Senior Manager Real Estate

About the role

The Senior Manager Real Estate develops and implements strategies so that the various brands achieve their expansion programmes in line with the business' growth plans. The role negotiates development agreements with franchisors and landlords, manages the equity property portfolio to control property cost inflation and seize asset management opportunities, and advises the business professionally. It is based in Kuwait.

Key responsibilities

• Mobilise the real estate strategy for each market, aligned to business objectives, in close liaison with the business
• Oversee site acquisition for new units: identify and secure sites for handover to construction and keep the pipeline flowing
• Handle property finances, including preparing and maintaining financial statements
• Monitor lease negotiations and signings, including rental reduction talks, and forecast the number of new restaurants opening per period and year
• Track the pipeline and forecasts monthly, drive the setting of annual operating plans and ensure accurate monthly fit tracking reports
• Review market insights gathered and analysed, and liaise with Market Planning
• Prioritise and negotiate sites, ensuring financial viability, reviewing feasibility studies, assessing planning probabilities and managing the planning and legal process
• Develop cost-effective solutions covering location, lease versus own, lease term, financial commitment, exit strategies and operating expense budgets
• Act as single contact for outside agents, retailers and potential vendors/landlords, and lead the Acquisitions Team in building relationships with franchise partners
• Lead strategy to minimise property cost inflation and establish best-practice negotiation approaches
• Ensure accurate IFA documentation with the Franchise Operations Team and share pipeline reports across brands
• Coach and mentor the team on KPIs, Americana processes, policies and values, and identify successors

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Management
• Minimum 12 years of experience in retail or F&B companies
• Proven track record driving the real estate agenda across management levels and managing teams and stakeholders
• Thorough understanding of retail or hospitality industry trends
• Strong knowledge of local property law, taxes and financial statements
• Knowledge of lease negotiations, asset management, triple net leases, loan requisitions, retainage and lien waivers

Required skills

• Leadership, coaching and mentoring
• Negotiation, consensus building and communication
• Strategic thinking and business acumen
• Problem analysis and solution design