Director - Asset Management | Real Estate | Doha Festival City

Job Requisition ID: 173440 

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

Responsible for the day-to-day management of Doha Festival City Mall, ensuring operational excellence, financial performance, and superior guest experience. The role oversees retailer relations, revenue generation, asset management, budgeting, and business planning, while leading on-site teams and coordinating specialty leasing and concierge programs.

The ideal candidate will drive operational efficiency, stakeholder engagement, and income growth, maintaining the mall’s physical integrity and enhancing its overall value by maximizing Net Operating Income (NOI) in line with revenue and expenditure targets.

What you will do

Financial Performance

• Prepare annual Retail Operations budgets covering capital, manpower, OPEX, and income forecasts.
• Submit budget projections to the Board of Directors for review and approval.
• Regularly review financial performance and take corrective actions for negative variances.
• Use past experience, team input, and market trends to forecast revenue and expenditure accurately.
• Identify potential financial risks and report findings to the Board of Directors.
• Ensure tight management of debtors and consistent delivery of EBIDAT targets.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive service charge (S/C) budget and matrix.
• Ensure all operational expenditures are recoverable from tenants and audited annually as per international standards.
• Assist in preparing and reviewing monthly and annual financial reports.
• Support re-forecasting, P&L analysis, lease abstracting, and budgeting activities.
• Assist in the collection of monthly receivables as required by the Senior General Manager.
• Oversee asset condition and maintenance programs to maximize lifecycle and salvage value.

Marketing

• Oversee mall marketing initiatives and events, ensuring proper promotion and retailer engagement to drive footfall and tenant sales.
• Enhance the guest experience and handle guest complaints promptly and effectively.
• Develop and execute an innovative, targeted marketing plan with the Senior General Manager and Marketing Manager, ensuring effective budgeting and brand consistency.
• Maintain strong community relations and monitor political or regulatory developments that may impact operations, taking proactive corrective action.
• Foster tenant relations through regular meetings and communication, ensuring awareness and compliance with lease terms.

Operational Excellence

• Maintain high operating standards, ensuring quality, cost, and timeliness through transparent vendor selection (minimum three tenders), and submit recommendations for approval as per DOA.
• Supervise and provide leadership to the concierge, specialty leasing, administrative, and reception teams.
• Evaluate property development needs, recommend improvements, and ensure timely execution of approved projects within defined scope and compliance standards.

Human Resource Management

• Conduct regular performance appraisals, identify training needs, and initiate internal or external training as required.
• Ensure team motivation, engagement, and delivery of expected work standards.
• Maintain strong coordination with corporate departments, ensuring alignment and cohesive operations across functions impacting Centre Management.

Report Presentation

• Present comprehensive reports on tenants, income, expenditure, positioning, and competition to the company, supported by subordinate and market research data.
• Compare actual performance against budget projections and propose ways to enhance performance and design concepts.
• Ensure all reports reflect accurate and up-to-date information to represent the company’s real-time position.

Required Skills to be successful

• 20+ years of experience in the relevant field within reputable organizations, including at least 5–7 years in a senior management role overseeing shopping centre or retail operations
• Strong knowledge of all aspects of leasing and marketing, including strategy development, implementation, and operations.
• Proven ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with tenants, service providers, and internal teams to ensure smooth operations and stakeholder alignment.

What equips you for the rol

• Degree in business administration with specialization in Marketing & Real Estate with extensive knowledge of developing commercial Real Estate properties.
• Masters in Business Administration (Marketing, Accounting) etc is preferred

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/