Development Manager

Blacksand; Riyadh Region; On-site; SAR 350,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Blacksand in Riyadh, KSA seeks a Development Manager to shepherd schemes from land to occupied assets, owning the brief and directing consultants to meet the approved business case through the gateway process.

You will lead procurement, manage consultants and contractors, and drive cost-conscious design decisions while balancing capital cost with constructability. Fluent English is required.

Qualifications

• Degree in architecture, engineering, quantity surveying, construction management, planning or real estate.
• Chartered (or working towards it), ideally registered with the Saudi Council of Engineers.
• 5+ years in development, design, or project management on mixed-use, residential, retail, or hospitality schemes.
• Experience on schemes valued SAR 100M+.
• Commercially sharp — comfortable with development appraisals, Excel, and programme/appraisal software.
• Working knowledge of KSA authority approvals and the local consultant/contractor market.
• Fluent English (Arabic a plus).
• Nice to have: ISO 19650 / BIM delivery experience, MMC exposure, hospitality or operator-led scheme background, postgraduate qualification in real estate or business.

Responsibilities

• Lead assigned developments through the full gateway approval process, securing sign-off and closing conditions at every stage.
• Turn investment intent into a clear brief the design team can price and build to — covering product mix, phasing, and operating model.
• Manage consultants and contractors: scopes, selection, performance against programme and fee.
• Drive design decisions that control cost while it's still cheap to change — balancing capital cost with constructability and whole-life cost.
• Pull operational requirements into design early, working with Asset Management and Operations.
• Own project information and reporting, so decisions are made on evidence.
• Lead procurement and manage construction through to handover, working with authorities, partners, and Legal/Finance on agreements.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Cost optimization

Design coordination

English proficiency

Commercial awareness

Education

Degree in architecture/engineering/quantity surveying/construction management/planning/real estate

Chartered status (Saudi Council of Engineers)

Postgraduate qualification in real estate or business (nice to have)

Tools

Excel

Programme/appraisal software

Job description

Development Manager | Blacksand — Riyadh, KSA

Blacksand is looking for a Development Manager to take our schemes from land to occupied asset. You'll own the development brief, direct the consultant team, and hold each scheme to its approved business case as it moves through our development gateway process — from feasibility through to handover and close-out.

What you'll own:

• Lead assigned developments through the full gateway approval process, securing sign-off and closing conditions at every stage.
• Turn investment intent into a clear brief the design team can price and build to — covering product mix, phasing, and operating model.
• Manage consultants and contractors: scopes, selection, performance against programme and fee.
• Drive design decisions that control cost while it's still cheap to change — balancing capital cost with constructability and whole-life cost.
• Pull operational requirements into design early, working with Asset Management and Operations.
• Own project information and reporting, so decisions are made on evidence.
• Lead procurement and manage construction through to handover, working with authorities, partners, and Legal/Finance on agreements.

What you bring:

• Degree in architecture, engineering, quantity surveying, construction management, planning or real estate.
• Chartered (or working towards it), ideally registered with the Saudi Council of Engineers.
• 5+ years in development, design, or project management on mixed-use, residential, retail, or hospitality schemes.
• Experience on schemes valued SAR 100M+.
• Commercially sharp — comfortable with development appraisals, Excel, and programme/appraisal software.
• Working knowledge of KSA authority approvals and the local consultant/contractor market.
• Fluent English (Arabic a plus).
• Nice to have: ISO 19650 / BIM delivery experience, MMC exposure, hospitality or operator-led scheme background, postgraduate qualification in real estate or business.