Head of Development and Construction
Palisades Legacy I LP | $50M Ultra-Luxury Residential Development Fund
Los Angeles (Pacific Palisades focus) | Full-time

Lead the execution of institutional-grade luxury homes in the most exciting post-fire recovery market in California.

Palisades Legacy I LP is deploying $50M to acquire and develop 5–8 ultra-luxury single-family residences in Pacific Palisades following the January 2025 fires. Our base-case plan delivers homes at $550/sf all-in (including mandatory California WUI fire-resistant construction), with 15% contingency, phased construction across 18 months, and exits to ultra-high-net-worth buyers at premium pricing.

We are hiring a Head of Development and Construction to own the entire vertical from entitlement through certificate of occupancy — the most critical execution role in the fund.

The Role

You will be the single point of accountability for all development activities. You will select and manage general contractors, oversee design and architecture teams, drive entitlements under California’s post-fire expedited programs, control costs, and deliver homes on time and on budget while meeting the highest luxury standards.

Key Responsibilities

Lead full-cycle development of 5–8 custom ultra-luxury homes (phased construction starting Month 6)

Manage all entitlements, permitting, and environmental review — leveraging expedited post-fire California recovery programs (CEQA streamlining, fee waivers, rebuild allowances)

Select and oversee vetted local general contractors with active Pacific Palisades portfolios; negotiate contracts and manage change orders

Oversee architecture and design teams across Spanish Colonial Revival, Mediterranean, Modern, Mid-Century Modern, and Contemporary vocabularies

Own the $550/sf all-in budget (hard costs ~$330/sf, soft ~$138/sf, contingency 15%) and maintain rigorous cost tracking and third-party draw audits

Coordinate with civil, structural, geotechnical, and landscape consultants; ensure Zone Zero and WUI fire-resistant compliance

Manage timeline, quality, and budget across multiple concurrent projects; report weekly to the Investment Committee and CEO

Support disposition readiness (finish specifications, staging, and broker coordination)

What We’re Looking For

10–15+ years of full-cycle luxury single-family or high-end residential development experience in Los Angeles (Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, or Beverly Hills strongly preferred)

Demonstrated track record delivering custom homes or small developments from entitlement through certificate of occupancy at the $5M–$15M+ price point

Deep expertise in California building codes, WUI requirements, and current post-fire permitting pathways

Strong relationships with top-tier general contractors, architects, and consultants serving the Westside luxury market

Exceptional project management, budgeting, and cost-control skills with experience managing contingencies and change orders

Comfort operating in a lean, first-time GP environment with institutional-level reporting and governance

Nice to Have

Prior experience with post-fire or disaster-recovery reconstruction projects
Background in high-end spec or custom home development for UHNW buyers
Existing relationships with Pacific Palisades planning/permitting staff

Compensation and Structure

Competitive base salary ($260k–$320k range) + meaningful carried interest in the GP economics + project completion and cost-savings incentives. This is a platform-building role with long-term upside.

Location

Primarily Pacific Palisades and Westside Los Angeles with site visits multiple times per week. Hybrid flexibility for non-site work.
This is a rare chance to execute at the highest level in one of America’s most resilient and supply-constrained luxury residential markets while helping build an institutional real estate platform from the ground up.
Apply on Wellfound or send your resume, project list (with photos or descriptions if available), and a short note on your most relevant development experience. We move quickly for the right candidate.