Director - Development

Job Purpose

• Oversee the development of feasibility studies on land, residential, retail, and mixed-use assets.

• Oversee the Operations and Commercial issues for own on-going development portfolio.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Oversee all business development activities:

1. Develop DM portfolio strategy (including sub-segment mix) in conjunction with Partnerships & Investments.
2. Support in sourcing new investment with third parties (e.g., JVs, project finance, etc.) in conjunction with Partnerships & Investments.
3. Liaise regularly with the different functions to gather data on potential new development opportunities.

• Supervise and manage the development and prioritization of a pipeline of potential new developments on land bank to recommend feasibility studies on specific projects for own development:

1. Identify a long-list of potential opportunities.
2. Develop a framework for preliminary prioritization / screening.

• Oversee the development of feasibility study for residential, retail, and mixed-use assets:

1. Recommend project cost in coordination with Project Management.
2. Recommend and challenge financial model & feasibility studies developed by direct reports.
3. Liaise with Partnerships & Investments and other relevant functions on the feasibility study.

• Take the final decision on critical tradeoffs with the project management:

1. Develop a design brief and share it with project management.
2. Decide on detailed designs developed by architects, ensure alignment with concept design.
3. Decide on detailed project costs based on Procurement and Project Management input.
4. Decide on the approved list of contractors/consultants based on Procurement’s recommendation.
5. Decide on the project schedule, anticipate and resolve possible roadblocks to completion of construction to ensure on-time project delivery.

• Review master plan and detailed master plan submittals by the internal team and consultants.

• Ensure key procurement contract variations arising from differences in project design raising major issues to related policies are addressed.

• Ensure the provision of constant progress updates and monthly written reports on construction progress, major issues or conflicts, and anticipated roadblocks whenever appropriate.

• Decide on refined commercial strategy based on the recommendation from Commercial prior to delivery and for Dhold & Dsell.

• Decide on the marketing strategy for land, residential, retail, and mixed-use and commercial assets (e.g., marketing calendar, branding, etc.).

• Decide on PM and FM strategy, ensure proper handover and coordination with asset management on the transfer of ownership of projects once the delivery phase is completed.

Qualifications & Experience

• Min of 16+ years of development management experience in managing major developments of large real estate assets of at least AED 100 million in value
• Min of 6+ years in a managerial position heading a development arm in a real estate/development entity
• Field of Experience: Real estate/development

Technical and Interpersonal Skills

• Strong knowledge and exposure to the GCC real estate market with large master developers with annual revenue of at least AED 3 billion
• Strong understanding of delivery and commercial activities over the years in leading projects through the different phases of asset development
• Solid understanding of contract procurement policies and procedures gained in managing the Procurement function directly or indirectly in the GCC real estate industry
• Excellent project management skills to manage multiple tasks across functions for cost-effective and timely development of the property per the development brief

Qualification

• Bachelor's degree in architecture, engineering, business, or economics
• MBA preferred