Director of Real Estate and Construction

Director of Real Estate & Construction Veterinary Practice Partners (VPP) | Reports to: Chief Administrative Officer About the Role VPP is seeking a VP of Real Estate & Construction to own the full capital program and real estate function across the network — from site diligence and lease negotiation through de novo/AcquiNovo development and renovation, with P&L-level accountability for the portfolio’s construction budget. This is a build-the-function mandate: standing up the team, the governance model, and the playbook, not administering an existing one. You’ll carry executive-level accountability for how fast, how well, and how cost-effectively VPP builds and secures locations — and you’ll be the primary voice on real estate and construction in leadership discussions. What You’ll Own Capital Program & P&L Accountability Carry P&L-level accountability for the portfolio’s construction and capital budget Own capital planning across the national portfolio — prioritizing spend against growth targets and forecasting the multi-market pipeline Institute an estimating and budget governance layer tied to deal stages, so capital costs are underwritten consistently from LOI through close and into build-out Develop project- and portfolio-level financial reporting for leadership; ensure budget deviations are pre-approved and documented Real Estate Strategy & Lease Portfolio Lead site selection and market analysis for de novo and AcquiNovo growth, partnering with BD on density, demographics, and competitive positioning Own the lease portfolio end-to-end: negotiation, renewals, terminations, and landlord/tenant matters Develop and enforce a related-party landlord policy, including independent market-rent benchmarking wherever a partner doctor or affiliate is also the landlord Coordinate work letters, tenant improvement allowances, and delivery conditions to protect project timelines and budgets Construction & Development Execution Rebuild and lead the construction PM function as a discipline distinct from facilities maintenance — clear ownership, staffing, and accountability separate from day-to-day upkeep Direct all construction projects from feasibility through close-out; own the master development/construction timeline across concurrent builds Manage relationships with architects, engineers, designers, and consultants; lead bidding, contractor selection, and contract negotiation Refine VPP’s facility design standards and development playbook toward rapid, repeatable openings Fix project visibility: standardized status cadence, templates, and exception rollups so problems surface before they escalate Regulatory & Risk Oversee permitting, approvals, Certificates of Occupancy, and inspections across jurisdictions Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal building codes and applicable healthcare facility requirements Anticipate and manage construction, entitlement, and site-delivery risk; maintain strict cost discipline and change-order control Facilities Partner on the facilities maintenance model (including evaluation of IFM/outsourced providers) to ensure the split from construction PM doesn’t create service gaps for hospital teams Team & Stakeholder Leadership Hire, build, and lead a small, high-caliber real estate and construction team as the portfolio scales Serve as the primary face of VPP in project dealings with doctors, partners, landlords, and vendors What You Bring 10–15+ years of progressive leadership in real estate development and/or construction project management in a multi-site retail, healthcare, or services environment; veterinary or healthcare experience a plus Proven experience leading multiple concurrent ground-up projects and carrying P&L-level accountability for a capital program Direct experience negotiating leases and managing a multi-location portfolio, including landlord disputes and related-party arrangements Strong expertise in budgeting, scheduling, contract negotiation, and risk management; demonstrated success delivering within tight cost/schedule constraints Comfort building a function from the ground up — process design, hiring, governance — not just executing an existing playbook Experience managing national vendor/GC networks Proficiency with project management software (Smartsheet, Procore, etc.); familiarity with design tools (AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp) a plus Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field preferred; a design/architecture background is a plus given the real-estate development crossover this role requires Executive presence — able to distill cost, risk, and schedule tradeoffs for leadership and board audiences Willingness to travel up to 25% Comp & Location Remote with the ability to travel up to 25% The expected base salary range is $175,000 - $225,000, commensurate with experience