Project President

Position Summary

Meriwether Companies is seeking a highly accomplished Project President to lead the development, execution, and ultimate realization of Coral Mountain Desert Club, a premier private golf and surf residential community in La Quinta, California.

Reporting directly to ownership, the Project President will serve as the senior executive responsible for the overall vision, strategy, and performance of the project, ensuring seamless integration across development, finance, sales, and operations. This individual will act as the principal steward of the business plan, aligning all stakeholders—including investors, lenders, consultants, and internal teams—around a unified execution strategy.

This role requires a seasoned real estate development executive with deep experience in large-scale, master-planned communities, strong financial acumen, and the ability to lead complex, multi-disciplinary teams from entitlement through vertical delivery and stabilized operations.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Execution

• Serve as the primary executive leader of Coral Mountain, accountable for overall success across all phases of development and operations
• Partner with ownership to refine and execute the project’s strategic business plan, ensuring alignment with investment objectives and long-term value creation
• Maintain full accountability for project financial performance, including budget adherence, capital deployment, and return metrics

Financial Oversight & Capital Strategy

• Oversee and continuously refine the project financial model, including development budgets, cash flow projections, and exit scenarios
• Interface directly with investors, lenders, and capital partners, providing clear, institutional-quality reporting and strategic insight
• Identify opportunities to enhance value through phasing, capitalization strategy, product mix, and timing of vertical development and sales
• Direct sensitivity analyses across pricing, absorption, cost escalation, and interest rate scenarios
• Drive IRR optimization through phasing, product mix, and timing strategies

Development, Design & Construction

• Lead all aspects of zoning, entitlements, permitting, land development, vertical construction, and infrastructure delivery, managing horizontal development execution (grading, utilities, water, roads, drainage) and off-site infrastructure coordination (utilities, municipality interfaces, access improvements).
• Coordinate with internal teams and third-party consultants to ensure design excellence, responsible cost controls, and timely execution
• Establish and deploy best-in-class development processes, mitigating risk while maintaining flexibility to adapt to market conditions
• Direct evaluation of geotechnical, environmental, and water resource constraints

Risk Management Framework

• Establish enterprise risk framework across development, construction, market, and capital risks
• Oversee insurance strategy (builder’s risk, liability, D&O, etc.)
• Identify and mitigate schedule, cost, entitlement, and market absorption risks
• Develop contingency planning and downside scenario playbook

Sales, Marketing & Revenue Optimization

• Partner with sales and marketing leadership to drive absorption, pricing strategy, brand positioning, and revenue generation
• Ensure alignment between product design, buyer expectations, and market demand, particularly within the UHNW and luxury lifestyle segments
• Integrate amenity programming (golf, surf, wellness) into monetization strategy
• Actively participate in key sales initiatives, buyer engagement, and strategic partnerships

Club & Operational Readiness

• Oversee the planning and transition to club operations, ensuring a seamless handoff from development to hospitality execution
• Recruit and mentor a best-in-class General Manager and operational leadership team
• Ensure that the member experience, amenities, and programming reflect the project’s brand and long-term vision

Stakeholder & External Relations

• Serve as public-facing leader of the project, representing the client with:
• Local and state governmental agencies
• Community stakeholders
• Media and public relations channels
• Prospective buyers and club members
• Lead efforts to secure all required entitlements, permits, utilities, and regulatory approvals

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience leading large-scale real estate development projects, with a preference for master-planned communities, resort/residential developments, or private club environments
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA or similar) strongly preferred
• Demonstrated success overseeing projects from zoning and entitlement, planning and design, through vertical development, construction, and operational launch
• Strong background in financial modeling, capital structuring, and investor relations
• Deep understanding of land development, infrastructure financing and delivery, and construction management
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple, diverse stakeholder groups in complex environments
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and leadership skills, with executive presence and credibility at the ownership level
• Experience working with UHNW clientele and luxury residential product positioning is preferred

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with a hands-on, execution-oriented mindset
• High level of accountability, ownership, and professional integrity
• Ability to operate effectively in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build alignment across diverse stakeholders
• Calm, decisive leadership under pressure
• An ability to “sell the lifestyle” and/or ideally, someone who is an active champion of outdoor fitness and holistic wellness who can seamlessly translate their personal lifestyle choices into a compelling vision for the project’s guests and stakeholders

Pay range and compensation package

• Competitive executive compensation package including:
• Base salary: $250,000- $350,000 per year
• Performance-based annual bonus
• Long-term incentive participation aligned with project success
• Comprehensive benefits package (medical, dental, vision)
• 401(k) participation
• Paid time off and holidays
• Opportunity for meaningful long-term value creation participation

About Coral Mountain Desert Club

Coral Mountain Desert Club is a 400-acre, master-planned private residential community located at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains in La Quinta, California.

Anchored by an 18-hole Gary Panks-designed championship golf course, the community integrates surf, wellness, outdoor recreation, and luxury residential living into a cohesive, next-generation club environment.

Designed as a first-of-its-kind destination in the United States, Coral Mountain represents a new paradigm in private community development—blending high design, experiential amenities, and a strong sense of place to create lasting value for its members and investors.

About Meriwether Companies

Meriwether Companies is a vertically integrated real estate development and operating platform focused on creating purpose-driven destinations rooted in lifestyle, community, and experience.

With more than three decades of experience across real estate, private equity, and hospitality, Meriwether brings a disciplined yet creative approach to development—delivering distinctive projects that resonate with a new generation of buyers seeking connection, wellness, and adventure.

Meriwether is involved at every stage—from concept through operations—ensuring that each project maintains its original vision while achieving institutional-quality execution.