Director of Real Estate Development & Partnerships

Community Arts Stabilization Trust (CAST) was founded in 2013 on the premise that the arts drive strong, vibrant, diverse communities. Together with its partners, CAST strives to stabilize rent and secure space for artists and arts organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. CAST is considered essential if San Francisco is to remain a vibrant and thriving home for arts entities that cultivate creativity, community, economic development and neighborhood stability. With over $38.5 million in funding to date, CAST is regarded as a major rising star and quickly emerging as the “go to” organization for real estate development and management in the arts sector.

Organization Description:
CAST facilitates equitable urban development by creating affordable workspaces for arts and cultural organizations. CAST does so by acquiring properties, building the capacity of cultural organizations to lease and own property, leasing to sustain below-market rents for those not poised to buy, and developing complementary initiatives to achieve its mission. CAST believes that when arts entities have stable homes, shielded from a volatile real estate market, artists and arts groups are free to be the trailblazers and culture bearers that help make San Francisco a global hub of innovation and creativity.

Current projects include: the renovation and management of a multi-tenant arts center at 447 Minna street in the heart of the 5M project in San Francisco, management of three cultural facilities at 1007 Market Street, 80 Turk Street, and 2301 San Jose Avenue in San Francisco, Culture Compass, a city-wide mapping project of cultural spaces, and Keeping Space Oakland, a community building, technical and financial assistance initiative designed to mitigate nonprofit displacement in the arts sector.

Position Overview:
The Director of Real Estate Development and Partnerships is a full-time position and will oversee and execute projects in the development pipeline as well as manage the day-to-day operations of CAST’s real estate portfolio. The Director will report directly to the Executive Director. Working closely with the executive director, the Director will be responsible for the continued development and growth of CAST in San Francisco and the Bay Area. This director level position is an opportunity to help develop innovative real estate and development solutions in the arts and culture sector, which will include partnerships with for- and nonprofit developers, public/private partnerships with public agencies and philanthropy, and partnerships with arts and cultural organizations to create feasible real estate solutions.

Responsibilities will include the following:

• Originate, coordinate, and implement all aspects of standard project management tasks in the pre-development and development of the organization’s real estate projects. Projects include acquisition, new construction and rehabilitation, and leasing or sales.
• Review and negotiate development and operating terms with developer, financial, and other partners, working closely with the Director of Finance and Operations and outside legal counsel.
• Undertake feasibility studies on potential real estate proposals, including budget and financing, schedule, scope, and risk analysis.
• Undertake initial market, site, and environmental analysis, and identify viable opportunities to expand CAST’s portfolio, programs and real estate mission.
• Develop capital development pro formas, with sources and uses, and work collaboratively with Director of Finance and Operations to evaluate feasibility and risk.
• Develop operating budgets, with income and expenses, and work collaboratively with Director of Finance and Operations to evaluate feasibility and risk.
• Develop solicitations and scopes of work for project teams; assemble project teams; negotiate and manage contracts, including architects and engineers, construction managers, financial and legal consultants, market analysts, and other professionals typically involved in real estate development and transactions.
• Participate in CAST’s community engagement and other public facing efforts.
• Work closely with the executive director on the development of partnerships in the private and public sectors in support of CAST’s mission and strategies.

Qualifications:

• 5+ years minimum experience in mission driven real estate development or community development, such as affordable housing, land conservation, or other real estate enterprise undertaking socially or environmentally responsible projects.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, urban planning, or related fields required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience or background in all aspects of real estate project development from acquisition through construction completion.
• Working knowledge and experience with private and public sector financing, including local, state and federal financing programs such as New Market Tax Credits, Historic Tax Credits, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Opportunity Zones, and Tax Exempt Bonds.
• Excellent ability to project manage real estate projects, particularly budget, scope, schedule, and associated risks.
• Excellent ability to prioritize, direct and execute multiple time-sensitive priorities with precision and integrity.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and a high level of discretion.
• Exceptional, proven ability to be a leader and team player.
• Excellent listener, communicator, and negotiator with diverse set of stakeholders.
• Possesses a positive, proactive and can do attitude.
• A sense of humor.
• Ability to work weekends and evenings, as required.
• Commitment to CAST’s mission and goals as well as an interest in the arts.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements:
Typical office environment
Ability to lift up to 25 pounds
Position Location: San Francisco, CA

How to Apply:
Please submit a resume, and a cover letter describing why you would be interested in working at CAST to jobs@cast-sf.org. Kindly include the position name in the e-mail subject line.

The Community Arts Stabilization Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer and as such, complies with Federal, state, and/or local laws that prohibit discrimination in employment, based on race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, citizen or intending citizen status, disability and veteran status. Information provided during the application or employment process will not be used to discriminate against any individual in any manner. Qualified candidates of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.