Reporting to the CEO and the V&A Waterfront Board of directors, the Chief Development Director (CDO) leads the creation and execution of a comprehensive vision and strategy for the Granger Bay development project to deliver sustainable economic growth at the V&A Waterfront as part of the overarching business strategy.
The CDO is responsible for conceptualizing the overall Granger Bay project strategy, establishing the business plan, and putting together a project team. Key tasks will include conceptualizing and driving the Granger Bay project strategy; overseeing the design and construction of complex marine and real estate projects; managing a large team of multi-skilled internal and external stakeholders; collaboratively coordinating, leading, and overseeing project delivery; researching opportunities and screening potential projects in the marketplace and linking these to the V&A portfolio of projects for commercialization opportunity with offtakers; collaborating across the business and relationship building with local and international industry experts to advance projects through the various development stage to project close out.
The role requires the ability to guide strategic long-term planning requiring the capability to identify and forecast the impact of emerging international and local industry trends, an understanding of the micro and macroeconomic environment and working knowledge of the legislative context specific to the V&A Waterfront.
The CDO must be practical and effective recognizing opportunity, defining and delivering tangible outcomes that add value to the greater V&A Waterfront ecosystem. Special consideration should be given to managing the environmental, social, and governance factors which impact the long- and short-term prospects of the industry.
Together with the CEO and other Executives, the CDO must assist with collectively creating the world’s most inspiring waterfront neighborhood and ensuring that the V&A Waterfront remains a leading example showcasing the best that Africa has to offer.
Vision and Strategy
- Identify and leverage business opportunities and create property and other assets that add value to the greater ecosystem by researching global and local trends and market needs
- Conceptualize and lead the development, implementation, and maintenance of a comprehensive Granger Bay Project vision and strategy to ensure value delivery and sustainable business growth that is optimally aligned with the V&A’s strategic objectives
- Deliver viable developments that optimize the V&A portfolio asset mix to maximize return and minimize risk
- Ensure that all initiatives are aligned with and respond to shareholder investment criteria as well as the overarching V&A Waterfront business strategy
- Collaborate with the Executive team to establish and embed the V&A purpose, V&A Way, and to establish the shared values ecosystems strategy across the Business
- Set business objectives and specific goals with successive levels of employees to ensure alignment and buy-in
Tactical Planning and Implementation
- Identify key roles and responsibilities based on project needs
- Build an effective project delivery team (internal and external)
- Lead and ensure effective development capability to produce world class, cost effective, and value-adding assets
- Collaboratively ensure and oversee successful operational implementation
- Collaboratively define, coordinate, and lead the execution of the vision and plan
- Create the planning applications and obtaining all necessary project permissions
- Plan and use internal and external resources effectively to ensure maximum ROI
- Create, define, improve, and enforce business processes, systems, and improvement
- Make key decisions affecting the Granger Bay Project within the V&A Waterfront
- Actively develop and improve processes and streamline work to advance projects through the various development stage
- Deal structuring and leading feasibility studies of potential new developments
- Lead and assist with negotiations and lease agreements alongside relevant stakeholders
- Provide continuous project leadership and mentorship
- Establish clear goals, milestones, and measurable deliverables to track project progress re. finance, risks, and programme
- Research and consider ways to create more opportunity, manage economic risk, as well as environmental, social, and governance factors
- Identify and/or create effective project management systems and tools, processes, and procedures
Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and maintain a network of strategic alliances and partnerships key stakeholders from government and professional spheres
- Build relationships with and engage with local and international authorities where necessary
- Foster professional relationships with suppliers, service providers, contractors as well as tenants
- Manage client interaction and expectations regarding development efforts
- Plan, prepare and deliver presentations to key stakeholders and potential clients with the CEO
- Ensure professional public communication (e.g., interviews with press) and relationships with local and international Media stakeholders as well as the local communities to sell a compelling vision, create awareness, and to ensure buy-in and support of the Granger Bay vision
- Engage with and join key industry committees, institutes, and associations
- Provide informal learning opportunities to local and international entities
- Collaboratively work with various BU’s to ensure successful delivery of project strategy
- Foster good relationships with a diverse range of international and local industry participants to ensure that the V&A remains a premium destination
