Tenant Construction Manager II at WS Development in Chestnut Hill, MA

Overview

At WS, we’re passionate about building and operating places where people want to be. Our Tenant Construction Managers are the connective tissue between our tenants and the complex world of design, construction, and lease execution, and the primary reason our tenants feel supported every step of the way.

We’re looking for someone who leads with relationships first. You’re as comfortable sitting across from a tenant explaining the construction process in plain language as you are reviewing a set of construction drawings. You don’t just manage — you guide, advocate, coordinate, and clear the path forward. You are the tenant’s most trusted partner through one of the most demanding processes they’ll go through, and you’re the face of WS’s commitment to service at every touchpoint.

Construction knowledge matters here, but it’s a tool in service of the relationship, not the other way around.

What You’ll Do & What to Expect

Be the Face of the Tenant Relationship

• Serve as the tenant’s primary point of contact from the earliest stages of their interest in a space, often before the lease is signed, all the way through store opening

• Set clear expectations early, communicate proactively, and anticipate needs before tenants have to ask

• Translate complicated construction, lease, and regulatory requirements into clear, actionable guidance for tenants and their teams

• Create a consistently high-touch experience that reflects what WS stands for

Coordinate, Expedite, and Drive Progress

• Own the critical path for each tenant project, tracking milestones, surfacing risks early, and keeping all parties aligned and moving

• Be the person who follows up, connects the dots, and makes sure nothing falls through the cracks

• Coordinate across internal teams (leasing, legal, property management, design) and external parties (tenant architects, contractors, city agencies) to keep things moving

• Manage multiple projects at once without losing track of the details that matter

Own Landlord Work and Lease Execution

• Draft and negotiate construction work letters (Exhibit B), clearly defining landlord and tenant responsibilities

• Develop and manage project budgets, tracking costs and keeping stakeholders informed throughout

• Oversee landlord deliverables so tenant projects don’t get held up on our end

• Review and approve tenant construction plans for compliance with lease terms, WS design standards, and local regulations

• Track and communicate all critical lease milestones to make sure obligations are met and risks are caught early

• Visit sites regularly to monitor progress, stay close to the work, and keep relationships strong on the ground

• Maintain accurate, up-to-date project records in Salesforce so leadership and cross-functional teams always have visibility into deal status and progress

Be a Cross-Functional Partner

• Work closely with the leasing team as a strategy partner, offering construction and deal-structuring insight early in the process to set tenants up for success before the lease is even signed

• Build strong working relationships across leasing, legal, property management, design, and finance so you can move quickly and get things done without a lot of friction

• Bring the right people into the room at the right time, and make sure nothing gets lost between teams

Solve Problems and Protect the Relationship

• Spot construction and coordination risks before they become real problems, and work with tenants and contractors to get ahead of them
• Handle difficult conversations with professionalism and a genuine focus on finding solutions
• Keep leadership and cross-functional teams informed with clear, regular updates
• Help junior team members grow in both project execution and how they manage tenant relationships

Embrace and Apply AI in Your Work

WS is committed to staying ahead of how the industry works, and that includes how we work internally. In this role, you’ll be expected to bring an active, curious approach to AI tools — not just as a productivity shortcut, but as a genuine way to serve tenants better and manage projects more effectively.

• Use AI tools to draft and refine tenant communications, work letters, project summaries, and status updates — freeing up more time for the high-touch relationship work that matters most
• Leverage AI to track project milestones, surface risks, and synthesize information across multiple simultaneous deals so nothing slips
• Apply AI-assisted research and document review to accelerate plan review, lease compliance checks, and permitting research
• Bring an AI-forward mindset to problem-solving: know when a tool can help you move faster and when human judgment and relationship IQ need to lead
• Stay current on emerging AI tools relevant to construction management, project coordination, and real estate operations — and share what you’re learning with the team

The right person for this role is first and foremost a great communicator and relationship manager. Construction experience gives you the credibility and context you need, but what sets our best TCMs apart is the ability to manage people, timelines, and expectations well, especially when things get complicated.

• 7+ years of experience in tenant construction, project management, owner’s representative, or construction coordination roles, ideally with landlord, developer, or OPM experience
• A track record of managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects while keeping everyone informed and aligned
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; you write clearly, run productive meetings, and know how to deliver hard news without damaging the relationship
• Highly organized with a disciplined approach to milestone tracking and follow-through
• Solid understanding of lease agreements, construction documents, work letters, and city/state permitting processes
• A genuine service mindset; you take pride in making a complicated process feel manageable for the people you’re supporting
• Comfortable with ambiguity, competing priorities, and high-stakes tenant relationships
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Project; experience with Salesforce or a similar CRM/project tracking tool is a plus, and familiarity with AutoCAD and cost estimating is helpful
• Demonstrated comfort with AI tools and a proactive approach to learning and applying new technology in your day-to-day work
• Ability and willingness to travel regionally and nationally
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Business, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience welcomed

The expected salary range for this position is $110,000-$130,000 per year. Actual compensation will be based on factors such as skills, qualifications, experience, and location. This role is also eligible to participate in our annual bonus program.

About WS Development

Massachusetts-based WS Development is a mixed-use developer with a singular mission: creating places people want to be. With an approach that values art, science, innovation and, above all else, people, WS strives to engage each community it serves with best-in-class experiences, designed with our customers, tenants and partners in mind. Established in 1990, WS is one of few vertically-integrated real estate companies that conceptualizes, owns, operates and leases more than 100 properties that range from cutting-edge urban spaces to lifestyle and community centers. With over 22 million square feet of existing space and an additional nine million square feet under development, it is one of the largest privately-owned development firms in the country.

WS is where great ideas and great people come together to design, build, and operate some of the best loved real estate projects in the country. We live at the intersection of entrepreneurship and establishment. We have the infrastructure of decades supporting a culture of free-thinking excellence.

We expect every WS employee to feel welcomed and valued irrespective of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, and life experiences. Or for any other reason.