Case Study: Recruiter for President of Development - Build-to-Rent & Single-Family Rental Platform

Build-to-Rent and Single-Family Rental platforms require leadership that can execute at scale while managing the full development lifecycle. As a real estate executive recruiter with expertise in development leadership roles, Gill-Mac Partners understands the importance of aligning land acquisition, construction, and operational strategy. When a regional developer expanding across the Southeast required a senior executive to lead its development platform, Gill-Mac Partners was engaged to recruit a President of Development to drive execution, scalability, and long-term growth.

Client Profile

A regional real estate developer focused on ground-up Build-to-Rent (BTR) communities and single-family rental product across the Southeastern United States.

The Challenge

Rapid growth required a development leader capable of managing land acquisition, horizontal development, vertical construction, and operational execution within a relatively new and evolving asset class. The role demanded a senior executive capable of building infrastructure, leading teams, and delivering consistent project outcomes across multiple markets.

The Assignment

Gill-Mac Partners, a specialized executive search firm, was retained to recruit a President of Development focused on scaling the client’s BTR and SFR platform. Through a targeted recruitment process and deep industry relationships, our team identified and presented qualified candidates with proven experience in large-scale residential development.

Scope of Responsibility

• Land acquisition strategy and feasibility analysis

• Development of operational infrastructure and team buildout

• Budgeting, scheduling, and execution oversight

• Coordination with construction, capital partners, and leasing teams

• Execution of merchant build and long-term hold strategies

Outcome & Impact

The hire enabled scalable execution across multiple communities, improved consistency in delivery timelines, and established a reliable pipeline of 3–5 deals annually. Individual project capitalizations ranged from $30M to $60M, supporting sustained growth across the platform.

Choose Gill-Mac Partners As Your Real Estate Executive Search Partner

Recruiting senior development leadership requires a deep understanding of market dynamics, capital deployment, and execution risk. As a trusted real estate executive recruiter, Gill-Mac Partners specializes in identifying leaders who can scale platforms and deliver consistent results.

Our recruitment process ensures that every candidate presented aligns with both the technical requirements and the strategic goals of the organization.

If your firm is seeking leadership in development, construction, or investment execution, contact Gill-Mac Partners to learn how our executive search approach can help you secure the right talent.