Executive Director, Development Operations - Real Estate
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Key skills for this role
About the Role
Big Fish Consult seeks an Executive Director of Development Operations to lead strategic planning, governance, and financial oversight for a major real estate development portfolio in the UAE.
Key Skills for This Role
Responsibilities
- Lead development operations strategy and business planning across a diverse project portfolio
- Oversee governance frameworks, risk management, and operational excellence initiatives
- Monitor project financial performance, budgets, cost controls, and profitability
- Drive resource allocation and operational efficiencies across development teams
- Ensure compliance with UAE regulatory requirements, permits, approvals, and development standards
- Partner with senior executives, board members, and stakeholders to support strategic decision making
- Evaluate project performance and implement continuous improvement initiatives
Requirements
- Equivalent senior leadership experience within a UAE real estate development company
- Strong background in development operations, finance, governance, risk management, and business planning
- Proven experience managing Joint Ventures (JV), P&L, contracts, scheduling, and development processes
- Demonstrated success in delivering medium to large scale developments across the UAE
- Completion of at least three full development cycles, including delivery of a major phase of a large scale project
- Ability to present and defend investment cases to Executive Committees, Investment Committees, and Boards
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Real Estate, Finance, Engineering, Architecture, or related field (Master’s preferred)
- Minimum 20 years of experience, including at least 7 years in a senior leadership capacity
- Strong understanding of UAE real estate development regulations, governance frameworks, and market dynamics
- Exceptional stakeholder management, strategic planning, and financial management capabilities
Full Job Posting
Role Overview
- We are seeking an accomplished Executive Director, Development Operations, to lead the strategic planning, governance, financial oversight, and operational excellence of a major real estate development portfolio in the UAE.
- This is a senior leadership role reporting directly to the Chief Development Officer, responsible for driving development operations across multiple large scale projects and asset classes while ensuring robust governance, risk management, and financial performance.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead development operations strategy and business planning across a diverse project portfolio.
- Oversee governance frameworks, risk management, and operational excellence initiatives.
- Monitor project financial performance, budgets, cost controls, and profitability.
- Drive resource allocation and operational efficiencies across development teams.
- Ensure compliance with UAE regulatory requirements, permits, approvals, and development standards.
- Partner with senior executives, board members, and stakeholders to support strategic decision making.
- Evaluate project performance and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
Ideal Candidate
- Equivalent senior leadership experience within a UAE real estate development company.
- Strong background in development operations, finance, governance, risk management, and business planning.
- Proven experience managing Joint Ventures (JV), P&L, contracts, scheduling, and development processes.
- Demonstrated success in delivering medium to large scale developments across the UAE.
- Completion of at least three full development cycles, including delivery of a major phase of a large scale project.
- Ability to present and defend investment cases to Executive Committees, Investment Committees, and Boards.
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Real Estate, Finance, Engineering, Architecture, or related field (Master’s preferred).
Requirements
- Minimum 20 years of experience, including at least 7 years in a senior leadership capacity.
- Strong understanding of UAE real estate development regulations, governance frameworks, and market dynamics.
- Exceptional stakeholder management, strategic planning, and financial management capabilities.
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