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About the Role

UPA is seeking a commercially minded Development Manager to turn strategic property opportunities into clear, deliverable, and resident-focused project outcomes. Working within the Major Works team, you will lead front-end development activities including feasibility, planning pathways, design brief development, approvals coordination, stakeholder input, and the transition from concept to an approved, deliverable project scope. You will balance commercial performance with operational practicality, ensuring decisions align with approved business cases and support safe, high-quality environments for residents, staff, and communities. The role also provides development expertise to cross-functional teams, including UPA’s Strategy function.

Responsibilities

Lead development and project governance frameworks, ensuring clear approval pathways, delivery strategies, and risk management plans.
Prepare and lead business cases, project initiation documents, feasibilities, and procurement pathways for governance approval.
Manage front-end project definition across feasibility, design, approvals, and transition into delivery.
Coordinate statutory approvals, planning pathways, consultants, and design teams.
Manage capital budgets, cost forecasts, cashflow, contingencies, and project return assumptions.
Assess commercial viability, including sales, leasing, occupancy, and other revenue-related dependencies where relevant.
Lead or support tender evaluations, commercial negotiations, and contract recommendations.
Manage consultant, contractor, and specialist adviser performance to protect UPA’s interests.
Partner with Operations, Asset Services, Finance, People & Culture, Risk, and site leadership to support service continuity and operational readiness.
Promote UPA’s values and resident-first principles in every development decision.

Requirements

A tertiary qualification in property, town planning, architecture, construction, engineering, or a related built environment discipline.
At least five years’ experience delivering complex capital works or property development projects.
Strong capability across feasibility, planning approvals, consultant and design management, early-stage project definition, and sale or lease-down processes.
Demonstrated success achieving strong financial outcomes on capital projects.
Commercial acumen across procurement, contract negotiation, cost forecasting, claims management, and capital governance.
A deep understanding of NSW planning, building, WHS, and construction regulatory environments.
The ability to prepare clear reports, briefs, and recommendations for senior decision-makers.
A valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel across NSW.
Experience in aged care, retirement living, seniors housing, health, disability accommodation, residential development, education, or community infrastructure will be highly regarded.
Experience with Estate Master, Microsoft Project, RP Data, or similar industry systems is also valuable.
Completion of a National Police Check.
Completion of a Working with Children Check or vulnerable persons check may also be required depending on the project context.

Skills

Development
Project governance
Risk management
Business case preparation
Project initiation
Feasibility studies
Procurement
Project definition
Design management
Approvals coordination
Capital budgeting
Cost forecasting
Cashflow management
Contingency management
Commercial viability assessment
Sales
Leasing
Occupancy
Tender evaluation
Commercial negotiation
Contract management
Consultant management
Contractor management
Stakeholder management
Regulatory compliance
Reporting
Brief preparation
Recommendation development
Travel coordination

Location

Work Type

Full-time

Experience Level

At least five years’ experience

Education Level

Tertiary qualification in property, town planning, architecture, construction, engineering or a related built environment discipline

About the Company

UPA is a mission-based organisation providing accommodation, care and support across residential aged care, retirement living, home care and community services.
Our philosophy is that every person has the right to live in peace and dignity, with respect and security, irrespective of age.
UPA’s Property Department is the custodian of a circa $350 million portfolio spanning 17 Residential Aged Care Facilities, 23 Retirement Villages and a range of other operational and non-operational assets.
The team manages the full asset lifecycle, from strategy and development through to capital delivery, maintenance and facilities management.