About:
Alef Group is a pioneer in developing premier lifestyle communities, destinations, and experiences through investment and strategic joint ventures. We are seeking a strategic, highly analytical Director - Growth to shape the company's growth agenda, unlock new opportunities, and strengthen market positioning to drive sustainable success.
Job Purpose:
The Director - Growth will lead the real estate development strategy execution by conducting market intelligence, highest & best use studies, feasibility analysis, and investment decision support for the company's real estate development portfolio. Moreover, the role will entail assessing investment and divestment opportunities in real estate and drive financial performance and strategic growth by analyzing, acquiring, and managing property portfolios. This role plays a critical strategic function in guiding land acquisition, master planning, development mix, phasing, pricing, and investment performance across residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, and mixed-use assets.
Key Accountabilities:
Overall Summary:
- Lead macro and micro market research across all asset classes.
- Analyse demand & supply, absorption rates, pricing benchmarks, vacancy trends, and buyer/tenant profiling.
- Lead feasibility studies, HBU analysis, and sensitivity testing.
- Support development strategy, master planning, and concept positioning.
- Support investment committee and board-level decisions.
- Lead acquisition and JV commercial due diligence.
- Manage external research consultants, valuers, and brokers.
- Prepare market outlook dashboards and investment memorandums.
- Ensure data accuracy and governance of feasibility outputs.
Market Research & Intelligence
- Lead and conduct macro and micro market research across all asset classes: residential, retail, office, mixed-use, hospitality, industrial, and special economic zones.
- Analyse demand & supply, absorption rates, pricing & rental benchmarks, occupancy trends, buyer & tenant profiling
- Track economic, demographic, regulatory, and investor trends affecting real estate.
- Build and maintain a market intelligence database for continuous decision support.
Feasibility Studies & Financial Viability
- Lead and conduct highest and best use (HBU) studies for land and redevelopment opportunities.
- Prepare and validate:
- Development feasibility studies
- Financial models (revenues, construction cost, IRR, NPV, margins)
- Sensitivity analysis
- Scenario testing
- Work closely with the following departments to ensure fully aligned feasibility outputs
- Development
- Delivery
- Design
- Finance
- Leasing
- Strategy.
Development Strategy Support
- Advise management on:
- Optimal land use mix
- Phasing strategies
- Product typologies
- Target segments
- Support investment committee decisions, business plans, and board presentations.
- Participate in master planning, concept positioning, and branding strategies from a market-driven perspective
Investment & Acquisition Due Diligence
- Originate and execute real estate investment deals aligned with the firm's strategy.
- Secure financing sources and structure debt for assets
- Analyse financial information and forecast industry and economic conditions
- Lead and conduct market and commercial due diligence for:
- New land acquisitions
- Joint ventures
- Strategic investments
- Assess:
- Market risk
- Sales velocity risk
- Pricing sustainability
- Exit strategies
Reporting, Dashboards & Governance
- Prepare:
- Quarterly market outlook reports
- Investment memorandums
- Internal feasibility approvals
- Develop standardized feasibility and market reporting frameworks.
- Ensure full governance, auditability, and accuracy of all market data used in corporate decisions
Stakeholder & Consultant Management
- Manage relationships with:
- Research houses
- Valuers
- Brokers
- Feasibility consultants
- Review, validate, and challenge third-party reports.
- Ensure consistency and reliability across all external studies
Educational Qualifications, Work Experience, and Skills Required:
Educational Qualification & Certifications:
- Must have a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Real Estate, Finance, Economics, Engineering, or equivalent.
- Master's Degree in Strategy, Finance, or Real Estate Development is preferred.
Work Experience:
- Must have a minimum of 15+ years of total professional experience, including significant exposure to the real estate development industry.
- At least 812 years of direct experience within real estate development, property development, or real estate investment organizations, preferably in the UAE or GCC region.
- Minimum of 4 years in senior leadership, strategic, commercial, or growth-focused roles, with demonstrated responsibility for business expansion and revenue growth.
- Proven experience across the full real estate development lifecycle, including market research, feasibility studies, product positioning, project launches, sales strategy, and commercialization.
Skills required:
- Financial feasibility modelling on Excel, running all BLT, BTS, BTO models
- Expertise in structuring deals such as JV
- Market research on primary and secondary basis
- Executive stakeholder management
At Alef Group, we encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for positions that match their skills and capabilities.
