Head of Property
ROLE PURPOSE
The purpose of this role is to lead and support the Retail & Property Director to provide a comprehensive property service for the Oak Furnitureland Group Limited, comprising retail showrooms, and non-retail facilities across the UK, developing the estate with new showrooms, building strong relationships with landlords, delivering best terms through proactive management of lease events and assisting with the development of the property strategy as required to meet the business needs.
The role will be based full-time from our Swindon Head Office. There may be the opportunity to work remotely as agreed with the line manager.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
* Reporting directly to the Retail and Property Director, with line management responsibility for the Estates administrator, F&M manager and working alongside other roles.
* Overall management of the current property portfolio including 70 showrooms and 14 non-retail properties, including the Head Office with a rent roll of approx. £17.5m per annum and rates, service charge and insurance of approx. £10.3m per annum.
* Showroom opening programme of circa 3-5 per annum, including potential management of relocations and old property closures.
* Managing and protecting the business through proactive key lease event management, including rent reviews, lease renewals and break clauses in a flexible short leasehold estate.
* Managing and evolving the business property policies ensuring they are fit for purpose from a regulatory, effectiveness and efficiency perspective.
* Building sustainable relationships with landlords, managing agents and external advisers, plus the management of a network of external professional advisors including surveyors and solicitors.
* Engaging with senior stakeholders across the business to understand evolving requirements from the service.
* UK nationwide network including Northern Ireland, the role requires ability to build knowledge, awareness and relationships at local levels and travel across the UK to secure the needs of the business.
* Development and management of a clear property strategy, aligned to the needs of the business, and with well-articulated plans for delivery.
* Effectively manage the current property portfolio, managing key lease events to time, budget and commercial outcomes, ensuring relationships with landlords and their managing agents is well managed, and using external networks to further the needs of the business from a property perspective.
* Effectively maintain the Estates Plan, ensuring it accurately reflects the occupational terms of the business, and manage the approach and outcome to key lease events well ahead of time and efficiently to budget to meet the needs of the business.
* Identify and appraise potential sites as locations for new showroom openings in close co-operation with key business stakeholders and external network planning partners.
* Assess new potential sites with commercial regard for property outgoings, statutory planning, condition, configuration, delivery vehicle accessibility, proximity to nearby showrooms and other local operational requirements.
* Strong and effective communication on all property matters across stakeholders, peers, colleagues and suppliers.
* Foster solid working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to develop and instigate property projects, including negotiating effectively with landlords, external consultants and suppliers and influencing internal operational colleagues and other relevant senior managers.
* Monitor, review and analyse all aspects of completed projects to implement improvements in future projects as applicable in terms of programme time, budget and operational requirements.
* Maintaining a commercial, economic and flexible environment for the existing property portfolio against rising costs and an improving landlord’s market.
* Maintaining a commercially viable property acquisition programme in accordance with the company's strategic requirements against an environment of reduced property availability and hostile competing interests.
* Developing strong external relationships with the landlords, managing agents and property advisers, and building strong internal stakeholder relationships.
* Management of internal and external resources to successfully accommodate fluctuating project workload requirements on a national basis.
* Daily liaison with the Retail & Property Director, Estates Administrator, Facilities & Maintenance Manager, Finance Colleagues, and Retail Operations for support, guidance, operational and property matters.
* Ad hoc liaison with Senior Directors for strategic direction, support, presentations, and meetings.
Key Performance Indicators
* Accurate estates plan with good communication of key events to all key stakeholders (internal and external).
* Successful management of the existing portfolio demonstrating best practice and cost efficiency leading to increased profitability.
* New showroom opening programme completed in accordance with company strategic requirements, to time and budget.
* Added value to the existing property team through strong relationships with the external property market and external parties.
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
* Real Estate management degree or similar property related discipline.
* Self-starting bringing existing solid property market relationships and experience for the benefit of the business.
* Detailed knowledge of Landlord and Tenant law, Town and Country Planning law and all other relevant property-related legislation.
* Good experience of acquisitions and estate management and influential stakeholder management in a fast-moving retail, or similar commercial environment.
* Forward thinking, good communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.
* Organised with the ability to lead a small effective property team.
* Focused on achieving results through the combined efforts of the wider business team.
* Strong commercial acumen; proactive, driven and committed to delivering projects within agreed timescales.
* Ability to actively manage and prioritise multiple ongoing projects, provide innovative solutions and respond to changing priorities.
* Lead by example, take responsibility and ownership.
* Professional property accreditation such as MRICS or equivalent.
BENEFITS
* Employee discount: amazing discounts available on all Oak Furnitureland products after successful completion of probation
* Life assurance: free cover of a minimum of two times your annual salary up to the age of 65
* 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays
* Birthday: an additional day off for you to celebrate your birthday
* Hybrid working
* Pension: 5% basic salary employer contribution with 4% employee contribution
* Employee Assistance Programme: gives all employees access to both telephone and face-to-face counselling services
* My Rewards Programme: offers discounts on everything from restaurants and supermarkets, to entertainment and holidays
* Free on-site parking
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