urban developer | Torchora

title: Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Urban Developer
salary: $110,000 - $150,000
categories: [Urban Development, Real Estate Development, City Planning]
description: A comprehensive job brief for an Urban Developer role outlining detailed responsibilities and required skills to deliver large scale urban and real‑estate development projects.

🎯 Role Definition

The Urban Developer is a visionary and execution‑oriented professional responsible for guiding urban real‑estate development from site identification through financing, planning, construction, and operational hand‑over. This role involves market analysis, mastering zoning and land‑use regulations, managing multi‑disciplinary project teams, aligning with public sector stakeholders, securing approvals and delivering sustainable, inclusive urban environments that meet financial, social and regulatory objectives.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Real Estate Development Associate or Project Manager
Urban Planner or Town Planning Consultant
Construction Project Manager specializing in mixed‑use developments

Advancement To:

Senior Urban Development Director or Vice President, Urban Projects
Head of Real‑Estate Development – Urban & Infrastructure
Chief Development Officer – Urban & Mixed‑Use Platforms

Lateral Moves:

Infrastructure & Public Realm Project Lead
Urban Regeneration & Revitalization Manager
Smart Cities & Urban Innovation Lead

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Identify and evaluate urban development opportunities including land acquisition, site feasibility, zoning, municipal planning, market demand and financial viability.
Develop detailed financial models (IRR, ROI, cash‑flows, NPV) for urban projects and prepare investment memoranda, pitch decks and funding proposals for investors and lenders.
Manage entitlement, zoning, land‑use change, environmental clearance and regulatory approval processes in collaboration with government agencies, architects, engineers and consultants.
Lead selection and negotiation of architects, engineers, general contractors, consultants and vendors; coordinate RFPs, contracts, procurement, FF&E, and OS&E for urban development projects.
Oversee design and construction phases: schedule management, cost control, quality assurance, risk mitigation, contractor coordination, milestone tracking and final hand‑over to operations.
Coordinate cross‑functional teams (planning, design, construction, operations, sustainability) to ensure alignment of brand, strategy, product mix and guest/resident/user experience for urban developments.
Monitor market trends, competitive supply, demographic shifts, demand drivers, transportation infrastructure and economic policies to inform site strategy, product design and positioning.
Develop and maintain development pipelines, track key performance metrics, report progress to senior management and investors, and adjust strategy as needed.
Produce and review master plans, urban design guidelines, public realm strategies, mixed‑use Integration plans and infrastructure staging for city districts and neighborhoods.
Engage with public stakeholders, community groups, local authorities and partner organizations: lead consultations, manage relationships, mitigate community risk, secure public support and ensure project alignment with social impact goals.
Incorporate sustainability, resilience and smart‑city principles: oversee integration of green infrastructure, transit‑oriented development (TOD), affordable housing, mixed‑use zoning, infrastructure optimization and lifecycle planning.
Liaise with finance, accounting and operations teams for budgeting, cost tracking, cash‑flow monitoring, draw‑down management, and reporting through project lifecycle including construction and post‑opening phases.
Develop strategies for urban regeneration, adaptive reuse of buildings, infill development, transit‑oriented growth and public‑private partnership models to transform under‑utilised urban land.
Ensure compliance with building codes, municipal regulations, fire and life‑safety, accessibility standards, EHS (environment, health & safety), community benefit agreements, and audit readiness.
Manage land‑use entitlements, master planning approvals, infrastructure agreements, utility coordination, zoning overlays, and right‑of‑way issues with public agencies.
Oversee branding and user‑experience elements for urban developments including public realm activation, amenities programming, retail/office/residential interface, and operations hand‑over readiness.
Lead the transition of developments from construction to operations: coordinate property management, asset management, leasing, marketing, facility management and operations guidelines.
Perform post‑launch performance reviews: benchmark actual operational KPIs (occupancy, rental rates, foot‑traffic, revenue per square foot), analyze variance against projections and implement corrective actions.
Establish and maintain documentation of all project stages: architectural drawings, design guidelines, contract documentation, commissioning records, maintenance plans and warranties.
Drive innovation in urban development delivery: implement digital tools, BIM/CAD workflows, modular construction, building systems integration, digital twins, data analytics and smart‑city platforms.

Secondary Functions

Support ad‑hoc data requests and exploratory market or development‑pipeline analyses for strategic planning and internal decision‑making.
Contribute to the organisation’s urban development strategy and roadmap by aligning projects with enterprise goals, real‑estate portfolio objectives and city/regional growth plans.
Collaborate across business units to translate operational, technical or infrastructure requirements into development specifications and deliverables.
Participate in steering committees, governance boards, urban innovation working groups, development partnership reviews and other cross‑functional forums.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Expertise in real‑estate financial modelling, feasibility analysis, investment underwriting and portfolio strategy.
Deep knowledge of land‑use regulations, zoning codes, entitlements, municipal planning processes and infrastructure agreements.
Proficiency in project management of large‑scale built environment developments: scheduling, cost control, contractor management and risk mitigation.
Strong command of master planning, urban design frameworks, mixed‑use development and public‑realm integration.
Facility with procurement, contract negotiation, FF&E/OS&E sourcing, vendor management, service‑level agreements (SLAs) and development supply‑chain logistics.
Competence in sustainability, green infrastructure, transit‑oriented development (TOD), smart‑city technologies and lifecycle asset planning.
Ability to manage multidisciplinary teams and relationships across planning, design, construction, finance, operations and public sector.
Proficient in documentation, reporting, dashboarding and analytics for development metrics, KPI tracking and stakeholder updates.
Experience in post‑construction asset hand‑over, facility/asset management coordination, operations readiness and performance benchmarking.
Familiarity with digital tools such as BIM, CAD, GIS, digital twin platforms, data analytics and prop‑tech innovations in urban development.

Soft Skills

Strong leadership and team‑management: able to drive cross‑functional teams, mentor staff, manage partnerships and deliver outcomes.
Excellent communication skills: able to articulate development strategies, present to senior leadership, engage community stakeholders and negotiate with public agencies.
Strategic thinking and business acumen: understands the link between urban development, market dynamics, economic value, social impact and financial returns.
Exceptional organisational and time‑management skills: manage complex portfolios, navigate competing priorities and deliver on tight timelines.
High attention to detail and quality‑focus: ensure compliance, documentation accuracy and delivery of standards across project lifecycle.
Adaptability and resilience: thrive in dynamic and ambiguous urban environments, respond to changing regulations, stakeholder demands and market shifts.
Stakeholder engagement and relationship‑building: forge trust with public sector, communities, investors, operators and design teams to support project success.
Negotiation and influencing: secure approvals, partnerships, vendor terms and community buy‑in through persuasion and structured arguments.
Innovation mindset: proactively identify opportunities for smarter, more efficient development delivery, adopt new technologies and improve processes.
Integrity and ethics: uphold highest standards of conduct, manage risks, protect stakeholder interests and ensure responsible urban development.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Real Estate Development, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or related discipline.
Preferred Education:
Master’s degree in Urban Development, Real Estate, Urban Planning, Business Administration or a related advanced qualification.
Relevant Fields of Study:

Urban Planning / Urban Development
Real Estate Development / Construction Management
Architecture / Landscape Architecture
Business Administration / Project Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:
5‑8 years of professional experience in urban development, real‑estate development or large‑scale infrastructure/urban projects.
Preferred:
8+ years of progressive experience with a track record of delivering mixed‑use or urban regeneration projects, working with public/private partnerships, managing budgets, teams and development pipelines.