Position: Development Director
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Salary: £200,000 (Tax Free)
Start date As Soon As Possible - Please only apply if you have 1 month notice.
Overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an accomplished Development Director to join a high-profile urban regeneration initiative based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
This role is ideally suited to a senior development executive with extensive international experience in large-scale, mixed-use real estate projects, including brownfield development, residential, commercial, hospitality, education, and infrastructure.
The Development Director will be responsible for setting strategic direction, overseeing execution, and ensuring commercial success while aligning with broader socio-economic and placemaking goals. The successful candidate will work closely with public sector entities, sovereign investors, and global development partner.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic & Financial Leadership
Define and drive the vision, strategy, and market positioning for major real estate assets within a transformative urban development program
Lead the creation of financial models and business cases, ensuring strong investment returns (NPV, IRR) and capital efficiency.
Develop pricing strategies, operator models, and market-entry approaches across various asset classes.
Translate masterplans into actionable development strategies, covering phasing, partnerships, and investment positioning.
Project & Stakeholder Coordination
Structure and negotiate agreements (MoUs, PPPs, JVs) with local and international developers.
Engage directly with senior stakeholders across government, investment funds, and the private sector to align development plans with national objectives.
Facilitate strategic workshops, design reviews, and briefings to support program alignment and timely delivery.
Portfolio & Risk Management
Oversee a diverse regeneration portfolio balancing short-term financial goals with long-term urban and social value creation.
Monitor market trends and adapt development strategies accordingly.
Identify risks across design, delivery, and financial assumptions, implementing mitigation strategies proactively.
Leadership & Team Development
Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership, presenting insights and recommendations.
Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary development team, including analysts, consultants, and project managers.
Cultivate collaboration across consultants, contractors, and external stakeholders to ensure successful execution.
Qualifications & Experience
15-20+ years of international experience in large-scale real estate development and regeneration projects.
Strong background in Western markets (e.g., North America, Europe), with a track record of adapting global best practices to new markets.
Proven leadership in delivering high-value developments, including structuring and closing complex deals.
Experience working with or alongside sovereign wealth funds or large institutional investors.
Deep expertise in financial modelling, investment analysis, and scenario planning.
Familiarity with PPPs, JVs, and innovative development deal structures.
Relevant professional certifications (e.g., MRICS, RICS, MBA) are highly regarded.
Key Skills
Strategic development leadership and portfolio oversight.
Advanced financial modelling and investment planning.
Strong transactional and structuring knowledge (phasing, operator models, deal frameworks).
High-level stakeholder engagement and government relations.
Strong risk management, communication, and negotiation capabilities.
Deep understanding of both international development standards and the Saudi/GCC market context.
What's on Offer
Attractive Compensation: Senior leadership remuneration aligned with international benchmarks.
Strategic Influence: Opportunity to contribute to one of the Middle East's most ambitious urban transformation programs.
High-Profile Engagement: Direct collaboration with senior government and investment stakeholders.
Career Advancement: Long-term growth opportunities within a sovereign-backed development initiative.
Aldwych Consulting values diversity and promotes equality. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any of the protected characteristics that fall under the Equality Act 2010. We encourage and welcome applications from all sections of society and are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and/or additional arrangements as required to support your application.
Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.
For the purposes of the Conduct Regulations 2003, when advertising permanent vacancies we are acting as an Employment Agency, and when advertising temporary/contract vacancies we are acting as an Employment Business.
