Development Manager

Job description / Role

Purpose: To work as part of the Development Team, reporting to the Head of Development, responsible for a number of single asset and mixed use development projects that are integral to the wider urban master plan of a major development.

Based in the project offices in Dubai, the role will require close working relationships with the internal Investment, Project Management and Design teams as well as external investors, operators and third party developers.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

Research, brief creation and initial feasibility
- Briefing and management of consultants and the dissemination and interpretation of market research, market intelligence and consumer research
- Writing of a Development Briefs and Strategies establishing market opportunity, project positioning, design requirements and business plan.
- Assist in determining cost and revenue parameters and provide inputs into the financial modeling to establish initial commercial feasibilities
- Determine infrastructure and utility requirements and manage the interfaces with the overall master plan and phasing assumptions
- Full responsibility for the accurate reporting of project details, timings and commercial assumptions

Stakeholders and partners
- Define the marketing and communication requirements and manage the production of marketing collateral and Investment Memoranda in order to promote development projects to partners, investors and lenders
- Manage the day to day relationship with external third parties
- Assist in establishing development strategies and deal structuring
- Input into the relevant legal activity relating to creation of Development Companies, funding and land transfer
- Assist in the governance of Project Companies formed for the purposes of developing projects.

Development appraisals, commercial management, finance and funding
- Working with the Investment Team, ensure that the financial appraisal reflects latest design and project assumptions and that financial metrics accurate and robust
- Prepare project estimates (time and cost) using appropriate outsourced consultants and keep up to date project cost budgets, forecasts, commitments and expenditure ensuring continuous communication and data sharing with the Finance Team
- Support the Investment Team with discussions and agreement sin respect of project funding

Design, planning and approvals
- Assembly of appropriate project design teams and develop concept design proposals in response to Development Briefs and aligned with financial appraisals
- Manage design competitions and the production of pre-concept vignettes where appropriate
- Management of the design process, in collaboration with outsourced project managers, to ensure continuous focus on time, value and quality
- Oversee and coordinate the preparation of planning and municipality submissions and manage the approval process

Revenue creation
- Assist in the marketing and promotion of projects ensuring alignment with Develop Briefs and project positioning
- Assist in the establishment of leasing and sales strategies as appropriate and manage the associated day to day activities
- Undertake preparatory work, due diligence and briefings, and participate in negotiations with potential tenants and owners
- Establish operational and asset management strategies

Project Delivery
- Support the Delivery Team in establishing procurement strategies
- Ensure the design is developed accurately and sufficiently to procure the building contracts in line with the procurement strategy
- In conjunction with the Delivery Team, monitor construction activities to ensure project progress and on time completion
- Ensure Project stakeholders are appropriately appraised of development progress and financial feasibilities
- Plan and manage the project completion and handover to the asset owner / operator

Requirements

- Understanding of the principles established through master planning of a large scale urban precinct and the value created through synergies of mixed use development
- Appreciation of the distinction between Master Developer’s and Project Developer’s objectives, priorities and commercial drivers
- Ability to prepare accurate, concise and relevant reporting at project and master developer levels
- Natural at building internal relationships with colleagues and consultant team members to positively contribute to the work environment and team dynamic
- Continuous awareness of market conditions, legislation and business influences
- Seeks to innovate and evolve product positioning, design and delivery in order to maximize value to overall project and the company
- Willingness to adopt the implementation of sophisticated Programme and Project Management software tools
- Personal commitment to the promotion of highest standards of Sustainable Development, ‘Smart City’ technologies and Health and Safety

Ideal profile and personal characteristics:
- Young, likable, bright, enthusiastic individual with around 5 years of real estate development management experience in residential, office or mixed use development in mature markets
- Educated to degree level with an appreciation of creativity, innovation and design
- Well-travelled and perceptive of environments, behaviors and experiences
- Lateral thinker who is inquisitive, open to new ideas and eager to learn
- Entrepreneurial and commercial on one hand combined with clarity of thought and attention to detail on the other.
- Innate business acumen
- Strong, articulate communicator, both written and orally, who can be a credible ambassador for the project both internally as well as with external partners and investors.
- Someone who thrives in a fast paced environment, is self-motivated and who can prioritize and execute tasks with little oversight or management
- Someone who can recognizes the career opportunity presented by the project and the existing team

About the Company

Consisting only of Director level personnel, each with over 12 years' experience of working within the Gulf Region, we aim to alleviate all the issues and frustrations traditionally associated with using a Resourcing or external HR service. Each client and candidate is handpicked and dealt with by a Director personally thus ensuring that all parties get the level of service they expect. to: Consisting only of Director level personnel, each with over 12 years' experience of working within the Gulf Region, we aim to alleviate all the issues and frustrations traditionally associated with using a Resourcing or external HR service. Each client and candidate is handpicked and dealt with by a Director personally thus ensuring that all parties get the level of service they expect.