VP, Business Development

Job description

Let’s Change the World In 2009, inspired by a trip to a campus ministry at the University of Illinois, our founder hired one man to drive across the country and visit campus ministries. Every night he sent back a report on what he had seen and what people needed. Turns out, the report was simple. Students needed a place to live. So we learned to run housing. By 2012, we were managing halls where someone knows your name the first week, where dinner is shared, and where neighbors turn into friends. Today that is Newman Student Housing, and our purpose is clear: Building Communities. Changing Lives. We manage Frassati Hall, Bellarmine Hall, STA Newman Hall, and Mary Star of the Sea. Every one runs Inspired Living, our resident life program. And it works. Students with friends where they live stay. Our renewal rates run up to 49% in an industry where 30–35% is typical. We create spaces where students grow with intention and purpose, and where our team members feel needed and known. We’re close knit, grounded, and full of heart. We are rooted in the Christian faith and open to every student, and we are part of Newman Ministry. Now we want to bring this to more campuses. That’s where you come in. About the Role We are looking to grow our third-party managed portfolio and are hiring a leader who will actively hunt new management contracts. Our goal is 10 managed properties by 2028, each 200+ beds, across Texas, Florida and the South. What sets us apart is a community-first operating model that drives resident renewal and reduces the annual re-leasing risk that competitors face when they refill from scratch every year. This is a real differentiator, and we need someone who can carry that story into rooms with faith-based colleges and universities and private owners, and come out with signed contracts. This is a hunter role, not a farmer role. We are looking for someone with an existing network in student housing and multifamily who can generate pipeline and signed business quickly. Reports To: Shaun Coleman, COO Location: Florida or Texas preferred, remote acceptable Roles and Responsibilities Own the full new business cycle for management contracts: prospecting, relationship development, pitch, proposal, negotiation, and close Build and manage a qualified pipeline of faith-based colleges and universities and private owners that fit our target profile of 200 to 600 beds Book and run Operating Reviews, our free look at how a property is performing, alongside our founder Bring and expand a personal network of owners, brokers, and capital partners in student housing and multifamily Represent the company at industry conferences and build our visibility as a credible third-party manager Develop and refine pitch, proposal, and RFP response materials in partnership with marketing and operations Negotiate management agreement terms including fee structure, term length, and scope within approved parameters Partner with the operations and onboarding team to ensure a clean handoff of signed contracts into active management Report pipeline, forecast, and market intelligence to leadership on a regular cadence Help refine our ideal customer profile and go-to-market targeting as the portfolio grows We will like you if you have: 7 to 10+ years in business development, acquisitions, or growth roles within student housing, multifamily property management, or a closely adjacent real estate service A demonstrable existing book of business and active relationships with owners, universities, or capital partners in student housing. This is the most important qualifier for this role A track record of sourcing and closing management contracts, acquisitions, or comparable long-cycle, relationship-driven deals Comfort operating with real autonomy in a lean, founder-led company Strong understanding of third-party management, including fee structures, scope of services, and the competitive landscape Willingness to travel regularly across Texas and the South A bachelor’s degree is preferred, not required, given the emphasis on relationships and track record We will love you if you have: Existing relationships with faith-based college and university leaders evaluating outsourced housing management Experience selling into institutional or university decision-making processes involving multiple stakeholders Commercial real estate or brokerage transaction background Familiarity with HubSpot or a comparable CRM Compensation Base salary: $110,000 to $150,000 Variable compensation tied to signed management contracts, structured as a percentage of first-year management fee revenue per contract On-target earnings at plan: Negotiable for right candidate, uncapped for over-performance Travel and expense budget provided What You'll Love About Us Strong work/life boundaries Generous PTO and 12 paid holidays Company-wide shutdown between Christmas and New Year’s Health benefits and 401(k) Mission-driven work with real-world impact Newman Student Housing is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.