Director of Development
Confidential Company
Role:About the role
A leading international luxury real estate developer is looking for a Development Director, based in Oman, to lead a major waterfront master-planned community. The project includes dredged water canals and luxury residential districts. You’ll be the client-side lead from masterplan through dredging, infrastructure works, residential delivery and handover.
Key responsibilities
Lead the masterplanning of a large waterfront community, covering the canal network layout, water frontage, plots, infrastructure, amenities and open space.
Appoint and manage masterplanners, architects, coastal and marine engineers, hydrodynamic and water-quality modellers, and landscape consultants.
Make sure the canal design achieves water circulation and quality, navigability, stable edges and quay walls, and delivers the luxury waterfront experience the brand requires.
Lead value engineering of marine and infrastructure packages without compromising quality or long-term maintenance.
Oversee the full scope of dredging, canal excavation, revetments, quay walls, breakwaters, beaches and marina works.
Set the procurement strategy for contractors and lead tendering, evaluation and negotiation with international and regional dredging contractors.
Monitor dredging and reclamation volumes, sequencing, soil improvement, settlement and quality testing, and make sure contractors meet programme, cost and specification.
Secure approvals in Oman, including environmental permits (EIA), coastal and maritime permits, dredging and disposal approvals, and utility NOCs.
Build strong relationships with Omani ministries, municipalities, port and maritime authorities, environmental regulators and utility providers.
Ensure environmental monitoring and compliance during dredging, including turbidity, marine ecology and spoil management.
Lead the design and delivery of luxury residential products: canal-front villas, branded residences, apartments and amenities.
Lead project managers, PMC consultants and contractors through construction, commissioning and handover to buyers and facilities management.
Take overall responsibility for the budget, programme, risk and health and safety across all phases.
Manage contracts (FIDIC or similar), variations, claims and dispute resolution, especially on marine packages.
Act as the main client representative for joint venture partners, government stakeholders and investors, and report to senior management and the board.
Build and lead a multidisciplinary development team in Oman.
Requirements
At least 10 years’ experience in real estate development, with a proven track record on residential and master-planned communities.
Essential: hands-on experience with dredging and water canal projects, such as canal-front communities, marinas, land reclamation or waterfront developments, either client-side or with a major marine contractor or consultancy.
Has delivered large-scale waterfront or master-planned projects from concept to handover.
Strong understanding of marine and coastal engineering, dredging methods and contracts, reclamation and environmental requirements.
Strong command of development finance, feasibility modelling, cost management and procurement.
Experience in the GCC is essential. Experience in Oman is a strong advantage, including knowledge of the local approvals process and stakeholders.
Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Coastal Engineering, Architecture or Construction Management. A Master’s, MBA, RICS or PMP is an advantage.
Excellent leadership, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, and comfortable presenting at board and government level.
Arabic is an advantage.
