Director/Sr. Director - Corporate Development

Overview

When you join Hines, you will embark on a career journey fueled by vision and guided by leaders who set the standards of our industry. Our legacy is rooted in innovation and excellence, earning us a spot on Fast Company’s esteemed annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies, as well as recognition as one of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Companies to Work For in 2024. Discover endless opportunities to grow and make your mark at Hines.

Responsibilities

The Director/Sr. Director of Corporate Development converts approved Hines growth priorities into coordinated delivery and develops selected growth opportunities from concept through launch and integration. As part of Enterprise Operations & Corporate Governance, the role brings execution discipline to high-priority firm initiatives, supports corporate development transactions and incubates new platforms.

This role works closely with the Chief Operating Officer and President, preparing executive decks and support for growth/other initiatives. The role executes approved strategy and develops recommendations on specific opportunities; enterprise strategy and material approvals remain with the President, Management Committee, Board or other authorized decision-maker.

This is an execution-oriented role that combines project coordination, analytical problem solving, and strong communication. The role operates through collaboration and influence, bringing structure to complex workstreams while building the judgment and context needed to anticipate needs, surface issues, and support sound decisions.

Role Purpose:

• Support the planning and execution of high-priority firm projects and initiatives

• Improve the quality and consistency of project preparation, analysis, and communication

• Create clarity around milestones, decisions, dependencies, and next steps

• Provide timely, well-organized support to executive leaders and stakeholders

• Create capacity for the team by coordinating workstreams and driving disciplined follow-through

Project Planning and Execution:

• Incubate new platforms and business concepts, including potential investment strategies such as infrastructure. Advance selected concepts through thesis validation, market assessment, business case, platform and operating-model design, capitalization, governance, capability needs and launch planning.
• Use stage gates for corporate development and incubation work: strategic fit, feasibility, diligence, approval, launch readiness and post-launch review. Recommend pause, redesign or stop decisions when evidence weakens the case.
• Translate approved firm growth priorities (incubations) into clear workplans, deliverables, owners, timelines, dependencies and decision points. Coordinate contributors, surface obstacles early and maintain disciplined follow-through.
• Track milestones, risks, decisions and action items across priority incubation projects. Provide concise status updates that show progress, slippage, required decisions and next steps.
• Build and maintain a prioritized pipeline of strategic growth opportunities, including acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, strategic partnerships and other inorganic initiatives aligned with Hines priorities.
• Assess opportunity fit, market context, business model, valuation, capital requirements, risks, synergies and build-versus-buy-or-partner options.
• Develop decision-ready business cases with relevant business leaders and Finance. Coordinate cross-functional diligence and transaction planning with Finance, Legal, Risk, Technology and operating teams.
• Prepare executive recommendations and support transaction structuring and negotiations with designated deal leads and external advisers. Coordinate with project contributors to keep work moving and help resolve issues or escalate them appropriately.

Analysis, Reporting and Support:

• Prepare concise presentations, investment materials, briefs, agendas, and talking points for leaders, internal stakeholders, and external audiences; support meeting preparation and follow-through by capturing decisions, actions, and owners.

Stakeholder Coordination and Communication:

• Build productive working relationships with internal partners and project stakeholders across the organization.
• Facilitate working sessions, follow up on commitments, and communicate progress with clarity and professionalism.
• Use sound judgment and discretion when handling confidential, sensitive, or time-critical information.
• Prepare clear executive and committee briefs, presentations, talking points, and decision materials; synthesize inputs and make recommendations, including when not to proceed.

Process Improvement and AI Enablement:

• Use AI-enabled tools responsibly to improve research, preparation, synthesis, and efficiency.

Decision Rights and Role Boundaries:

• The Director recommends, coordinates and monitors. The role does not independently approve enterprise strategy, transaction economics, fund or asset investments, material capital commitments, or organizational changes reserved to authorized leaders or governing bodies.
• Investment Management and Real Estate leaders retain accountability for investment theses, fiduciary underwriting, fund and asset decisions, and business outcomes within their authority. Finance, Legal and Risk retain their professional control responsibilities.
• Initiative sponsors remain accountable for delivery and business results. The Director is accountable for analysis quality, project coordination, governance process, stage-gate discipline and executive visibility.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements include:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university; MBA a plus.
• 6+ years of applicable experience in corporate development, enterprise project execution, management consulting, investment banking, private equity, business transformation or a related field; real estate or investment-management experience is valuable.
• Experience in investment management, fund management, strategy, operations, consulting, finance, or a related field, with exposure to commercial real estate preferred

• Demonstrated ability to coordinate complex, cross-functional initiatives and to support transactions, partnerships or new-business launches from evaluation through integration.

• Strong analytical, financial and commercial judgment, including business-case development, valuation concepts, operating-model assessment, diligence and risk analysis.

• Excellent executive writing and presentation skills, with the ability to turn complex information into clear decisions and actions.

• Strong program leadership and influence without relying on formal authority; sound judgment, discretion and ability to manage sensitive information across a global business.

• Experience supporting projects or initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and workstreams, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct research, analyze information, and develop clear presentations or written materials.
• Able to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams without relying on direct authority.
• Strong negotiation, project management, organization, and follow-through skills across multiple concurrent priorities.
• Experience working with senior leaders or in a relationship-driven, fast-paced environment preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint; familiarity with AI-enabled productivity tools is a plus.

Closing

At Hines, we believe the built world is ultimately about people. As one of the world’s largest privately held real assets firms, we bring nearly seven decades of investment, development, and management experience to work that shapes cities and communities around the world.

Our people make that possible. Across 29 countries, more than 4,600 colleagues bring different perspectives and expertise to Hines, with opportunities to take on meaningful responsibility, learn from leaders across the business, and build a career with room to evolve. We support that journey through professional development, competitive rewards, comprehensive benefits, and a culture grounded in trust and high standards.

Hines is proud to be named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2024.

We are an equal opportunity employer and support workforce diversity.

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