Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Real Estate Development
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Employment Type: Full-Time
Seniority Level: Executive
Industry: Real Estate Development | Construction | Government Administration
About the Role
A confidential government entity is seeking an accomplished and visionary Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead its Real Estate Development business and drive the execution of large-scale mixed-use, commercial, residential, hospitality, and public-sector development projects aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.
The CEO will be responsible for defining the organization’s strategic direction, overseeing the full development lifecycle of major real estate projects, maximizing asset value, ensuring financial sustainability, and building a high-performance organization capable of delivering transformative developments across the Kingdom.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute the organization's long-term real estate development strategy and investment roadmap.
- Lead the planning, development, financing, delivery, and operation of strategic real estate projects.
- Identify and evaluate new development opportunities, partnerships, and investment initiatives.
- Oversee feasibility studies, market assessments, financial modeling, and business case development.
- Drive project performance across planning, design, procurement, construction, leasing, sales, and asset management functions.
- Establish governance frameworks, risk management practices, and operational controls to ensure project success.
- Manage relationships with government entities, investors, developers, consultants, contractors, and strategic partners.
- Lead negotiations for major development agreements, joint ventures, concessions, and commercial contracts.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, corporate governance standards, and industry best practices.
- Monitor financial performance, capital allocation, development budgets, and return on investment objectives.
- Build, mentor, and lead executive leadership teams while fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and excellence.
- Provide regular updates and strategic recommendations to the Board of Directors and relevant stakeholders.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Real Estate, Urban Planning, or a related discipline.
- Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), Real Estate, Engineering Management, or a related field is preferred.
- Minimum 20 years of progressive leadership experience within real estate development, construction, infrastructure, or related sectors.
- Proven experience leading large-scale real estate developments valued at SAR billions.
- Previous experience as CEO, Deputy CEO, COO, Executive Director, or equivalent senior leadership position.
- Strong understanding of real estate investment, project finance, asset management, and development economics.
- Demonstrated success in stakeholder management across government, private sector, and investment communities.
- Experience establishing business plans, development strategies, risk frameworks, and governance structures.
- Strong commercial acumen with a track record of driving growth, operational excellence, and organizational transformation.
Core Competencies
- Strategic Leadership
- Real Estate Development
- Investment & Financial Analysis
- Portfolio & Asset Management
- Mega Projects Delivery
- Corporate Governance
- Public Sector Engagement
- Contract Negotiation
- Risk Management
- Business Transformation
- Stakeholder Management
- Executive Communication
- Team Leadership & Talent Development
Success Profile
The ideal candidate is a strategic and commercially driven executive with extensive experience leading complex real estate development portfolios, managing multidisciplinary teams, and delivering high-impact projects that create sustainable economic and social value.