Development Manager

Sydney, NSW | Eastern Suburbs Confidential Luxury Residential Developer
About the Opportunity An exclusive opportunity exists for an accomplished Development Manager to join a privately owned property development group with a strong track record of delivering high-end residential projects throughout Sydney's most prestigious suburbs.

Reporting directly to the Owner, this role will be responsible for leading the end-to-end development process across a portfolio of luxury residential and mixed-use projects. The successful candidate will play a critical role in identifying opportunities, driving planning outcomes, managing consultants, and delivering exceptional projects that set recent benchmarks for quality, design excellence, and value creation.

This position is suited to an experienced property professional with deep market knowledge, strong industry relationships, and an intimate understanding of the luxury residential landscape across Sydney's Eastern Suburbs.

Key Responsibilities

- Manage projects through the entire development lifecycle from acquisition and feasibility through to completion and handover.
- Lead planning and development approval strategies, including engagement with councils, planning authorities, and key stakeholders.
- Drive project feasibility analysis, financial modelling, project budgeting, and risk management.
- Coordinate and manage consultant teams including architects, planners, engineers, quantity surveyors, lawyers, and project managers.
- Oversee design development to ensure projects align with market expectations and luxury positioning.
- Monitor project performance against key financial, programme, and delivery objectives.

Acquisitions & Market Analysis
- Identify and assess development opportunities across Sydney's premium residential markets.




- Conduct detailed due diligence, site investigations, and market assessments.
- Prepare investment recommendations and acquisition strategies for review by the Owner.
- Maintain a network of agents, brokers, consultants, and industry stakeholders to uncover off-market opportunities.

Stakeholder Management
- Act as the key interface between the Owner and external project teams.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with consultants, contractors, authorities, and local community stakeholders.
- Represent the business in planning discussions, negotiations, and industry forums where required.

Commercial Leadership
- Assist in structuring development strategies that maximise project value and returns.
- Manage consultant and contractor procurement processes.
- Negotiate commercial agreements and consultant appointments.
- Provide regular reporting to the Owner on project status, risks, opportunities, and financial performance.

Skills & Experience Essential
- 8+ years' experience in property development, development management, or a related discipline.
- Demonstrated experience delivering premium or luxury residential developments in Sydney.
- Strong understanding of the Eastern Suburbs residential market, including purchaser profiles, pricing dynamics, planning controls, and emerging trends.
- Proven experience managing planning approvals and consultant teams.
- Strong financial acumen,



including feasibility modelling and project cashflow management.
- Exceptional stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
- Excellent presentation, communication, and report writing abilities.

Highly Desirable
- Existing relationships with leading architects, planners, agents, consultants, and contractors operating within Sydney's prestige residential market.
- Experience delivering boutique apartment, luxury residential, waterfront, or mixed-use developments.
- Relevant tertiary qualifications in Property, Construction Management, Urban Planning, Architecture, Engineering, Finance, or a related field.
- Knowledge of NSW planning legislation and development approval processes.

Personal Attributes
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a strong commercial focus.
- Highly motivated, accountable, and capable of operating autonomously.
- Strategic thinker with strong attention to detail.
- Passion for design excellence and luxury real estate.
- Strong leadership capability with the confidence to engage directly with senior decision-makers.
- Results-oriented with a proven ability to execute complex projects.

What's On Offer
- Direct reporting line to the Owner with significant influence over key business decisions.
- Exposure to a pipeline of landmark luxury developments.
- Opportunity to shape projects from acquisition through to delivery.
- Collaborative and agile working environment.
- Highly competitive remuneration package, including performance incentives aligned to project outcomes.

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced development professional to join a highly regarded private developer and play a pivotal role in the creation of some of Sydney's most prestigious residential projects.

📌 Development Manager (Sydney)
🏢 Gough Recruitment
📍 Sydney