Senior Development Manager

Longreach Recruitment; Western Australia; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 290,000; Full time

Job summary

Longreach Recruitment is representing a WA property developer seeking an experienced Development Manager for a 4,500-lot Wanneroo project. The role offers autonomy with direct access to a respected leadership group and a substantial future pipeline, supporting long-term growth.

You will operate at senior level, overseeing strategy, approvals, civil delivery and commercial management, while monitoring feasibility, budgets and cash flow. Strong stakeholder engagement is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience leading residential land development projects in WA.
• Ability to operate autonomously and take accountability for commercial outcomes.
• Strong experience launching masterplanned communities and managing front-end design, approvals and procurement.
• End-to-end development experience spanning planning, approvals, civil delivery and commercial management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the 4,500-lot project from front end through approvals and into development.
• Establish clear priorities, programmes and commercial objectives.
• Identify risks early and drive practical solutions to maintain momentum.
• Provide clear, commercially informed reporting to senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Contribute development strategy and future opportunities through leadership and collaboration.

Skills

Residential land development

Autonomous delivery

Feasibilities & cash flow

Budgeting & scheduling

Education

Property/Development/Commerce degree

Job description

• Genuinely a career defining role and project.
• Autonomous role with direct access to respected leadership group
• Significant WA pipeline providing long‑term growth options.

About our Client

Our client is an established WA property developer with a strong presence across the Perth market and a track record of delivering quality residential communities, alongside their other areas of focus.

With multiple residential land projects currently active and a significant pipeline ahead, the business continues to invest in its development capability and is looking to appoint an experienced Development Manager ready to step up, or a current Senior Development Manager wanting a new challenge.

This is a key position within the development team, suited to someone who knows the WA land development market well, can operate with autonomy and is comfortable taking accountability for commercial, strategic and delivery outcomes.

The Opportunity

This is a senior appointment with responsibility for a 4,500lot projects that is moving through its formation phase in the Wanneroo area.

The role requires someone who can see the bigger development picture while remaining close enough to the detail to identify risks, challenge consultants and keep projects moving.

Development Strategy & Ownership

• Lead the project across the front end design, approvals, procurement and into development lifecycle.
• Establish clear project priorities, programmes and commercial objectives.
• Identify risks early and drive practical solutions to maintain momentum.
• Provide informed recommendations on project strategy and key decisions and keep broader project stakeholders and partners informed.

Commercial Performance

• Maintain ownership of project feasibilities, budgets and cash flows.
• Monitor performance against approved commercial assumptions and milestones.
• Assess project risks, opportunities and changes through a commercial lens.
• Ensure development decisions remain aligned with broader project objectives including sustainability/environmental and community outcomes.

Leadership & Stakeholders

• Build effective relationships with authorities, consultants and key stakeholders.
• Hold external project teams accountable for program, quality and outcomes.
• Provide clear and commercially considered reporting to senior leadership.
• Contribute your experience to broader development strategy and future opportunities.

About You

You'll ideally bring:

• You'll currently be operating at Development Manager or Senior Development Manager level, with substantial experience across residential land development in WA.
• 8+ years' experience across property development, with strong residential land project exposure to allow autonomous and successful outcomes to be delivered.
• Demonstrated experience launching masterplanned communities.
• A tertiary qualification in Property, Property Development, Commerce or a related discipline
• End-to-end development experience spanning planning, approvals, civil delivery and commercial management
• Strong capability across feasibilities, budgets, cash flows, programmes and project risk
• The judgement and confidence to operate autonomously while keeping senior leadership informed on material decisions