Development Planning Specialist

Job Summary

The Real Estate Development Planning Specialist supports the development planning function by assisting in the preparation, coordination, review, and monitoring of real estate development plans, area programs, feasibility inputs, phasing schedules, and project planning deliverables. The role supports senior team members in ensuring that development assumptions are aligned with the approved master plan, business plan, market studies, financial feasibility, and project delivery requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the preparation and update of real estate development plans, including land use mix, development phasing, plot schedules, product mix, area programs, and implementation plans.
• Assist in reviewing master plans, concept designs, GFA/BUA schedules, land use tables, plot data, and development briefs to ensure consistency with approved project assumptions.
• Coordinate with internal teams to gather and consolidate planning inputs related to residential, hospitality, retail, commercial, mixed-use, and destination assets.
• Assist in preparing development assumptions for feasibility studies, business plans, market studies, and highest and best use assessments.
• Coordinate with Finance, Investment, Asset Management, Design, and external consultants to collect data related to costs, revenues, absorption, phasing, and delivery timelines.
• Support the review of financial model inputs to ensure consistency with area programs, master plan assumptions, infrastructure requirements, and market demand.
• Track project planning milestones, consultant deliverables, approvals, and key development decisions.
• Maintain development trackers, action logs, risk registers, issue logs, and progress reports.
• Support the coordination between Development, Design, Infrastructure, Delivery, Procurement, Finance, Legal, and Asset Management teams.
• Assist in preparing scopes of work for consultants, advisors, and technical specialists.
• Review consultant submissions and prepare comments on reports, presentations, plans, area schedules, and feasibility outputs.
• Coordinate with consultants to ensure timely submission of deliverables and proper closure of comments.
• Reporting & Presentation Support
• Prepare internal reports, dashboards, presentations, meeting notes, and management updates.
• Support the preparation of committee papers, decision notes, approval documents, and development progress reports.
• Maintain proper documentation of development assumptions, approvals, decisions, and project records.
• Support the identification of planning risks related to area changes, land use assumptions, infrastructure dependencies, market demand, approvals, cost escalation, and delivery timelines.
• Assist in developing mitigation actions and alternative development scenarios for management review.

Required Qualifications, Experience, and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Real Estate Development, Urban Planning or a related field.
• Minimum 12 years of relevant experience in real estate development, development planning, master planning, feasibility studies, project coordination, urban planning, or mixed-use development.
• Experience with large-scale residential, hospitality, retail, commercial, waterfront, mixed-use, or destination projects is preferred.
• Experience working with real estate developers, master developers, consultants, government entities, investment companies, or PIF-related entities is an advantage.
• Strong understanding of the real estate development lifecycle, including master planning, feasibility, design coordination, approvals, procurement, construction interface, and handover.
• Ability to review and understand master plans, area schedules, GFA/BUA calculations, land use mix, plot data, development briefs, and phasing plans.
• Good understanding of development feasibility, financial model inputs, IRR, NPV, cash flow, revenue assumptions, cost assumptions, and absorption rates.
• Strong coordination and follow-up skills with internal teams and external consultants.
• Good analytical, reporting, and presentation skills.
• Ability to prepare clear meeting notes, trackers, dashboards, and management presentations.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to identify inconsistencies in planning and feasibility assumptions.
• Excellent command of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, MS Project, and planning/reporting tools.
• Excellent communication skills in English.