PROJECT DIRECTOR | REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT | Lisbon & Comporta / Melides

Iconic Real Estate Location: Lisbon & Melides – Portugal Activity: Development of iconic properties in exceptional locations

THE WILD HOUSE CAPITAL

The Wild House Capital is a real estate development and investment company focused on the creation of iconic assets located in exceptional, high–heritage-value destinations such as Lisbon, Comporta & Melides, and other prime locations.

Each project is conceived as a long-term, high-quality asset, combining: · architectural excellence · best-in-class execution · sustainable long-term value creation

The company is entering a key phase of organizational structuring and accelerated growth, with a significant increase in activity from 2026 onward.

THE ROLE

The Wild House is hiring a Project Director to own 2 to 3 high-end residential projects end to end, from design to after-sale. We need a technically strong engineer who can challenge our designers, contractors and site supervisor, who brings their own network of reliable trades, and who thrives in a fast, lean company.

The Wild House develops and delivers premium real estate in Lisbon, Melides and Comporta: new-build villas, townhouse renovations and smaller studio projects. Our model is to deliver 3 to 4 projects a year, with around ten in design or construction at any time. Each project is led by one Project Director who answers for its result.

You run your projects as if they were your own business: delivered on time, on budget and at the expected quality. • Portfolio: 2 to 3 projects at different stages, typically one in design or permitting and one to two on site. • Project types: signature properties in Melides & Comporta, and on the golden triangle of Lisbon (Lapa, Avenida da Liberdade...) and smaller studio projects (extensions, interior renovations for our internal clients). • Lifecycle: design, permitting, tender, construction, handover and after-sale.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Leadership & Review • Review and challenge execution drawings, technical details, engineering solutions • Identify: inconsistencies in design, technical risks, cost or constructability issues • Work closely with: architects, engineers, fiscal de obra, contractors to define and implement the most efficient technical solutions in terms of cost, execution, long-term quality

Design & Development • Select and manage architects and engineering teams • Lead design development and technical decisions • Challenge and optimize technical solutions • Manage municipalities and public authorities (Patrimonio, APA, CCDR…) and approvals

Procurement & Preparation • Identify, select, and onboard contractors and service providers • Manage tender processes and analyze quotations • Contribute to budget structuring and cost control

Construction Phase • Oversee day-to-day project execution • Ensure compliance with timeline, budget, and quality standards • Coordinate all stakeholders involved in the construction process • Anticipate risks and resolve operational issues

Client & Stakeholder Management • Act as the main point of contact for clients • Provide regular updates and reporting • Ensure alignment between all parties throughout the project lifecycle • Run snag lists and close them within agreed deadlines. • Organise provisional and final reception, as-built documents and the technical file. • Manage warranty claims and stay the client's single point of contact.

WHAT OWNERSHIP MEANS HERE

This role is about taking things off the founder's desk, not adding to it. These points are non-negotiable.

• You set the agenda. You know the next three steps on each project and act on them without being asked. • You bring options, not just problems. Every issue comes with a recommendation. • You spend money as if it were your own. Every quote is challenged and negotiated. • You protect the company in contracts. Dates, penalties, retentions and guarantees are your responsibility. • A request is made once. If something is blocked, you say so before the deadline, not after. • You always know where your projects stand. Status, cost and risks, at any moment, without preparation.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

TECHNICAL AUTHORITY

You are the most technically credible person on your projects, and everyone around the table knows it.

• Design engineers (projetistas): you read structural, MEP and thermal projects in detail and challenge their choices on cost, buildability and performance. • Contractors: you spot under-specified quotes, unjustified extras and poor execution before they cost us money. • Site supervisor (fiscal): you work with them as a peer, check their findings and push further when needed. • On site: you know construction methods, materials and sequencing well enough to solve problems on the spot, not by email a week later.

YOUR NETWORK

You do not start from zero. You bring a network you have built over years and can put to work from week one. • Reliable general contractors and specialist trades (structure, carpentry, joinery, stone, MEP, pools, landscaping) that you have already worked with. • Suppliers who deliver on time and at fair prices. • Design engineers and site supervisors you trust. • Knowing who is good for what, who to avoid, and what a fair price is.

HOW WE WORK

We are a small, fast company. There is no thick procedures manual and no layers of approval. • Decisions are made quickly, directly with the direction team. • Priorities move; you adapt without losing control of your projects. • You build the light tools you need (trackers, checklists) without waiting to be given them. • If you need a defined process for every step to perform, this role is not for you.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

We are looking for an engineer who has already led residential projects from design to handover, and who thinks like an entrepreneur. • Degree in civil engineering (mandatory). • 8+ years in construction or real estate development, including at least 3 years leading projects as the accountable person. • Hands-on site experience on high-end residential projects, ideally including time on the contractor side. • Strong technical command of structure, MEP and building envelope, enough to challenge design engineers, contractors and site supervisors. • An established network of contractors, trades and suppliers on high-end residential projects in Portugal. • Proven track record negotiating with contractors and suppliers. • Solid command of Portuguese construction contracts, licensing and site practice. • At ease in a fast-moving, lean structure with few formal processes. • Fluent Portuguese and English; French is a plus. • Driving licence; based in Lisbon with weekly travel to Melides and Comporta. • An entrepreneurial background (own company, side projects, commercial role) is a strong plus.

WHAT YOU WILL GAIN

• Work on exceptional real estate and architectural projects • Exposure to high-end development and design • Opportunity to contribute directly to the development of projects from concept to execution • A steep learning curve in a high-performance environment

Please send your CV to virginie@the-wild-house