- Act as a representative of the V&A Waterfront and subject matter expert
People Leadership
- Build a dynamic and effective Senior project team made up of various experts and specialists
- Communicate and translate the Granger Bay project vision and purpose to ensure buy-in from the team
- Foster and create an inclusive and collaborative team of independent and innovative thinkers
- Champion the philosophy across the business and drive thought leadership across departments and at various levels
- Create and instill a culture of passion, performance, humility, and collaboration
- Create a team that is invested in and aware of the responsibility and impact of the project (e.g., people and planet first approach)
- Instill a culture of regular feedback, mentoring, coaching, and support
- Responsible for overall performance management
- Lead and motivate the team in a fast changing, dynamic, and sometimes unpredictable context
- Model the V&A Way by embodying visionary, inspiring and ethical leadership across the busines
Financial Management and Reporting
- Responsible for overall Granger Bay CAPEX
- Provide input into the development loan finance
- Responsible for the overall financial planning and management of the Granger Bay project
- Maximise impact of budget use to deliver on ROI
- Present, sell-in, and solicit sign-off of the budget with the relevant stakeholders and funding partners
- Oversee and effectively manage project cash flow and expenditure
- Develop and monitor approved cost control standards
- Ensure effective risk, compliance, and good governance in collaboration with Financial Director
- Provide expert advice on contracts, negotiations, and business deals that the V&A Waterfront may enter into
- Compile project progress and budget reports, identify, and manage risks and challenges
FORWARD-LOOKING REQUIREMENTS
Essential Behavioural success factors
- Is conceptual when developing ideas; applies theories to problem solving; prefers to learn by thinking and identifying underlying principles.
- Is focused on developing strategies; thinks in the longer term and anticipates trends; envisages the future and adopts a visionary approach.
- Is lively and projects enthusiasm; is talkative in making contact; is focused on interacting and networking with people.
- Is comfortable having to persuade others; shapes opinions by being outspoken; seeks to negotiate with
- Is determined and decides on actions; willingly assumes responsibility; is definitive and stands by own decisions.
- Manages tasks by being organised and methodical; plans activities systematically; sets priorities for
- Is comfortable leading people; coordinates and directs groups; seeks to control things.
- Copes with change and variety; tolerates uncertainty and ambiguity; adapts to new challenges.
Important Behavioural success factors
- Analyses and processes information; asks probing questions; strives to find solutions to problems.
- Identifies business opportunities; creates additional sales for future growth; wants to win and outperform competitors.
- Strives to achieve outstanding results; is ambitious and acts with determination; persists through difficulties to achieve results.
- Prepared to disagree and question assumptions; challenges ideas and established views; comfortable arguing own perspective.
- Takes action to make things happen; uses initiative to start things up; shows drive and invests personal
- Applies practical skills when investigating issues; prefers to learn by doing; is practically minded and applies common sense.
- Is focused on activity and works quickly; keeps busy and maintains productivity; is comfortable multi- tasking to produce output.
- Is target focused and meets deadlines; is punctual and keeps to schedule; is reliable in finishing tasks.
- Works participatively with others; is democratic and encourages team contributions; collaboratively involves others in decision-making.
- Is focused on continuously improving things; provides insights by identifying key issues; makes intuitive judgments.
- Motivates individuals by empowering them; seeks to inspire people and groups; gives encouragement to
- Is articulate in giving presentations; is eloquent and explains things well; projects social confidence when articulating information
BACKWARD-LOOKING REQUIREMENTS
Skills
- Strategic and visionary thinker
- Financial, business, and commercial acumen
- Logical reasoning and problem-solving
- Critical and analytical thinking skills, good judgement
- Negotiation, impact, and influence
- Written and verbal reasoning
- Learning agility
- Project management
- Leadership skill
- Emotional intelligence
- Resilient and adaptable
Knowledge
- Strategy Development and Implementation
- Built Environment
- Architecture, design, and master planning
- Conceptualizing and delivering complex projects
- Financial management
- Property Development
- Business Acumen
- Property and Investment Management
- Financial Management
- Industry trends and developments
- Sustainability and environmental factors
- Geopolitics and macro-economic trends
- Legal Principles and relevant legislation
- Leadership and people management
- Future studies and trends???????
Experience
20+ Years’ Relevant Working Experience
Experience creating and leading large-scale, mixed use development projects
Qualification(s)
Required
BSc Post Graduate Degree in built Environment
Advantageous
Relevant professional registration
Master PM MBA
Please note – if you do not hear from us within three weeks that you can consider your application unsuccessful. As a proud South African brand, The V&A is committed to transformation. Meeting employment equity goals will be taken into account in recruitment decisions.