How Much Experience Do I Need to go After VP of Development Role

I have been working in real estate development for over five years now. I am currently working as a development manager in affordable housing. I have done multi family development and student housing in my career as well.

What skills do I need to refine or highlight in order to get a VP development role?

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Bumping this thread because I am curious what more of the senior monkeys have to say about this.

Associate to VP/MD seems to be the biggest/most challenging jump due to the responsibility shift (you go from deal specific management to regional business/book management) but more importantly I think it’s a supply issue in that there just aren’t many of these spots available even in secondary cities, let alone smaller markets. 

As far as making the jump, my impression from talking around is that generally it is a better strategy/faster track to move up the ranks internally at one company until you hit VP then it is easier to jump depending on your company’s economic standing, the autonomy you have, etc. to a better situation.

As a relevant data point, I just got pitched by a recruiter for a VP/Director of Development position for a local small shop (10 people) who focus on infill MF/mixed use projects. 

For context, I’ve been in development/private equity for about 6 years now with about 2 years as a DM.

 

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