Senior Development Manager – Planning & Precinct Development

Unlock complex development opportunities. Shape major precincts. Turn planning potential into outcomes.

An exceptional opportunity is available for an experienced Development Manager or early Senior Development Manager with a strong planning background to join a major public-sector property and infrastructure environment responsible for some of the most significant precincts and development opportunities in NSW.

This is a role for someone who understands that successful development starts well before construction — with the ability to unlock planning potential, navigate complex statutory and strategic planning environments, structure development opportunities and bring multiple stakeholders together around a clear outcome.

Working across transport-oriented and mixed-use precincts, you will play a key role in identifying and unlocking development opportunities associated with major infrastructure, government land and emerging urban precincts.

The Opportunity

You will work across the development lifecycle, with a particular focus on the front end of development — where planning strategy, land use, infrastructure, commercial considerations and government objectives intersect.

Your responsibilities will include

- Identifying and unlocking development potential across complex government-owned land and major precincts.
- Leading planning strategy and development pathways for significant mixed-use and transport-oriented opportunities.
- Working through planning controls, rezoning, planning proposals, approvals and statutory processes to maximise development outcomes.
- Developing and negotiating Voluntary Planning Agreements (VPAs) and associated infrastructure and delivery frameworks.




- Translating strategic planning objectives into commercially and operationally viable development opportunities.
- Working closely with planners, infrastructure teams, government agencies, councils, consultants and development partners.
- Providing strategic advice on land use, development feasibility, planning risk and delivery options.
- Supporting the structuring and progression of development opportunities from early concept through to delivery.
- Managing complex stakeholder environments and building alignment across competing government, community and commercial interests.
- Identifying opportunities to improve the value, use and development outcomes of strategic government land.
- Contributing to precinct strategies that integrate transport, housing, employment, public domain and mixed-use development.

About You You will be a development professional with a strong foundation in planning, ideally having worked across complex urban development, government land, major infrastructure or precinct projects.

You may currently be working as a Development Manager, Senior Development Manager, Planning Manager or similarly positioned professional and be ready to take on a role with greater strategic influence.

We are particularly interested in people who can demonstrate:

- Strong knowledge of NSW planning legislation, policy and approval pathways.




- Experience navigating complex planning environments and unlocking development potential.
- Understanding of VPAs, planning proposals, rezoning and development approvals.
- Experience working across mixed-use, urban renewal, infrastructure or transport-oriented development.
- The ability to understand the relationship between planning, land value, infrastructure and development feasibility.
- Strong commercial and strategic thinking, with the ability to see opportunities rather than simply manage constraints.
- Excellent stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
- Confidence working across government, councils, consultants and private-sector development partners.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to provide clear advice to senior decision-makers.
- A tertiary qualification in planning, property, development, urban development or a related discipline.

Why This Role? This is an opportunity to work on projects where planning decisions can genuinely unlock major development outcomes.

Rather than managing a single development project, you will have the opportunity to influence the land-use strategy, planning pathway and development potential of major precincts — helping shape how significant areas of NSW evolve.

You will work at the intersection of planning, property, infrastructure and urban development, with the scale and complexity to make this a genuinely career-defining opportunity.

If you are a planner who has moved into development — or a development professional whose strength lies in unlocking planning and land-use opportunities — this is an prospect to take that expertise into some of NSW's most strategically important precincts.

📌 Development Manager (Sydney)
🏢 Capstone Recruitment
📍 Sydney