Lead Site Development Manager - Real Estate

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:
 

Grade: Professional 313

Pay Range: $119,400.00 - $185,100.00

Job Description

WGU is embarking on a long-term, multi-phase development of its expanded national headquarters in downtown Salt Lake City. This project will deliver a one-million-square-foot urban campus designed to support up to 5,000 employees.

The Lead Site Development Manager will represent WGU in coordinating environmental remediation, demolition, and early site preparation activities required to advance the campus into vertical construction. The role manages environmental consultants, demolition contractors, civil engineers, surveyors, and regulatory coordination while supporting cost forecasting, schedule planning, and risk management associated with early site development.

This is a long-term position supporting a multi-year development and construction program. As early enabling works conclude, the position will transition to support broader construction and development activities across the headquarters project, providing continuity and institutional knowledge as the campus advances through multiple phases of development.

 

Environmental Remediation and Regulatory Coordination

• Manage environmental consultants responsible for site investigations, remediation planning, and implementation of mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate environmental permitting, regulatory approvals, and agency engagement related to remediation and site preparation activities.
• Monitor remediation work to ensure compliance with environmental regulations, permits, and reporting requirements.
• Identify environmental risks and coordinate mitigation strategies with consultants and project leadership.

Demolition and Enabling Works

• Oversee demolition of existing structures and associated enabling works required to prepare the site for development.
• Coordinate demolition sequencing, hazardous material abatement, and utility disconnections in collaboration with consultants and contractors.
• Monitor contractor performance to ensure adherence to safety standards, regulatory requirements, and project specifications.

Site Logistics and Risk Management

• Coordinate site logistics planning for demolition and early construction phases including staging, site access, and traffic coordination.
• Support implementation of site safety protocols in collaboration with contractors and project consultants.
• Identify and manage risks associated with site conditions, adjacent properties, regulatory compliance, and construction sequencing.

Cost, Schedule, and Project Coordination

• Support development and maintenance of cost estimates and schedule forecasts related to remediation, demolition, and site preparation activities.
• Track progress against cost and schedule milestones and report status, risks, and variances to project leadership and executive stakeholders.
• Maintain clear documentation of site-related activities, approvals, and decisions to support project governance and reporting.

Consultant and Contractor Coordination

• Represent the owner in coordinating the work of environmental consultants, demolition contractors, civil engineers, surveyors, and other advisors involved in site preparation.
• Oversee consultants, surveyors, and civil engineers to identify site information necessary to support project design and development planning.
• Support procurement processes and assist with development and evaluation of scopes of work for site-related services.
• Facilitate coordination among consultants, contractors, and internal project leadership to maintain alignment with project objectives.

Site Entitlements and Property Coordination

• Coordinate with government entities to establish site access approvals and support relocation or modification of existing easements.
• Manage parcel boundary line adjustments by overseeing survey updates and navigating administrative processes with local government agencies.

Construction Administration Support

• Monitor and support tracking and resolution of submittals, shop drawings, mock-ups, requests for information, and change orders related to site preparation and early construction activities.

Transition to Construction Support

• As site preparation activities conclude, support broader construction and development activities across the headquarters project as directed by project leadership.

Qualifications

• Experience with complex urban developments, campus-scale projects, or large institutional developments strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing environmental consultants, demolition contractors, and early site preparation activities.
• Familiarity with environmental regulatory processes, remediation strategies, and permitting requirements.
• Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary consultant teams and contractors in a complex development environment.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience coordinating with local government agencies and regulatory authorities.
• Based in or willing to relocate to Salt Lake City.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, environmental science, or a related field.

Experience

Approximately 7–12 years of experience in site development, environmental remediation, demolition, or early-stage construction activities for large commercial, mixed-use, or institutional developments.

Success Measures

• Safe, timely, on-budget delivery.
• High-quality construction aligned with design, operational, and performance requirements.
• Smooth commissioning and turnover for occupancy.

Experience in Lieu of Education

Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements. Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is at the discretion of the hiring manager.

Work location
This is a full-time, in-office position at WGU’s office in Salt Lake City, Utah. This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed.

What to expect

At WGU, our mission drives everything we do, including how we hire. Our interview experience is designed to give qualified candidates the opportunity to show their best work through meaningful conversations and collaboration.

We thoughtfully review every application and invite forward the candidates whose experience and potential best align with the role and our mission.

Interview steps

• Introductory call
• Hiring manager interview
• 2 additional stakeholder interviews

Position & Application Details

Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.