Construction Management to Development

I did the transition. CB and JLL are such big companies, they provide an array of real estate services. One of those services is project management/construction management "in house". You become an owners rep for a large (or small) tenant wanting to do a new BTS building or move into an existing building (heavy TI). This role is more in line with what you are probably used to right now. IMO its more of the same Corporate life and a long ladder to climb with little upside. I know other guys that transitioned and do this. They are using the same skills from the CM world and are applying here as an owners rep. They are not learning the entrepreneurial side of the business or the finance side and thats ok for them cause thats what they want to do.

A 'developer' will be the entity that either owns/operates the final product and then leases it out to someone or they can be a fee or merchant developer only. For the sake of conversation, I'll talk about the traditional developer who owns and operates the building. They are spending 'their' money (mostly raised through investors) and will share the success or failure of the development (financially I am talking). The company can be large or small and develop speculatively or through a BTS. The role at a firm like this is not the same everywhere. I bet if you ask 10 developers here what they do their roles will differ 10 times. Some firms will have "CM" guys and "Development" guys. Other firms they are the same...and some do leasing too! (smaller firms?). You have to ask yourself what you want to do as the position you apply for will depend on that. Personally, I had interest and knowledge in the finance side and I wanted big picture, my hands on everything. Why? Because I want to gather all the skills where I can go do this myself or I can take this somewhere else for a more senior position. I am involved with land and opportunity procurement, City meetings, entitlements, environmental reviews, design coordination, permitting, vertical construction, tenant coordination as well as the financial side of it in talking or being part of the conversations with our national tenants, and debt and equity sources. In this type of role you 'should' see better upside in general IMO. But there is also greater risk that comes with this. So in short, CB/JLL are not 'developers' but more consultants. They represent the tenants that want space so you would help implement those new Build to Suit buildings or TI's for the client. If you are just starting your exploration of this field, you can to dig into each firms operation, which is pretty easy just from checking out their website.