Property Development & Acquisitions Jobs
Development management, land acquisition and feasibility careers across Australia's residential and commercial property sectors.
Key Property Development & Acquisitions Capabilities
The skills and strengths employers look for in this field.
Financial Feasibility & Modelling
Building and interrogating development feasibilities in tools such as Estate Master (Argus EstateMaster) or Excel, including residual land value, IRR, margin on cost and sensitivity analysis.
Site Acquisition & Due Diligence
Sourcing off-market and on-market sites, assessing planning potential and constraints, and managing legal, title and environmental due diligence through to settlement.
Planning & Approvals
Navigating state planning systems, development applications (DAs), rezonings and conditions of consent, and coordinating town planners, architects and consultants.
Project Delivery & Coordination
Managing design development, consultant teams, programme, budget and risk from acquisition through construction to settlement and handover.
Commercial Negotiation
Negotiating land deals, joint ventures, builder and consultant agreements, and managing relationships with vendors, agents and capital partners.
Stakeholder & Authority Liaison
Engaging with councils, state agencies, utilities, community groups and internal investment committees to keep projects on track.
Market & Highest-and-Best-Use Analysis
Assessing demand, competing supply, pricing and product mix to define the optimal scheme for a site.
Capital & Finance Awareness
Understanding development funding, equity and debt structures, presales requirements and the metrics financiers and investment committees focus on.
Property Development & Acquisitions Market Overview
Property development and acquisitions is the commercial engine of Australia's real estate industry. Professionals in this category identify and acquire sites, build and stress-test financial feasibilities, manage the planning and approvals process, and oversee delivery in partnership with project and construction teams. Employers range from listed developers and institutional fund managers to private builders, government land agencies and not-for-profit community housing providers.
Hiring activity is closely tied to the development cycle, interest rates, construction costs and planning settings, so demand can vary by state and asset class. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth concentrate most opportunities, with build-to-rent, residential land subdivision, industrial and logistics, and social and affordable housing among the more active segments in recent years.
Roles span a clear hierarchy from development analyst and coordinator through to development manager, senior development manager and development director or project director. Acquisitions specialists, including land acquisitions managers, focus on sourcing and securing sites, while feasibility and development analysts provide the financial modelling that underpins go/no-go decisions. Commercial acumen, planning knowledge and strong financial modelling skills are valued across the board.
Property Development & Acquisitions Salary Guide
Indicative ranges — actual pay varies by location, experience and employer.
Indicative annual ranges for metropolitan markets (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane). Figures typically exclude bonuses, profit share and project-completion incentives, which can be substantial at senior levels. Salaries vary by employer, asset class, location and project value.
Live market data (1 role with salary on the board)
Property Development & Acquisitions Job Roles
Common job titles and roles for Property Development & Acquisitions professionals.
Professional Bodies & Qualifications
Bachelor degree in Property, Construction or related field
Most roles favour a degree in property economics, property development, construction management, urban planning, engineering, finance or a related discipline.
Australian Property Institute – Certified Property Practitioner / CPV
API membership and pathways (including valuation credentials) are widely recognised across the property profession and valued for analyst and development roles.
Urban Development Institute of Australia membership
Industry body for the development sector; offers professional development, networking and recognition relevant to acquisitions and development professionals.
Property Council of Australia courses
The Property Council's Academy provides short courses and qualifications in development feasibility, finance and project delivery used widely for upskilling.
Estate Master / Argus feasibility software proficiency
Competence in industry-standard development feasibility software is a practical credential frequently sought for analyst and development manager roles.
Project Management certification (PMP / PRINCE2)
Optional but valued for delivery-focused development and project director roles overseeing complex programmes.
Career Path & Progression
Development Analyst / Coordinator
Entry-level roles supporting feasibilities, due diligence, reporting and consultant coordination, building core modelling and planning knowledge.
Development Manager
Takes end-to-end ownership of one or more projects, running feasibilities, approvals, design and delivery, often with acquisition involvement.
Senior Development Manager
Leads larger or more complex projects, mentors junior staff, and takes greater accountability for commercial outcomes and capital partners.
Development Director / Head of Development
Sets development strategy, leads pipeline and acquisitions, manages teams and is accountable for portfolio-level performance and investment decisions.
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