Senior Director, Development (Saudi National)📣 Job Ad

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.