Development Planning Manager - Commercial Office

Work Initiatives; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Work Initiatives partners with a well-regarded Australian property funds manager to fill a new originations role spanning deal origination, feasibility, and proposal development. Based in Melbourne, you will work with the Head of Originations and interface with executive leadership across a national development pipeline.

You will identify and secure pre-committed development opportunities, lead financial modelling and feasibility work, and drive expressions of interest and lease proposals

Qualifications

• Identify and secure pre-committed commercial development opportunities across Australia.
• Prepare development feasibilities, including financial modelling and budgets.
• Lead expressions of interest, leasing proposals, and preliminary design concepts.
• Support negotiation of AFLs, contracts of sale, and related agreements.

Responsibilities

• Identify and secure opportunities across target markets throughout Australia.
• Prepare development feasibilities and risk assessments.
• Lead high-quality expressions of interest and lease proposals.
• Coordinate town planning and planning controls with design partners.
• Provide accurate project reporting and market intelligence to leadership.

Skills

Deal origination

Financial modelling

Proposal development

Stakeholder management

Tools

Excel

Job description

Our client is a well-regarded Australian property funds manager with more than two decades of experience acquiring, developing, and managing commercial assets in beyond-CBD and regional markets nationwide. The business manages multiple unlisted funds with a combined portfolio of over $700m in assets, a high occupancy rate, and a stable, long-term tenant base comprising Blue Chip Local and International, State and Federal Government agencies. A new position has been created within the originations function to help grow the development pipeline.

This role sits at the intersection of deal origination, feasibility, and proposal development, working directly with the Head of Originations and interfacing regularly with executive leadership.

ABOUT THE BUSINESS

The business operates an in-house own, develop, manage model, which means the originations team works with the full deal lifecycle in mind.

The portfolio spans commercial office developments, with an ongoing pipeline of pre-committed developments being pursued across target markets throughout Australia.

The team is values-led, relationship-driven, and known for high-touch tenant partnerships.

THE ROLE

Reporting to the Head of Originations, this is a deal-facing, commercially active role. You will be responsible for identifying and securing new development opportunities, preparing and managing feasibilities, leading proposal and EOI development, and supporting the negotiation of Agreements for Lease, contracts of sale, right through the town planning process.

The position operates nationally across target markets.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

• Identifying, assessing, and securing pre-committed commercial development opportunities across target markets throughout Australia
• Preparing and managing development feasibilities, including financial modelling, budget management, and risk identification
• Leading the preparation of high-quality expressions of interest, leasing proposals, and preliminary design concepts
• Supporting the negotiation and management of Agreements for Lease (AFLs), contracts of sale, and related commercial agreements
• Coordinating architects and design partners to develop preliminary plans that reflect tenant requirements, planning controls, and ESD objectives
• Engaging with town planning processes, identifying risks early, and managing planning applications
• Providing accurate and timely project reporting and market intelligence to senior leadership and the Board

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• Demonstrated experience in commercial property development, with a focus on identifying and securing pre-committed development opportunities
• Track record managing commercial office developments; experience with government tenants highly regarded
• Strong feasibility and financial modelling capability, with the ability to work accurately within tight tolerances
• Prior exposure to a property funds manager or landlord environment preference
• Established network across the property development sector, including relationships with government and private-sector tenants, tenant representatives, and advisory
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare compelling proposals and submissions
• Commercially sharp, client-focused, and comfortable working across multiple workstreams at pace

WHAT'S ON OFFER

• A newly created role with genuine scope to shape the origination function
• Exposure to a full development lifecycle within a vertically integrated fund manager
• Direct access to senior leadership, including regular reporting to the CEO and Board
• A Melbourne CBD office base with a national portfolio remit
• Competitive remuneration package, commensurate with experience