Director of Property Development

Campfire Ranch is a startup outdoor hospitality business focused on creating the best outdoor destinations & experiences. Our business is out to create a national network of campgrounds, lodges and backcountry huts that feature inviting accommodations with frustration-free amenities. We bring these locations to life by offering convenient onsite rental gear, an Adventure Concierge service and a team that is seriously passionate about helping others get outdoors. Our mission is to be the hub for the next generation to create authentic experiences in the great outdoors and promote stewardship of our shared playgrounds. To learn more about Campfire Ranch, please visit our website: www.campfireranch.co 

The Director of Property Development creates and leads the strategic planning and execution of property development at Campfire Ranch. This role is responsible for the identification, acquisition, development and management of all real estate needs for the company. The Director of Property Development will act as a counterpart to all departments, as the primary role driving Campfire Ranch’s physical expansion in both new and existing markets. The Director of Property Development will use their independent judgment and discretion to formulate and—in close collaboration with the CEO—implement new and improved policies, procedures, and strategies for growing our brand footprint and improving our development strategy.  This is the first full-time dedicated property development role at Campfire Ranch and is the start of what will become a development department.

 

- Lead all property development projects at Campfire Ranch through identification, acquisition, feasibility, design, development, construction and close-out.

- Analyze market conditions, trends and growth opportunities as it relates to real estate and property development in the outdoor hospitality industry

- Locate undeveloped and developed land for new Campfire Ranch locations, including site visits, inspections, appraisals, and regulatory environments. 

- Qualify prospective real estate opportunities through feasibility and tracking against due-diligence criteria.

- Lead design of new construction and remodel projects to meet Campfire Ranch standards.

- Manage financial planning for all property development projects, including pro-forma analysis, financing needs and budget tracking. 

- Work with government entities to navigate entitlements, permitting and approvals.

- Oversee all construction administration including consultants, contractors, change orders and quality control.

- Manage FF&E planning, procurement and installation.

- Develop and maintain relationships with agents, land partners, investors, lenders and other property development stakeholders.

- Collaborate with operations to ensure a cohesive and immersive guest experience for new properties.

Support Campfire Ranch’s growth with annual business planning ideation alongside CEO and all departments.

 

- Produce in-depth market analysis reports evaluating competitors, demographic insights, regional demand assessments and outdoor hospitality industry trends as it relates to real estate.

- Highlight actionable growth opportunities outlining investment areas, risk factors and strategic recommendations for development initiatives.

- Conduct site visits and site reports for potential projects and summarize their suitability in the Campfire Ranch portfolio.

- Develop initial assessments of the regulatory environments for potential projects that outline the requirements for compliance. 

- Prepare detailed feasibility reports evaluating financial viability, market demand, project timeline and perceived risks for top potential projects. 

- Maintain a dashboard that monitors the progress of top potential projects, their status, key milestones and necessary decision-making.

- Create living documents that outline Campfire Ranch design specifications and standards for new projects, including architectural details, material selections, aesthetic guidelines and functional requirements. 

- Identify & contract with key partners to produce design documentation for projects moving to proposal, through approval and onto construction.

- Create detailed pro-forma financial statements with Controller, projecting CAP-EX needs, revenue, expenses, cash flow and return on investment.

- Develop and maintain a robust budget tracking system that monitors actuals against budget for each approved development project and the department as a whole. 

- Outline a plan for each approved project to secure all necessary entitlements and permits, as well as an assessment of potential challenges and mitigation strategies.

- Organize and maintain all regulatory compliance documentation required for submission to governing bodies. 

- Represent Campfire Ranch in all project meetings & hearings with governing bodies to facilitate a smooth approval process. 

- Identify, contract & manage key construction partners to develop and remodel approved projects.

- Develop regular reporting of approved projects in construction, ensuring quality control, identification of issues or delays, site inspections, compliance checks and documentation of milestones.

- Craft a detailed FF&E procurement plan for each approved project that outlines specifications, sourcing strategies, timelines and budgets.

- Manage installation of FF&E for approved projects with all relevant parties.

- Expand Campfire Ranch’s network of development stakeholders to create collaboration and trust in new markets, for new projects and overall project viability.

- Build network of brokers & agents, as well as consultants for project ID and completion.

- With Operations, develop a guest experience framework that outlines the desired customer journey for new projects, ensuring Campfire’s mission comes to life at project completion.

- Collaboratively brainstorm and refine the hand-off process between Development, Operations and Marketing.

- Ability to successfully manage outdoor hospitality focused real estate & development projects from ideation to completion.

- BS/BA degree in real estate development, architecture, construction management or land use planning preferred.

- 3+ years property development work experience preferred. 

- Ability to work closely with an executive (CEO) to manage property development in a startup business setting.

- Experience developing commercial real estate properties in rural, remote, and outdoor settings, preferably with an emphasis on hospitality. 

- Ability to develop and implement new and improved strategies for property development.

- Ability to work independently and efficiently in a fast-paced work environment.

- Experience managing budgets, schedules, and communicating with others to deliver against simultaneous deadlines.

- Superb organization, planning and attention to detail.

- Experience managing and working with real estate funds & developers

- Strong project management skills and knowledge of construction management preferred.

- Experience interpreting and executing risk management procedures and managing crisis situations.

- Experience managing and leading a team comprised of all levels of employees. 

- Experience overseeing and managing compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and working with an executive to formulate responses to legal and regulatory issues.

- Experience identifying and addressing personnel issues.

- Ability to understand and adjust to the needs of various seasons, environments, and communities, and make on-the-spot decisions addressing issues that may arise.

- Patience and thoughtfulness in discerning community behaviors, communications and attitudes.

- Exhibit creative thinking and the ability to exercise independent judgment and discretion to solve problems and overcome obstacles. 

- Start date: January 2025

- Compensation: exempt employee, base salary starting from $85,000 based on experience, to receive paychecks on the 1st and 15th of each month.

- Bonus structure: at Campfire Ranch’s discretion.

- Benefits: $400 annual gear stipend, discounted friends and family stays at Campfire Ranch locations, industry discounts with partner outdoor brands and health insurance NOT provided at this time

- Work Schedule: full-time, expected to work an average of 40hrs/week

- Mileage & travel costs: to be reimbursed for business trips outside of the Gunnison-Crested Butte Valley, with prior approval.

- Expenses: to be reimbursed via documented receipts for all approved business-related purchases.

- Vacation: eligible for company’s Flexible Paid Time Off policy

- Location: Gunnison, CO or remote considered

- Travel required: 20-40%