Development Manager

JOB DETAILS

Position Title: Development Manager
Reports to: Director of Real Estate Development
Department: Real Estate Development

POSITION SUMMARY

The Development Manager manages assigned real estate development projects from feasibility and business planning through concept development, approvals, design coordination, and delivery. The role evaluates project viability through market, financial, and development analysis and supports formulation of appropriate development strategies. It coordinates consultants and internal stakeholders to progress projects in line with approved scope, programme, budget, quality, and regulatory requirements. The position monitors project performance identifies risks and variances and recommends appropriate mitigation or value-enhancement actions. It also prepares development reports, business cases, and recommendations to support management decision-making across assigned projects and asset classes.

JOB DIMENSIONS

Number of Staff Supervised:

• Direct Reports: None Initially
• Total Reports: 0

The role may provide functional guidance, mentoring, and work oversight to Development Officers and other project resources without formal line-management accountability.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

Key Accountabilities

• Develop project development strategies and business plans covering asset positioning, phasing, land-use considerations, development approach, and key commercial assumptions.
• Conduct market research, supply-and-demand analysis, benchmarking, pricing studies, and asset-class assessments to support project positioning and development decisions.
• Prepare and review feasibility studies, financial models, development cash flows, investment returns, and sensitivity analyses to assess project viability and key value drivers.
• Coordinate project concept development with Design, Projects, Commercial, Finance, and relevant functions, ensuring concepts remain aligned with approved business plans and market requirements.
• Identify and recommend value-enhancement and value-engineering opportunities that improve project viability without compromising approved quality, positioning, or development objectives.
• Coordinate consultant scopes, selection, appointment, briefing, and performance monitoring in collaboration with Procurement, Commercial, Design, and Projects teams.
• Monitor consultant deliverables against approved scope, programme, budget, and quality requirements and address or escalate performance issues where required.
• Coordinate internal and external approvals required for assigned projects, including relevant government, regulatory, and authority requirements.
• Monitor project development performance against approved scope, programme, budget, quality, and business-plan objectives, highlighting material deviations and emerging risks.
• Coordinate mitigation actions for identified development, commercial, financial, programme, regulatory, and delivery risks with relevant stakeholders.
• Act as the development coordination interface across Projects, Design, Land, Asset Management, Hospitality, Commercial, Finance, Legal, Procurement, and Business Excellence.
• Coordinate development-related requirements with consultants, developers, operators, partners, investors, funds, government entities, and other external stakeholders.
• Ensure appropriate consideration of regulatory compliance, quality, safety, sustainability, and operational requirements throughout the development process.
• Prepare management reports, development updates, business cases, and recommendations to support project reviews and decision-making.

KEY TECHNICAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

COMMUNICATIONS & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal:
Director of Real Estate Development, Projects, Design, Land, Asset Management, Hospitality, Commercial, Finance, Legal, Procurement, Business Excellence, and Project Management.

External:
Government and regulatory authorities, consultants, specialist advisors, developers, partners, investors and funds, hotel operators, contractors, and other relevant project stakeholders.

WORK SETTING & DECISION AUTHORITY

Operates across multiple development projects and asset classes involving commercial, financial, technical, regulatory, and stakeholder considerations.

Manages day-to-day development activities within approved business plans, budgets, policies, and delegated authority. Recommends development options, risk responses, and value-enhancement actions, while escalating material changes to approved scope, budget, programme, investment assumptions, or development strategy to the Director of Real Estate Development.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Prepares and monitors project feasibility studies, financial models, development budgets, cash flows, and investment returns for assigned projects. Identifies financial variances and recommends corrective or value-enhancement actions within approved governance and delegated authority.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Qualifications and Experience (Essential):

• Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, or a related discipline.
• 5–7 years of relevant experience in real estate development, development management, or a related field.
• Experience across key stages of the development lifecycle, including feasibility, concept development, design, approvals, and delivery.
• Good knowledge of UAE real estate development practices, market dynamics, regulatory requirements, and approval processes.
• Strong capability in feasibility assessment, financial modelling, market analysis, project budgeting, and commercial evaluation.
• Strong analytical, planning, stakeholder-management, problem-solving, presentation, and communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and relevant reporting and analytical tools.

Desirable:

• Master’s degree in Real Estate, Finance, Development, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Experience with a UAE-based real estate developer or development-management organization.
• Exposure to residential, commercial, hospitality, or mixed-use developments.
• Working knowledge of Power BI and development reporting tools.