ABOUT THE BUSINESS

Our client has built one of Melbourne's largest private residential land businesses, with a core portfolio of over 15,000 lots active or in the near-term pipeline across master-planned communities in Melbourne and regional Victoria, representing a GDV of around $8 billion. The growth hasn't been without its challenges, but the business has scaled steadily and built a reputation as an employer of choice in the property sector. Beyond residential, the group is now diversifying into industrial and commercial development, with several large-scale sites moving through planning and permit stages, and a build-to-rent strategy that's progressed from concept to its first demonstration site starting construction this year. It's a business with genuine momentum and a broadening platform, not a single-project developer looking to fill a gap.

THE ROLE

This Development Manager role is accountable for establishing residential projects for success from acquisition through to construction readiness, with a strong focus on planning, approvals, design and feasibility. The business is making this hire because it wants a dedicated, highly strategic operator focused specifically on the front end, post-acquisition through to construction readiness. Leadership sees this focus as a genuine edge in how it unlocks value across the portfolio, rather than something squeezed in around delivery workload. There'll still be exposure to projects in delivery, but the core mandate is front end.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

• Managing end-to-end delivery of residential projects, coordinating consultants and project teams
• Leading planning approvals, authority negotiations and regulatory processes
• Owning project feasibility, budgets and financial performance
• Partnering with sales and marketing on positioning, pricing and product strategy
• Building and maintaining key stakeholder and industry relationships
• Preparing and presenting project reporting to internal stakeholders and management

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• Minimum 7 years' experience in residential property development, with strong front-end planning and design exposure
• Tertiary qualification in property, urban planning, civil engineering, commerce or related discipline
• Proven track record delivering high-quality, sustainable residential development
• Strong commercial acumen and experience managing budget and program risk
• Currently operating just below Senior Development Manager level and ready to step up in the near short term
• A natural relationship-builder who earns trust across internal teams, authorities and external stakeholders, backed by genuine diligence and integrity in how they operate

WHAT'S ON OFFER

• A genuine SDM promotion on the horizon and autonomy for a candidate ready for the next level
• One WFH day per week (generally Wednesday or Thursday, negotiable for the right candidate)
• Exposure to a growing, design-led residential portfolio, plus the business's expansion into industrial, commercial and build-to-rent
• Salary commensurate with an experienced Development Manager

If this role is of interest, please hit apply or please send a copy of your resume to Jeremy at jeremy@scoutedrecruitment.com.au in the first instance.

To Note: We value your time and we hope you value ours too!

Please ensure you have read the above information completely and meet the minimum selection criteria, we might not be able to get back to you otherwise.

Only Australian permanent residents are eligible to apply.