Senior Manager - Development

Established in 2004, Dubai Holding is a global investment company with investments in more than 34 countries and a combined workforce of nearly 45,000 individuals. In line with the vision of Dubai’s leadership and economic diversification strategy, Dubai Holding companies have nurtured sectors, irrevocably transforming Dubai’s socio-economic landscape and positioning Dubai as a diversified, globally integrated economy.

Dubai Holding is committed to the diversification of Dubai’s non-oil economy. Our portfolio, valued at over AED 284+billion, spans 10 sectors, including real estate, hospitality, leisure & entertainment, ICT, design, education, media, retail, manufacturing & logistics, and science.

Dubai Holding is looking to hire a Senior Manager – Development reporting to the Director – Development for its business company Dubai Holding Land Estates. The job holder is responsible for supporting the strategic planning, design, and execution of large-scale master-planned communities and mixed-use developments. This role will ensure the developments are designed to the highest technical standards, achieve their key business objectives, while realizing Dubai Holding’s vision for sustainable, world-class destinations. The job holder will work closely with internal and external stakeholders across a range of strategic and technical matters.

Key Accountabilities:

Strategy & Business Planning

• Support the definition of the master development strategy for large-scale land projects in alignment with Dubai Holding’s objectives.
• Conduct market research and feasibility studies to identify development opportunities and ensure project viability.
• Define key aspects of the rollout plan and land disposition strategy for master communities, balancing funding, product type release, built-to-sell and land to-sell assets, absorption, cashflow management and other logistical considerations.
• Engage with third-party investors, developers, and institutional partners on strategic asset transactions, joint ventures, and land sales within Dubai Holding’s portfolio.
• Provide key inputs to financial models and investment strategies.
• Prepare and present business cases, budget forecasts and risk analyses to senior leadership.

Development & Design Management

• Serve as the focal point for master planning coordination, ensuring integration between various technical and development teams, including urban design, civil engineering, infrastructure, and transportation.
• Conduct design reviews and suggest refinements to improve project efficiency, functionality, and commercial viability while ensuring adherence to the framework level master plan vision and quality benchmarks.
• Coordinate with key real estate stakeholders, including the Projects / Delivery team, the Residential Development team, Sales and Marketing, along with other Dubai Holding stakeholders in hospitality, commercial and retail sectors.
• Implement rigorous design reviews and value engineering exercises to refine design concepts, optimize project costs, and enhance functionality, ensuring seamless integration of infrastructure, landscape, and vertical components while maintaining the commercial integrity of the development.
• Oversee the coordination between vertical and horizontal assets, ensuring integration of infrastructure works (roads, utilities, marine, and landscape), plot configurations, and public realm design to achieve a cohesive built environment.
• Ensure all technical requirements for civil, structural, and MEP disciplines are comprehensively addressed and integrated into the development strategy, maintaining alignment with the approved master plan.

Legacy Issues Management & Stakeholder Liaison

• Prepare detailed assessments and action plans for addressing legacy issues, encompassing site constraints, environmental remediation, unresolved land use matters, and technical discrepancies.
• Engage with internal stakeholders, to align on the resolution of legacy challenges and ensure cost-effective solutions.
• Collaborate closely with external consultants, contractors, and technical advisors to address complex legacy matters, leveraging their expertise to inform strategic decisions.

Development Reporting

• Prepare high-quality executive presentations on key development issues, rollout planning, and strategic options, ensuring that complex topics are communicated clearly and concisely to senior management.
• Develop robust reporting frameworks to track progress on issue resolution, master plan alignment, and critical development milestones.
• Lead the preparation of scenario analyses and optioneering reports, providing insights into potential development pathways and their respective cost, time, and risk implications.
• Present findings and recommendations to executive leadership, facilitating informed decision-making on critical development topics.

Who we are looking for:

• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in real estate development, with a focus on complex master planning, infrastructure coordination, and project management.
• Proven experience in managing multi-phase development projects within a high-stakes environment, with an emphasis on technical problem-solving and strategic issue resolution.
• Strong understanding of UAE regulatory frameworks, master planning principles, and infrastructure planning standards.

Education / Professional Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, civil engineering, architecture, or a related field.
• A master’s degree or certification in real estate is preferred.

Technical Competencies:

• Expertise in master planning coordination, infrastructure integration, and land development strategies.
• Proficiency in development feasibility analysis, and project optioneering.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and provide strategic recommendations.
• Deep knowledge of transportation planning, utility design, and land use optimization.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Strategic Thinking
• Complex Problem Solving
• Strong Communication skills & Stakeholder Management
• Leadership

As much as we would be delighted to entertain all applicants, due to the high volumes of applications, only successful applicants will be contacted within 14 business days.

This job description is not all inclusive. Dubai Holding reserves the right to amend this job description at any time. Dubai Holding is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment.