Development Manager

Capstone Recruitment; Sydney; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Capstone Recruitment is seeking an experienced Development Manager in NSW to lead front‑end planning, land use strategy and development pathways across major precincts and infrastructure projects.

You will unlock planning potential, navigate complex approvals, and align government, councils and private partners to deliver tangible precinct outcomes across transport‑oriented and mixed‑use developments.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in planning and development across complex urban precincts.
• Ability to navigate NSW planning legislation, policy, and approvals.
• Experience unlocking planning potential and delivering viable development opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Identify and unlock development potential across government land and major precincts.
• Lead planning strategy and development pathways for mixed-use and transport-oriented opportunities.
• Navigate planning controls, rezoning, planning proposals, approvals and statutory processes.
• Develop and negotiate VPAs and infrastructure delivery frameworks.
• Translate strategic planning objectives into commercially viable opportunities.
• Collaborate with planners, government agencies, councils, consultants and partners.
• Provide strategic advice on land use, feasibility, risk and delivery options.
• Support progression of opportunities from concept to delivery.
• Manage complex stakeholder environments and align competing interests.
• Contribute to precinct strategies integrating transport, housing and public domain.

Skills

Planning expertise

Stakeholder mgmt

Development feasibility

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor in Planning

Tools

GIS

Job description

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 opportunity to take that expertise into some of NSW's most strategically important precincts.