Senior Manager - Strategic Development

Role Overview

Senior Manager - Strategic Development at AD Ports Group. The role leads multiple medium to large-scale strategic and complex development projects from inception to completion across real estate sectors in the UAE.

Role Purpose

Oversee the end-to-end development process of assigned real estate projects, ensuring timely delivery within budget and quality standards while aligning with the strategic goals of the organization. Lead cross-functional teams and stakeholders to achieve required project outcomes across industrial, residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, master planning, infrastructure, landscaping and public realm sectors.

Key Responsibilities

Project Development & Strategy

• Develop and manage project Development Briefs, Timelines, Budgets and risk assessments that define the project's strategy and business plan.
• Develop business cases, feasibility studies, and financial models for all assigned real estate project opportunities, including single or multiple properties and complex projects across various project lifecycle stages.
• Define general outlines for the project's desired design standards and solutions in coordination with Design teams to ensure design delivery aligns with the asset development plan.
• Oversee and review technical feasibility studies, including economic impact analysis and estimated required capital and operating costs for each development concept.
• Ensure regular updates of feasibility studies and financial models as projects evolve through development phases.
• Manage, monitor, and control the development process from inception to completion to ensure timely delivery within established parameters.

Approvals & Governance

• Seek approvals from Director of Development to progress projects on the basis of initial business plan.

Financial Management

• Monitor development budgets against projected and actual costs.
• Communicate updated financial projections to concerned stakeholders as needed.
• Assist Senior Management in preparing the department budget and monitor financial performance versus budget for designated projects to identify areas of unsatisfactory performance.
• Identify and capitalize upon potential areas of cost reduction or performance improvement opportunities.

Stakeholder & Consultant Management

• Collaborate and coordinate with multi-disciplinary internal and external consultants and stakeholders to achieve required project outcomes.
• Coordinate with internal departments including Commercial, procurement, design, delivery, sales, marketing and finance to align project goals and initial costs, detailed budgets and schedules for feasibility updates.
• Engage with external consultants, contractors and regulatory authorities for project execution.
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including critical government agencies.
• Assist in selection, negotiation, appointment and ongoing management of consultants and service providers.
• Manage consultants with clear design-to-budget strategy.
• Negotiate Heads of Terms for sale, purchase and lease agreements with all third-party entities in collaboration with internal sales, leasing and legal departments.

Project Monitoring

• Monitor the design and project deliverables, program and risk register.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Finance, Architecture or Urban Design or equivalent.
• Minimum 7 years of working knowledge and understanding of real estate development processes, from acquisition to project delivery in a Real Estate Developer environment.
• Real estate development experience in UAE, preferably in Abu Dhabi.

Skills & Competencies

• English language proficiency (Arabic is a plus).
• Technical expertise in real estate development across industrial, residential, commercial office, retail and hospitality sectors.
• Expertise in master planning, infrastructure, landscaping and public realm development.