Assistant Project Manager- Specialty Leasing | Real Estate | Asset Management

Job Requisition ID: 176925 

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group’s entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organization to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate. 

By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity; Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day

Overview Of The Role:
Driving the project management and construction activities of the Specialty Leasing Department as they relate to Improvements, new developments, and landlord works.  Managing and monitoring project progress, driving contractors to value engineer costs and achieve project delivery dates.  Delivering the Project, achieving program, financial returns, deliver within budgets and to the desired quality.

The role requires the management of the interface between the Malls team, external contractors and Tenants to successfully deliver the operational “project” to the requirements of the end user within budget and to the Master Program.

Reporting directly to the Specialty Leasing Manager -, the role holder must have the necessary gravitas, experience, knowledge and personal skills to contribute as a senior member at high level board meetings (when required). 

The Project Manager will also be expected to attend and contribute to construction site/ progress meeting and chair project co-ordination meetings. 

The key success factor in this role will lie in the role holder’s ability to implement a high level of analytical, commercial acumen, planning and programming skills to successfully deliver a commercially viable major development project as well as elevating design quality in Specialty Leasing spaces as per standards and guidelines approved by DHFC Mall Management. 

What You Will Do:

Specialty Leasing:

• Manage and supervise the implementation of approved design and fit out at tenants’ workshop and on site / in mall installations. This includes complying to approved design, approved materials, exact location, complying to HSE standards and industry practice, orientation and alignment with mall corridors, timely execution of works to ensure works are competed prior to mall trading hours each day.
• Propose locations in the mall for potential clients and concepts that best suits the proposed concepts and in view of adjacent tenancies and vicinity.
• Create new locations in the mall to generate additional revenue to the mall. This also includes liaising with FM team to arrange MEP provisions.
• Create LOD and proposed layout for F&B tenant’s external seating to generate additional revenue from common area occupied by main leasing tenants.
• Manager SL portfolio day to day operations including daily inspections of operating retails kiosk , review and approve work permits, tenant’s operations, complaints, review tenants’ requests and obtain approvals from senior management.
• Uplifting SL tenants’ quality standard and performance through regular inspection. Enforcing tenants to renovate and change the design when due for renovation or outdated.
• Liaising with clients, tenants, and internal stakeholders for daily operational issues. Assistance and supporting internal departments during activations and events

Authorities Management

• Ensure all projects and activations are done complying to authority’s requirement. This includes obtaining initial approval and final approval from relevant authorities.

Design Development: 

• Manage design review and design negotiations for entire SL portfolio which includes kiosks, promotion stands, vending machines, ATM, services, and pocket shops.
• Update specialty leasing floor plans and storage floor plans in AutoCAD and pdf formats. Due to the nature of specialty leasing, tenants are frequently changed, and hence frequent updates are required from time to time.
• Prepare LOD (lease outline drawings) and layout drawings in AutoCAD and pdf formats that shall be part of license agreement, proposals sent to potential clients to close a deal, proposal layout and drawings for senior management approval.

Project Management: 

• Monitoring the Project Manager/contractors/consultant’s performance with the objective of ensuring the project meets the established objectives relating to time, cost, quality and commercial returns
• Act a focal point of contact with clients and tenants, Post finalizing any leasing/commercial deal by SL sales team. This includes technical design discussion, implementation as per mall guidelines, explaining operational procedures, work permits and mall regulations. 

Project Reporting: 

• Responsible for providing project updates to senior management and internal stake holders at various stages of the project and meet deadline
• Responsible for analyzing and foreseeing any potential commercial or project delay risks to senior management and proposing plan of action to mitigate the risks.

Project Handover:

• Responsible for ensuring project close out documents such as authority approvals, insurance, warranty/guaranty certificates, operations manuals, spare parts, Defects liability period certificate, project key contact details etc are documented. 

Team Management and Leadership:

• Manage direct reporting staff and subordinate.
• Delegating tasks and follow ups.
• Ensure the direct reports are provided with all necessary tools and supports to do their job in best possible way.
• Provide support and guidance to subordinate when required.
• Train and develop the skills of subordinate by sharing knowledge, ideas and examples.
• Ensure sub ordinates follow Al Futtaim values and work ethics

Required Skills To Be Successful:
Job-Specific Skills: 

• Should have 3–5 years of proven experience leading Specialty Leasing Design & Delivery initiatives end to end.
• Prior mall/retail is essential.
• Strong, hands on design capability across 3D, 2D, and AutoCAD.
• Profile must be highly technical, with deep involvement in design and delivery execution.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise projects from design through to final delivery.
• Experience coordinating with multiple stakeholders, including RDT, Security, and FM (e.g. electricity, drainage, utilities) and contractors.
• Engineering or Graphic Design background is a mandatory requirement

Behavioral Competencies:

• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to successfully implement change management initiatives
• Results oriented
• Ability to undertake manage and mitigate against risk
• Excellent leadership and team player skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication (written and oral) skills
• Excellent Time Management skills
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to interface at levels within an organisation
• Communication & influencing at all levels – internal and external
• Strong eye for detail and understands the value in process
• Arabic language is a plus

What Qualifies You For The Role:
Minimum Qualifications and Knowledge: Bachelor’s degree 

Minimum Experience: 

• 3-5  years’ of experience on a similar development preferably malls/ retail or client side project role
• Demonstrable success in all aspects of the project development cycle from inception, through to design, final delivery, handover and close out phase
• Experience with retail projects; tenant fitout, new construction, and renovations commercial/retail units
• Track record in ensuring commercial and financial success on development projects
• Experience on the real estate and retail 

About Al-Futtaim Malls 
Al-Futtaim Malls provides development and asset management expertise, specializing in building retail-led super regional malls in prime locations across MENA and beyond. With a proven track record of creating both sustainable revenue growth and value enhancement for tenants, Al-Futtaim Malls delivers exceptional experiences and exciting shopping environments for customers. 

Part of the Al-Futtaim Group, Al-Futtaim Malls leadership team brings more than 30 years of experience and a deep understanding and knowledge of the retail sector, both from a shopper’s point of view but as curators of space or landlords to other brands. The company has a directly managed portfolio including over 9 million sqft of retail space across four malls in the MENA region and two under development. Malls under the Al-Futtaim Malls portfolio include Dubai Festival City Mall and Festival Plaza in the UAE, Cairo Festival City Mall in Egypt, Doha Festival City in Qatar and Zenata Mall, Morocco.

Leveraging on the expertise of its parent company, Al-Futtaim Malls established PLEX Management Services offering a full array of services including asset management and development, leasing, and brand experience expertise to shopping mall landlords and retail organizations globally. Implementing global best practice and deploying Al-Futtaim Mall’s deep understanding of mall management and retail dynamics, PLEX promises to deliver continuous growth and long-term value for its partners.

For more information on Al-Futtaim Malls, please visit https://www.al-futtaimmalls.com/