Development Director

University of Sydney; Darlington; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

17% superannuation

Job summary

The University of Sydney is seeking a Development Director to lead the planning, structuring and delivery of complex property development projects across the University. You will provide strategic, commercial and governance leadership across capital and precinct projects from feasibility through to delivery.

Key responsibilities include maximizing property value, strategic development leadership, governance, commercial and financial management, and proactive stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to develop and execute long-term strategies for complex landholdings.
• Extensive experience with large capital works and infrastructure projects.
• Strong consulting, strategy development and business case design skills.
• Expertise in compliance, risk management and governance.
• Extensive program management experience across multiple deadlines.
• Contract and procurement management expertise.

Responsibilities

• Maximise the value of university property and land assets.
• Leadership and people management.
• Strategic development leadership.
• Governance and approvals.
• Commercial and financial management.
• Stakeholder engagement.
• Risk, compliance and WHS.
• Support the leadership of the department in the Director's absence, overseeing governance and delivery.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Program management

Contract management

Risk & compliance

Stakeholder engagement

People management

Job description

• Full time, continuing role
• Lead major property development and capital projects, providing strategic leadership, governance and delivery expertise across the University
• Offering a competitive remuneration package including 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The Development Director is responsible for leading the planning, structuring and delivery of complex property development projects and strategic initiatives across the University. The role provides strategic, commercial and governance leadership across a diverse portfolio of capital and precinct projects, drawing on multidisciplinary expertise to guide projects from feasibility through to delivery.

Your key responsibilities will be:

• maximising the value of university property and land assets
• leadership and people management
• strategic development leadership
• governance and approvals
• commercial and financial management
• stakeholder engagement
• risk, compliance and WHS
• support leadership of the department in the Director's absence, including oversight of governance, delivery and stakeholder engagement.

About you

• proven ability to develop and execute long-term strategies for complex landholdings, including identification, structuring and commercialisation of development opportunities, including structuring of partnership and divestment pathways where appropriate
• extensive knowledge and experience in working with large capital works, infrastructure and development projects in a physically dispersed and complex, matrix environment
• highly advanced skills in consulting, strategy development, business case development and design of transformational strategies and projects
• proven expertise in compliance and risk management in a diverse environment with multiple stakeholders (internal and external) and/or with built environment / construction and/or facilities / capital works
• extensive program management experience - including time and project management, prioritisation & multitasking skills to be able to meet strict deadlines across a multitude of complex programs and projects
• expertise in contract and procurement management including contract administration and performance management.

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to be eligible to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks and declarations

Your employment is conditional upon the successful completion of all pre-employment or background checks required for the role in terms satisfactory to the University. Also, to meet the University's obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Eliminate Gender-Based Violence you will be asked to declare if you have been investigated for, or found to engaged in, sexual harm or gender-based violence in the course of previous employment or in a legal process. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Platinum Employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion.

The University of Sydney

The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.

Applications Close

Tuesday 27 October 2026 11:59 PM