About the Role
Join a dynamic team and play a pivotal role in one of the most ambitious and game-changing development projects of our time. As the Director of Development, you will implement various development tasks within the City-Wide development, requiring integration of roads, transport, dry utilities, wet utilities, district cooling, security, hydrology, environment, and landscape to bring this vision to life.
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This high-impact role offers an opportunity to shape the future of urban development in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. You will oversee the entire process from planning to project handover to operation stage, ensuring that regional entities’ requirements are incorporated without impacting development objectives. These entities include utilities authorities, service providers, municipal authorities, surveying authorities, civic services, and planning authorities. You will encourage your team to innovate and escalate concerns to leadership to resolve roadblocks, while ensuring effective communication across diverse teams.
Key Responsibilities
1. Key Development Functions
- Fully comprehend the development processes, governance procedures, and procurement policies to support daily development activities.
- Extract key development parameters from strategy briefs, local laws, environmental constraints, and future proofing of the area of interest.
- Transcribe utilities operators’ and local authorities’ requirements into development briefs in line with the approved processes.
- Prepare governance approval presentations for various governance bodies and coordinate any needed materials with reporting departments.
- Develop procurement strategies in coordination with shared services units to meet development objectives and budgets.
- Evaluate land use proposals for alignment with City policies and assess impacts of proposed changes.
- Manage the interfaces, updates, and refinements to the framework plan and designs alongside internal teams and consultants.
2. Stakeholder Coordination
- Liaise between the district master developer, architects, engineers, governmental ministries, and community stakeholders.
- Coordinate regulatory approvals with the development build program and maintain relationships with all internal stakeholders.
- Build strong relationships with governmental agencies and community leaders, facilitating the construction of infrastructure in line with asset schedules.
3. Project Planning and Assessment
- Evaluate proposed infrastructure assets and public realm requirements to satisfy development needs and assess construction sequencing.
- Provide input into project budgeting and program development, ensuring compliance with approval processes.
- Participate in drafting project agreements and reviewing design changes to ensure they reflect the City’s requirements.
- Identify risks and develop mitigation plans for project execution, ensuring an efficient team structure for project delivery.
4. Interface with Project Teams
- Support and direct project teams, ensuring effective coordination and communication.
- Monitor project progress and report updates to management while conducting regular site inspections for compliance.
- Manage disputes and issues, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
5. Process Management
- Monitor approval processes, resolve delays, and maintain accurate records.
- Draft scopes of work for consultancy expertise as needed and conduct project reporting to leadership.
- Prepare and deliver executive presentations on project progress.
6. Policy Understanding and Advocacy
- Stay informed about changes in regulations and advocate for project approvals.
- Enforce a culture of safety and quality throughout project execution.
Requirements
Educational Background
Experience
- A minimum of 15+ years of relevant experience in development projects.
- Proven track record of securing permits for large-scale developments and familiarity with theming and façade installation.
- Experience in land use planning, permitting, and compliance within large-scale projects, with at least 3 years in similar roles.
- Private sector development experience is highly desirable.
Technical Skills
- Strong understanding of master planning, land development, and stakeholder management.
- Familiarity with GIS tools, CAD software, and environmental impact analysis.
- Knowledge of zoning laws and regulatory frameworks (ideally within GCC).
Soft Skills
- Superior stakeholder management skills and ability to navigate political landscapes.
- Strong leadership, analytical, and problem-solving abilities with exceptional negotiation and interpersonal skills.
- Willingness to work in a fast-paced environment and ability to adapt to changing priorities.
- Capable of influencing decision-makers through effective presentations.
