Senior Director - Development (Retail-Public Realm) (Urban Core) (REQ430)

Qiddiya; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Qiddiya seeks a Senior Director - Development (Retail Public Realm) to lead end-to-end development of retail, F&B, and public realm components within the Urban Core. The role balances commercial performance with place-led experiences to create activated destinations.

You will shape strategy, governance, investment readiness and activation, guiding multidisciplinary teams and ensuring long-term asset value across complex, GCC-scale projects.

Qualifications

• Experience leading major retail-led, mixed-use developments with strong placemaking focus.
• Proven client-side leadership across feasibility, market positioning, design governance and delivery.
• Experience guiding multidisciplinary teams and complex stakeholder groups.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development strategy and business plan for retail, F&B, public realm and public spaces within the Urban Core.
• Ensure development outcomes, commercial performance, and placemaking quality across assets.
• Set briefs, positioning, experience principles, phasing, and investment priorities aligned with objectives.
• Direct activities from feasibility through delivery, leasing enablement, activation and operational readiness.
• Drive cross-functional decisions to optimise leasable value, footfall, and long-term asset performance.

Skills

Development leadership

Strategic planning

Stakeholder alignment

Commercial planning

Placemaking

Delivery leadership

Leasing enablement

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's in Real Estate Development/Architecture/Urban Planning/Engineering

Master's degree preferred

MBA/MSc Real Estate Development/Urban Development desirable

Job description

The Senior Director - Development (Retail Public Realm) will be accountable for the end-to-end development leadership of the retail, food and beverage, public realm, public spaces, lifestyle, and destination components within a major Urban Core mixed-use precinct.

Acting as the client-side development lead, the role will shape development strategy, business planning, design governance, commercial positioning, stakeholder alignment, investment readiness, delivery integration, activation, and operational readiness across the retail and public realm portfolio.

The role requires an experienced development executive who can balance commercial performance with exceptional place-led experiences, creating vibrant, activated destinations that drive footfall, dwell time, community engagement, tenant success, and long-term asset value.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development strategy and business plan for the retail, food and beverage, public realm, and public space portfolio within the Urban Core.
• Take accountability for development outcomes, commercial performance, placemaking quality, and integration across the retail and public realm assets.
• Establish the development brief, positioning, tenant and customer experience principles, phasing strategy, and investment priorities in alignment with Urban Core and wider organisational objectives.
• Direct development activities from feasibility, market assessment, concept and design through procurement, delivery, leasing enablement, activation, and operational readiness.
• Drive cross-functional decisions that optimise leasable value, footfall, dwell time, public realm activation, visitor experience, operational efficiency, and long-term asset performance.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Real Estate Development, Architecture, Urban Planning, Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, or a related discipline.
• Master's Degree preferred.
• MBA, MSc Real Estate Development, Urban Development, or equivalent qualification highly desirable.

Experience

• 20+ years of development experience.
• Minimum 10 years leading major retail-led, mixed-use, public realm, or destination developments.
• Proven client-side experience managing complex retail, food and beverage, public realm, and multi-asset developments.
• Strong background in development strategy, feasibility, market positioning, commercial planning, design governance, leasing enablement, placemaking, and precinct delivery.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary consultant, design, commercial, leasing, operations, and project delivery teams.
• Significant exposure to large-scale destination or mixed-use developments in the GCC preferred.
• Experience with giga-projects, sovereign development entities, master developers, or globally recognised retail and public realm destinations highly desirable.