Senior Development Manager - Retail - Al Futtaim Group Real Estate

Job description / Role

Senior Development Manager - Retail - Al Futtaim Group Real Estate - Oman

The Senior Development Manager will be responsible for driving the development of Muscat Festival City Mall with the end goal of maximising the mall asset value as well as the IKEA store and associated off-site road works.

They will lead the development process from initial concept design through to project handover to the asset owner and will be responsible for achieving programme, financial returns, deliver within budgets and to the desired quality.

Key Duties will Include:

Consultant Selection:
- Inviting proposals relating to project designs for the identified opportunity
- Managing the process of selection and negotiation with the short listed consultants based on submissions received

Authorities Management:
- Proactively managing land and authorities such as the Ministry of Housing, Municipality, ROP, C.D, CAA throughout the development process

Design Development:
- Ensuring the appointed consultants maintain the overall vision of the project and design development goals from concept through to detailed design
- Providing the consultants with clear instructions and plans to convert intangible concepts (business plan and preliminary drawings stage) to clear tangibles such as drawings, time lines, costs against which the project construction can be tracked and monitored

Project Management:
- Working with the appointed Project Manager to manage the progress of project
- Monitoring the Project Manager’s performance with the objective of ensuring the project meets the established objectives relating to time, cost, quality and commercial returns
- Acting as the coordinator between the owner, the consultants and contractors and the end tenant/operator/end user

Procurement Strategy:
- Managing the working relationship between the Development Team and the Procurement Team

Project Reporting:
- Consolidating information received from the Quantity Surveying Commercial, Consultants, Contractors, Operators and Leasing teams

Leasing / Tenant Coordination:
- Leading the Tenant Coordination team efforts in driving the fit-out process
- Ensuring that there is correct understanding of tenant requirements

Project Handover:
- Managing the early handover of the IKEA store, associated roads access, parking and operational requirements interface with the ongoing construction requirements of the rest of the Mall
- Managing the project handover by the Development Department to the Asset Owner ensuring all commitments made to the client, tenants and operators have been met

Team Management and Leadership:
- Leading the project team by effectively communicating the vision of the project, milestones, and any changes in strategy as may arise during the course of the project

Requirements

- Bachelor’s degree in Business or Project Management or related field
- 7+ years’ of experience on a similar development 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
- Track record in ensuring commercial and financial success on development projects
- Experience on the real estate, retail or hospitality sector projects

Job-Specific Skills:
- Advanced knowledge of all Microsoft programmes, programming and related techniques
- Comprehensive understanding of FIDIC
- Detailed understanding of cost management, architectural and construction techniques

About the Company

Established in the 1930's, the Al-Futtaim Group initially operated as a trading enterprise. Rapid development throughout the 1940's and 50's saw it establish itself regionally as an integrated commercial, industrial and services organisation, positioning itself one of the leading business houses in the lower Gulf region. Today, it operates collectively over 40 companies bearing the Al-Futtaim name, dominates many market segments in the UAE, and has expanded its sphere of operation to include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Egypt.

The Group comprises a diverse range of strategically positioned operating subsidiaries and associate companies, structured to give the Al-Futtaim Group the flexibility and versatility to keep ahead of local competition while keeping pace with the ever-evolving global business scenario. The Groups continued investment in world-class systems technology is clear evidence of its commitment to maintain leading edge performance and service delivery.

The success of the Al-Futtaim Group can be attributed to a business approach that combines the ability to change with the traditional values of integrity, service and social responsibility that define its core business philosophy. This, linked with the Groups belief in decentralisation, gives the heads of the operating companies a high degree of functional autonomy and authority, providing the Group with essential flexibility, and individual employees a clearly defined work culture and sense of responsibility.