About the Role
A major destination developer in Saudi Arabia is seeking experienced Saudi National residential development leaders to support the significant growth of its large-scale residential portfolio. This is a client-side development role offering real influence over product strategy, positioning, feasibility, and overall development direction. The portfolio encompasses a diverse range of residential typologies, including villas, townhouses, apartments, and expansive residential communities, all integral to one of the Kingdom's most ambitious long-term development programs.
This position is focused on the early and mid-development stages of projects. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in shaping projects from the initial development brief, through feasibility studies, product definition, design management, obtaining approvals, defining procurement strategies, and ensuring delivery readiness. This is not a pure project management, design, or construction delivery role; it demands a true developer's mindset, characterized by commercial awareness, the ability to challenge assumptions, and a balanced approach to market demand, product strategy, design quality, cost, program, governance, and long-term value creation.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead residential development projects from the feasibility stage through to delivery readiness.
- Shape product strategy, define unit mix, determine phasing, and develop comprehensive project briefs.
- Drive feasibility studies, business planning, and commercial optimization initiatives.
- Manage the design development process, coordinate with consultants, secure approvals, and define procurement strategies.
- Represent the business effectively in senior stakeholder discussions.
- Balance market positioning, design quality, cost considerations, program timelines, and overall profitability.
- Support the enhancement of development processes across the entire portfolio.
- Ensure all projects are commercially sound and adequately prepared for successful delivery.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Extensive client-side residential development experience is essential.
- Demonstrated experience across various residential typologies, including villas, townhouses, apartments, mixed residential communities, or large-scale residential masterplans.
- Proven capability in conducting feasibility studies, defining product strategies, managing design processes, making sound commercial decisions, and coordinating with diverse stakeholders.
- A genuine development management background is required, rather than experience solely in project management, design, consultancy, contracting, or PMC roles.
- Ability to navigate complex approval processes, governance structures, and multidisciplinary stakeholder environments.
- Strong commercial awareness and the capacity to challenge assumptions related to product, cost, program, and design.
- A relevant degree is required; qualifications in real estate or commercial fields will be considered an advantage.
- Saudi National candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Required Skills
- Residential Development
- Product Strategy
- Unit Mix
- Phasing
- Development Briefs
- Feasibility Studies
- Business Planning
- Commercial Optimisation
- Design Development
- Consultant Coordination
- Approvals Management
- Procurement Strategy
- Stakeholder Discussions
- Market Positioning
- Design Quality
- Cost Management
- Programme Management
- Profitability Analysis
- Development Processes Improvement
- Commercial Acumen
- Challenging Assumptions
- Understanding Market Demand
- Long-term Value Creation
- Governance Principles
- Client-side Residential Development Expertise
- Experience with Villas, Townhouses, Apartments, Mixed Residential Communities, and Large-scale Residential Masterplans
- Commercial Decision Making
- Navigating Multidisciplinary Stakeholder Environments
- Real Estate Knowledge
- Commercial Qualifications
Work Environment and Location
This is a full-time position based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The role offers the opportunity for a residential development professional to transition into a high-profile client-side environment and contribute to shaping communities at their formative stages, rather than merely managing pre-determined decisions. The role requires a strong developer mindset, commercial acumen, and the ability to drive progress through complex internal and external interfaces in a fast-moving environment.
Application Information
To express interest, please contact Matthew Donovan at M@***************************. For interviews conducted in Arabic, please contact Nouf Alotaibi at N@************************* at MRG Global for a confidential discussion.