Director of Development

Sphere recruitment is working with a leading regional real estate investment fund to expand and strengthen its growing development arm.

As part of this growth the company is seeking a Development Director to lead end‑to‑end delivery of large, mixed‑use projects and masterplan across the Eastern Province. This role will own the full development lifecycle vision, feasibility, approvals, design management, procurement, and execution—driving commercial outcomes and on‑time, on‑budget delivery.

Key responsibilities

• Define development vision, business plans, and KPIs (IRR, ROI, NPV, absorption, cash flow).
• Lead market/financial feasibility, highest-and-best-use, and product strategy.
• Oversee master planning, concept/schematic design, value engineering, and design reviews.
• Manage entitlement/permits with authorities; ensure compliance with KSA codes and ESG goals.
• Structure and negotiate JV/land deals, operator and brand agreements (retail, hospitality, residential).
• Build and manage development schedules and budgets; chair stage gates.
• Coordinate procurement strategies (EPC/DB/CM), tendering, and contract awards with Legal.
• Interface with PMO, cost, and construction to safeguard scope, quality, time, and cost.
• Lead lenders’/investors’ reporting; support capitalization and exits.
• Manage consultants and internal teams; mentor talent and embed governance.
• De‑risk delivery through risk registers, mitigation plans, and stakeholder management.

Qualifications

• 12–15+ years in real estate development, with at least 5 years leading large mixed‑use or district‑scale assets.
• Proven delivery in KSA or GCC; strong understanding of regional regulatory processes.
• Track record taking projects from feasibility to handover; P&L ownership.
• Degree in Real Estate, Engineering, Architecture, Urban Planning, Finance, or similar; MBA/RICS/PMI a plus.
• Strong financial modeling and investment appraisal; contracts and procurement expertise.
• Excellent stakeholder management; fluent English required, Arabic preferred.