Chief Development Officer
Skills
About This Role
Overview
Our client is an established and well-capitalised real estate developer with a growing development pipeline across residential and mixed-use in the UAE.
As part of the next phase of growth, they are seeking to appoint a
Chief Development Officer (CDO)
to sit at executive level and take full ownership of the development function.
This is a senior leadership role with end-to-end responsibility for the origination, feasibility, execution and delivery of major real estate projects, working closely with the CEO, Board and investment stakeholders.
The Role
The Chief Development Officer will be responsible for setting and executing the development strategy across the business.
This includes identifying new opportunities, managing the development pipeline and ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget and in line with commercial objectives.
Key responsibilities
- will include:
- Leading the full development lifecycle from site acquisition and feasibility through to completion and handover
- Shaping and executing the company’s medium and long-term development strategy
- Overseeing masterplanning, design development, authority approvals and procurement strategy
- Managing internal development teams alongside external consultants, architects and contractors
- Working collaboratively with investment, finance, sales and asset management functions
- Providing commercial oversight, risk management and programme governance at Board level
- Representing the business with government authorities, JV partners and key stakeholders
The Candidate
- This role will suit a highly credible development professional with a strong track record in the UAE or wider GCC market.
- You are likely to have:
- 15+ years’ experience in real estate development, with significant exposure at senior or executive level
- A proven track record delivering large-scale residential or mixed-use schemes in the UAE
- Strong commercial judgement across feasibility, funding structures, procurement and risk
- Experience managing complex stakeholder groups including authorities, partners and investors
- The ability to operate strategically while remaining closely involved in execution
- Natural authority, sound decision-making and the ability to lead at Board level
- Arabic language skills are advantageous but not essential.
Why Join
This is a rare opportunity to join a developer at a genuine inflection point, with the mandate, capital backing and autonomy to shape a long-term development platform in the UAE.
The role offers executive-level influence, exposure to landmark projects and a clear route to long-term value creation.
A highly competitive executive compensation package will be offered, reflecting the seniority and scope of the role.
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