Project Manager
About the Role
We are looking for a proactive, resourceful, and highly organised Project Manager – Real Estate & Property Development to help drive complex real estate projects forward, from land acquisition and due diligence through zoning, permitting, approvals, and ongoing project coordination.
This role is ideal for someone who understands the practical realities of real estate development and can manage multiple stakeholders, navigate approval processes, track outstanding documentation, and keep projects moving without needing constant supervision.
You will work closely with attorneys, tenants, government offices, city and state authorities, utility providers, and other stakeholders to coordinate requirements, resolve obstacles, and ensure important tasks are completed on time.
The ideal candidate is a strong independent problem-solver who takes ownership, anticipates potential delays, and consistently follows through. You should also be comfortable using AI tools such as ChatGPT to support research, organise information, draft correspondence, and identify next steps, while independently verifying information before acting on it.
Experience with U.S. real estate processes is strongly preferred.
Requirements
Key Responsibilities
Real Estate Project Coordination
- Manage and coordinate real estate and property development projects from acquisition through due diligence, approvals, and ongoing execution.
- Track project milestones, deliverables, dependencies, deadlines, and outstanding requirements.
- Coordinate land acquisition activities and support due diligence processes.
- Monitor project progress, identify delays, and proactively implement solutions to keep projects moving.
- Manage multiple projects or workstreams simultaneously while maintaining accurate records and clear priorities.
Zoning, Permitting & Approvals
- Coordinate zoning, permitting, and other regulatory approval processes with relevant authorities.
- Follow up with city and state government offices regarding applications, outstanding documentation, approvals, and project requirements.
- Track approval statuses, submission deadlines, and dependencies between different stages of a project.
- Identify potential roadblocks and work proactively with relevant stakeholders to resolve them.
- Maintain organised records of applications, permits, correspondence, approvals, and supporting documents.
Stakeholder & Vendor Coordination
- Communicate professionally with attorneys, tenants, government representatives, utility providers, and other project stakeholders.
- Follow up consistently on outstanding actions, legal documentation, approvals, and information requests.
- Coordinate with water companies and other utility providers to manage service requirements, connections, approvals, and project-related dependencies.
- Maintain clear communication between stakeholders to ensure everyone understands outstanding requirements and next steps.
- Escalate complex issues when necessary, while taking initiative to identify practical solutions before escalation.
Documentation & Project Administration
- Maintain accurate, centralised project documentation, trackers, correspondence, and records.
- Monitor outstanding documents, signatures, submissions, approvals, and follow-up actions.
- Use spreadsheets, shared documents, email, calendars, and project management tools to organise workflows and maintain visibility across projects.
- Provide regular progress updates, highlighting completed tasks, outstanding items, risks, blockers, and upcoming deadlines.
- Ensure information is accurate, organised, accessible, and kept up to date.
AI-Assisted Research & Productivity
- Use professional AI tools such as ChatGPT to conduct preliminary research, organise information, draft correspondence, summarise documents, and identify potential next steps.
- Apply AI tools to improve administrative efficiency, structure project information, and support decision-making.
- Independently verify AI-generated information, particularly when dealing with legal, regulatory, zoning, permitting, or other critical project requirements.
- Use sound judgement when handling confidential project information and ensure sensitive information is shared only through approved tools and channels.
Minimum Requirements
- Demonstrated hands-on experience managing real estate, property development, or closely related projects.
- Practical experience coordinating project activities involving multiple stakeholders, documentation, deadlines, and dependencies.
- Experience with land acquisition, due diligence, zoning, permitting, or regulatory approval processes.
- Strong organisational skills and exceptional attention to detail.
- Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
- Proven ability to manage projects independently and follow through without repeated reminders.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to identify blockers, recommend solutions, and drive tasks to completion.
- Professional proficiency with AI tools such as ChatGPT for research, drafting, information organisation, and workflow support.
- Ability to independently verify information and exercise sound judgement when using AI-generated outputs.
- Comfortable using spreadsheets, shared documents, email, calendars, and project tracking tools.
Preferred Experience
- Experience working with U.S. real estate markets, including familiarity with local zoning, permitting, municipal approvals, and property development processes.
- Experience coordinating directly with attorneys, tenants, city or state authorities, and utility providers.
- Exposure to water service applications, utility connections, infrastructure requirements, or related property development processes.
- Experience managing complex, unconventional, or non-standard projects requiring initiative and independent problem-solving.
- Familiarity with project management software and document management systems.
Key Skills & Competencies
- Ownership & Accountability: Takes responsibility for moving projects forward and consistently follows through on commitments.
- Proactive Problem-Solving: Identifies obstacles early, investigates solutions, and takes action rather than waiting for instructions.
- Organisation & Attention to Detail: Maintains accurate documentation, tracks dependencies, and ensures deadlines and outstanding requirements are not overlooked.
- Stakeholder Management: Communicates effectively with diverse stakeholders and maintains professional relationships.
- Independent Judgement: Makes informed decisions, recognises risks, and knows when to escalate complex issues.
- Adaptability: Comfortable navigating unfamiliar processes and managing projects that do not always follow a straightforward path.
- AI & Technology Proficiency: Uses AI tools and digital platforms confidently to improve research, organisation, communication, and productivity.
What We're Looking For
We are looking for someone who is comfortable taking ownership of complicated projects and figuring out how to move them forward. You should be resourceful enough to chase outstanding approvals, investigate delays, coordinate different parties, and recommend solutions without needing someone to manage every step for you.
The successful candidate will demonstrate practical real estate project experience, strong independent judgement, and a consistent track record of turning outstanding tasks into completed outcomes.
Candidates who rely heavily on reminders, struggle to manage documentation, overlook important details, or lack practical experience navigating approvals and multiple stakeholders are unlikely to be a suitable fit.
Skills
As published by workable · 4 questions · 3 written answers
Basics
First name, Last name, Email, Headline, Phone, Whatsapp Number, Address, Photo, Gender, Ethnicity, Are you a South Africa citizen?, What age range do you fall in?, Education, Experience, Summary, Resume, Portfolio Link, Please briefly explain why you are interested in this role., Please highlight the skills and experience you have that match this role., What is your notice period, if any?, Is English your native language? If not, please indicate your level of written and spoken English., Please describe your remote working experience. Include tools used, type of work environment, and how you manage productivity remotely., Cover letter, What is your current professional experience level?, Which industry do you have the most professional experience in?, Which function best describes your professional experience? (You can select all that apply), How many years of work experience do you have?, This role requires uninterrupted availability for an 8-hour EST shift. Does this schedule work for you, and do you have the necessary arrangements in place to support this?, Do you understand that this is an independent contractor role and that you will be responsible for managing and paying your own taxes?, Current Salary Rate, Expected Salary Range, How did you hear about us?, Would you like to be the first to hear about exciting new career opportunities that match your skills? By selecting 'Yes', you'll receive notifications about future positions and exclusive job openings that may be a great fit for you.
Pick from a list (1)
- Are you A South African Citizen?
Written answers (3)
- Do you have previous experience working in real estate, property management, or property development? If yes, briefly describe your experience.
- Have you managed projects involving multiple stakeholders, documentation, deadlines, or approvals
- Are you comfortable independently coordinating with attorneys, tenants, government offices, and utility providers to follow up on outstanding tasks and keep projects moving forward?