Director of Development

Job Purpose

The Development Director will lead and oversee the full lifecycle of a new luxury real-estate development projects—from initial concept, feasibility, and design leadership through permitting, execution oversight, and handover. The role ensures projects are delivered to the highest luxury standards, within approved budgets and schedules, and in alignment with the company’s strategic, financial, and brand objectives.

Key Accountabilities:

1. Strategic Development Leadership

• Lead the preparation of development strategies, master plans, and project visioning aligned with the company’s luxury positioning.
• Oversee feasibility studies, financial modeling, and due diligence for land acquisition and new development opportunities.
• Define project phasing, development briefs, and business cases for executive approval.

2. Design Direction & Management

• Provide leadership to internal design teams and external consultants, ensuring world-class, luxury-focused design solutions.
• Approve design packages and ensure alignment with brand standards, development objectives, and financial parameters.
• Drive the value engineering process without compromising luxury experience and design integrity.

3. Permits, Compliance & Regulatory Strategy

• Oversee the entire planning and regulatory approvals process, maintaining strong relationships with authorities and government bodies.
• Ensure timely acquisition of all permits, NOCs, and regulatory clearances to safeguard project schedules.
• Guarantee full compliance with authority requirements, zoning regulations, sustainability standards, and project programs.

4. Cross-Functional Leadership & Internal Coordination

• Work closely with Project Management, Commercial, Procurement, Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Legal to ensure smooth project progression.
• Provide clear direction, resolve cross-functional issues, and ensure alignment across departments and stakeholders.
• Lead steering committees, manage executive reporting, and escalate risks or decisions as required.

5. Budget, Financial Oversight & Cost Governance

• Lead the preparation of development budgets, financial projections, and investment memos.
• Monitor cost plans, variations, value engineering, procurement strategies, and contract negotiations to safeguard project margins.
• Ensure development decisions continuously support financial performance targets.

6. Reporting, Governance & Documentation

• Oversee comprehensive monthly reporting on cost, schedule, design progress, risks, and key decisions.
• Maintain rigorous documentation, version control, and governance across all development deliverables.
• Present project status, risks, and recommendations to executive leadership and boards as required.

Qualifications, Experiences, Core Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Urban Planning, Business, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 15–20 years of experience in real estate development, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership or director-level role.
• Proven track record delivering large-scale luxury residential, mixed-use, hospitality, or ultra-premium developments.
• Deep understanding of design processes, authority regulations, development financials, and construction interfaces.
• Strong strategic planning, leadership, and decision-making capabilities.
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and negotiation skills.
• Highly proficient in MS Office, Excel, and development/project management platforms.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to evaluate financial models and investment scenarios.
• Detail-oriented, proactive, and capable of managing multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Inspirational leader with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and motivate high-performance teams.