Senior Development Manager/Development Manager

Capstone Recruitment; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Capstone Recruitment is representing a private developer in Melbourne's South Yarra seeking a Development Manager or Senior Development Manager to own projects post-acquisition and drive delivery while maintaining tenant engagement.

You will oversee 5 to 8 concurrent projects, coordinating with acquisitions, design, planning, and project management teams in a collaborative, office-based environment five days a week.

Qualifications

• Experience across retail, commercial, industrial, childcare or similar asset classes.
• Strong understanding of managing tenants through the development process.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple projects concurrently.

Responsibilities

• Support the acquisitions team with feasibility and development input.
• Collaborate with tenants and in-house design team to finalise design outcomes.
• Oversee the town planning process with support from Planning Manager.
• Manage feasibility and financial performance across the project lifecycle.
• Work with in-house project management through tender and construction; ensure delivery and handover.
• Maintain tenant engagement through delivery and handover.

Skills

Tenant engagement

Organisational skills

Commercial acumen

Job description

Our client is an established and fast-growing private developer specialising in smaller-scale mixed-use freehold assets. Headquartered in Melbourne's South Yarra, they develop, own and manage their own portfolio, with an impressive and expanding pipeline across the East Coast.

With in-house development, design, project management and finance teams, they offer a genuinely integrated platform and a highly collaborative environment. Culture is central to their success: professional, genuine and team-focused. This is an office-based role (five days a week) to support strong internal collaboration.

The Opportunity

Due to continued acquisitions, our client is looking to appoint a Development Manager or Senior Development Manager to join a high-performing team comprising a General Manager, two Development Managers and two Senior Development Managers.

You will take ownership of projects post-acquisition, managing the development lifecycle through to delivery while maintaining strong tenant engagement throughout.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the acquisitions team with feasibility and development input.
• Work with secured tenants and the in-house design team to finalise design outcomes.
• Oversee the town planning process, supported by an in-house Planning Manager.
• Manage feasibility and financial performance throughout the project lifecycle.
• Work closely with the in-house project management team through tender and construction.
• Maintain tenant engagement through delivery and handover.

Projects are typically new-build mixed-use assets, and you will manage approximately 5 to 8 projects concurrently which can vary in scale.

About You

• Experience across retail, commercial, industrial, childcare or similar asset classes.
• A strong understanding of managing tenants through the development process.
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Commercially astute, with strong feasibility capability.

The Culture Fit

This business values authenticity, collaboration and professionalism, and it shows: egos are left at the door in favour of a supportive, dynamic team culture. This role offers genuine exposure to one of Melbourne's most successful private developers, backed by stunning South Yarra offices and a strong forward pipeline. It is a rare opportunity to join an established, but growing platform with real long-term vision.