Property & Development Recruitment in Queensland: Securing Talent Before the Market Turns.

From large-scale mixed-use precincts to boutique residential projects, Queensland’s property and development sector is still moving at pace. Despite interest rate pressures and cost volatility, key developments are breaking ground or moving through design at record speed. The challenge isn’t just planning or funding — it’s finding the people who can make the vision a reality.

Project Directors and Development Managers are all too familiar with the crunch: roles like Development Managers, Project Managers, and Contracts Administrators can sit vacant for months, delaying programs and pushing up costs.

Why property & development talent is in short supply.

Several factors are converging:

• Interstate migration has created demand for more residential and community infrastructure.

• Government-backed precincts and transport hubs are competing with private developments for talent.

• Limited mid-level succession in the pipeline — many strong candidates are already tied into multi-year projects.

• Counter-offers and salary competition are now common even for second-tier roles.

The cost of a delayed hire.

Vacant key positions in development teams can lead to:

• Prolonged DA and approvals phases

• Contract variations and unplanned procurement changes

• Reduced leverage in contractor negotiations

• Oversight gaps leading to quality or compliance issues

Each week without the right person can create downstream costs far beyond the initial salary saving.

 How leading developers are getting ahead.

The most successful Queensland property & development teams are:

• Locking in leadership early — securing Development Managers well before shovels hit the ground.

• Being flexible on backgrounds — considering talent from adjacent sectors (infrastructure, commercial construction) with transferable skills.

• Offering project completion bonuses — reducing mid-project attrition.

• Partnering exclusively with niche recruiters — streamlining the process to avoid delays.

• Selling the Queensland lifestyle — attracting talent from southern states who are open to relocation.

How Aequalis Consulting can help.

With 25 + years recruiting across Property & Development and Infrastructure & Construction, we maintain an active network of passive candidates across Queensland and interstate. We know where the market’s moving, and which high-calibre professionals are open to their next project.

Recent placements include:

• Senior Development Manager (mixed-use precinct, Brisbane)

• Project Manager (residential, Gold Coast)

• Contracts Administrator (commercial build, Sunshine Coast)

We don’t just fill roles — we align talent with your long-term development strategy.

Next steps for property leaders.

• Audit your team against project milestones for the next 12 months.

• Brief a specialist recruiter early to map available and upcoming talent.

• Highlight lifestyle and project appeal to win over passive interstate candidates.

• Commit to a fast, decisive process to avoid losing candidates to counter-offers.

Queensland’s property market moves in cycles — but your talent strategy can’t. Whether you’re planning your next precinct or breaking ground on a boutique build, securing the right people early is your best insurance.

Contact Aequalis Consulting today for a confidential discussion on building your development team.

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