Senior Development Manager

Sphere recruitment is working with a leading private real estate development and investment firm based in Riyadh with a diversified portfolio exceeding USD 3bn in GDV across mixed-use, residential, hospitality, and commercial assets. The client is developing their own, and operate landmark projects that advance Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 through high-quality, sustainable places.

We are seeking a Senior Development Manager to lead full lifecycle delivery of complex, high‑value developments from origination through handover and stabilization. You will drive feasibility, capital structuring, design, approvals, procurement, construction oversight, and commercialization while managing internal and external stakeholders to achieve commercial, schedule, quality, and ESG targets.

Key Responsibilities

• Origination & Feasibility
• Build investment cases, business plans, and masterplans; lead market studies, highest-and-best-use analysis, and financial models (IRR, NPV, sensitivity/scenario analysis).
• Prepare and present IC papers; secure internal approvals.
• Support debt/equity fundraising; manage lender/partner due diligence and covenants.
• Design & Approvals
• Commission and manage architects, engineers, cost consultants, and specialists; run design competitions and value engineering.
• Navigate Saudi planning and permitting processes; ensure compliance with SBC and relevant regulations.
• Procurement & Delivery
• Define procurement strategies (traditional, D&B, EPC, PPP); oversee tendering, contract awards, and change control.
• Manage construction progress, cost, risk, and quality; resolve claims and interface issues; drive program recovery where needed.
• Commercialization & Asset Handover
• Oversee leasing/branding, operator selection, and pre-opening plans for income-producing assets.
• Coordinate testing, commissioning, handover, and transition to asset management.
• Governance & Stakeholder Management
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams; manage consultants, contractors, operators, and government interfaces.
• Report on KPIs (GDV, profit, budget variance, schedule, leasing velocity, ESG, HSE); maintain robust risk registers and mitigation plans.
• Placemaking, ESG, and Digital
• Champion customer-centric design, sustainability targets, and smart building solutions.
• Embed lifecycle costing, energy performance, and community impact metrics.

Qualifications

• 10–15+ years of end-to-end real estate development experience with Tier‑1 developers, funds, or family offices; proven delivery of large-scale projects (>USD 200m GDV per asset).
• Strong financial acumen with advanced Excel/financial modeling and IC presentation skills.
• Deep understanding of KSA development ecosystem: planning/permitting, land titling, SBC, and relevant authorities/processes.
• Track record managing complex consultant/contractor teams and delivering on time and on budget.
• Excellent negotiation and contract administration skills (FIDIC or similar).
• Degree in Engineering, Architecture, Real Estate, Finance, or related field; MBA/MSc preferred.
• Professional credentials a plus (RICS, PMP, CFA, LEED/WELL/BREEAM).
• Fluency in English and Arabic