other compliance tasks.
• Assist in developing and maintaining relationships with banks and funders.

Business Participation, Growth, and Workforce Development:

• Implement strategies to increase participation of small, minority-owned businesses.
• Engage with neighborhood residents and businesses regularly.

Strategic Collaboration:

• Work closely with colleagues and partners on strategic real estate development goals.
• Assist in identifying and implementing new financing methods for housing and community development.
• Assist in NKCDC’s advocacy work related to housing and community development.
• Assist with the management of other Real Estate Department functions; participate in responsibilities shared by all NKCDC managers.

Other Duties:

• Carry out other Real Estate Department activities and duties as assigned.
• Supervise Real Estate Department employees if assigned.

Compensation

Salary for this position will be $74,947.86/yr. with a full-time schedule, 35 hours per week. To counter pay inequality and uphold internal parity, we use a nonnegotiable starting salary system, while benchmarking our pay to competitive markets in the nonprofit sector. Excellent benefits include an HMO health plan, long- and short-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid vacation, and a 403(b)-retirement plan. This position is eligible to request one regular, recurring telecommute day per week, subject to approval and organizational needs. Work hours are from 9am-5pm. This position will be on-site at our central office, 2771 Ruth Street, Suite 1, Philadelphia, PA 19134.

Application process

Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume via the Paylocity Job Application. Applications received by Sunday, March 29, 2026, will be given full consideration. All candidate resumes are given consideration and are kept on file for one year, but we cannot always respond personally depending on the volume of inquiries.

Hiring process

Our hiring process includes a 20–30-minute interview with HR, followed by an in-person interview with the hiring manager, and finally an hour-long “panel” interview with 3-8 staff members. The submission of a writing sample(s) may be requested after first in-person interview with the hiring manager. Reference checks are conducted after the final interview.

Equal Employment Opportunity

NKCDC provides Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, race, national or ethnic origin, gender identity or expression, religion, language, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or physical ability. We know groups subjected to systemic oppression– including people of color, women, people from working class backgrounds, and people who identify as LGBTQ – are less likely to apply unless and until they meet every requirement for a job. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other communities who are marginalized.

• 3+ years of experience in real estate development, preferably in housing development and/or property management.
• Demonstrated ability to support or lead components of property acquisition, redevelopment, and capital improvement projects.
• Experience with project management, including budgeting, scheduling, tracking progress, and ensuring adherence to scopes of work.
• Experience managing contracts with architects, contractors, and other development professionals, including monitoring contract performance and deliverables.
• Experience with the management and compliance of loans and grants commonly used in nonprofit or community development real estate is preferred.
• Ability to assist with preparing grant and loan applications, funding proposals, and compliance reports.
• Familiarity with property maintenance requirements, including tax payments, appeals, abatements, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience implementing or supporting efforts to increase participation of small and minority-owned businesses is preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated success collaborating with culturally diverse residents, partners, and stakeholders.
• Ability to build, manage, and maintain productive relationships with contractors, community members, funders, and internal staff.
• Experience supervising staff or overseeing interns, consultants, or project-based teams is preferred.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple active projects simultaneously.
• Commitment to NKCDC’s mission and values, including equitable community development and resident-centered engagement.
• This is a Philadelphia-based position requiring regular on-site presence and occasional off-site work, such as property visits, community meetings, events, and partner engagements.
• Keen understanding of (and prior experience utilizing) evaluation and assessment tools for measuring, analyzing, and communicating outputs and outcomes.