Real Estate Manager

Job Purpose:

Lead and manage the company's real estate partnership strategy in alignment with its growth and expansion objectives, with a strong focus on the retail sector. The role is responsible for developing strategic relationships with property owners, real estate developers, shopping mall operators, and key stakeholders, while identifying and securing high-potential locations and negotiating commercially attractive terms that maximize business value and support sustainable growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement the Real Estate Partnerships strategy in line with the company's overall business and expansion plans.
• Build and maintain long-term strategic relationships with property owners, real estate developers, shopping mall operators, asset managers, and other key stakeholders.
• Identify, source, and evaluate potential retail locations based on strategic and commercial criteria, including location, size, demographics, footfall, accessibility, competition, catchment area, and commercial potential.
• Lead negotiations with landlords and developers on rental rates, lease terms, incentives, rent-free periods, marketing contributions, renewal conditions, expansion options, and other commercial terms.
• Manage the full real estate partnership lifecycle, from opportunity identification and initial assessment through negotiations, contracting, handover, and operational launch.
• Develop and maintain a strategic portfolio of real estate partnerships to support current and future expansion requirements.
• Conduct and oversee commercial feasibility studies and financial assessments for potential locations and partnership opportunities.
• Monitor the performance of real estate partnerships and locations, analyzing commercial returns, occupancy costs, and overall contribution to business objectives.
• Identify opportunities for expansion, relocation, consolidation, renegotiation, or optimization of existing retail locations.
• Lead negotiations related to lease renewals, amendments, expansions, restructuring, early termination, and alternative site options.
• Monitor real estate market trends and developments in the retail sector, including rental trends, emerging locations, consumer behavior, and changes in the competitive landscape.
• Establish and maintain a comprehensive database covering property opportunities, landlords, developers, agreements, negotiations, and key commercial indicators.
• Prepare regular management reports and executive presentations covering partnership performance, new opportunities, negotiations, risks, and strategic recommendations.
• Collaborate closely with Legal, Finance, Operations, Development, Marketing, Supply Chain, and other relevant functions to ensure effective execution of real estate decisions.
• Identify and proactively manage commercial, contractual, and operational risks associated with real estate partnerships.
• Represent the company in strategic meetings, negotiations, industry events, and relevant real estate and retail forums.

Mandatory Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Real Estate, Finance, Engineering, or a related field.
• 8–10+ years of relevant professional experience in real estate partnerships, retail expansion, real estate development, business development, or a related field.
• Mandatory: Proven experience working within retail companies, with a strong understanding of retail business models, store expansion, commercial real estate, and location strategy.
• Mandatory: Previous experience in a real estate, expansion, property, or partnerships role within the retail sector, preferably with a recognized multi-site retail organization.
• Proven track record of dealing with shopping malls, real estate developers, landlords, asset managers, and property owners.
• Strong experience in commercial negotiations and lease management.
• Solid understanding of retail expansion models, site selection, location evaluation, and store network development.
• Experience in preparing feasibility studies, business cases, financial analysis, and commercial assessments.
• Strong relationship management and stakeholder engagement capabilities.
• Good knowledge of the local real estate market and retail industry trends.
• Fluency in Arabic and English is preferred.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, project management, communication, and presentation skills.

Core Competencies:

• Strategic Leadership
• Real Estate Partnerships
• Retail Industry Expertise
• Retail Expansion & Site Development
• Commercial Negotiation
• Relationship & Stakeholder Management
• Commercial & Financial Acumen
• Market & Location Analysis
• Contract & Lease Management
• Business Development
• Strategic Planning
• Risk Management
• Problem Solving & Decision Making
• Executive Communication & Presentation
• Data-Driven Decision Making

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Achievement of the annual real estate expansion plan.
• Number and quality of strategic real estate partnerships established.
• Commercial savings achieved through negotiations.
• Average occupancy/rental cost versus market benchmarks and approved budgets.
• Conversion rate of identified opportunities into operational retail locations.
• Commercial return and performance of secured locations.
• Lease renewal and retention rate for strategic locations.
• Average negotiation and deal-closing cycle time.
• Compliance with approved real estate budgets and expansion plans.
• Landlord and strategic partner satisfaction.