Property Director

The Company:

Our client is one of the UK’s leading QSR brands with exciting and ambitious plans to grow its restaurant footprint in the UK. It is also exploring opportunities to work with Franchise Partners to accelerate further growth in the UK and other geographies. \

The Position:

Reporting to the CEO, as part of the Leadership Team, this is a business critical role in fulfilling our client’s ambitious growth plans, leading equity-owned restaurant growth in the UK. You will primarily be responsible for developing a strong pipeline of suitable opportunities and work closely with the CEO and the Board to develop investment cases. The Property Director will work through a cross functional team to deliver their restaurant openings strategy, alongside managing their existing estate of properties. This is a newly created position and offers an outstanding opportunity for a driven and highly commercial property expert to be at the forefront of our clients next phase of growth.

Other key duties and responsibilities will include:-

• Lead a multidisciplinary team with responsibility for the end-to-end property function from Acquisitions, Estates, Design and Construction & Maintenance
• Plan and execute an innovative property strategy by building and nurturing strong relationships with Agents, Landlords and Developers
• Ensure a healthy pipeline of site opportunities is maintained, with a robust plan in place to mitigate risk proportionate to the trends in the property market
• Lead the development of compelling business cases to bring to the Property Investment Committee
• Oversee landlord negotiations for new sites and minimise ongoing property occupation costs through timely completion of rent reviews, rates and other occupancy costs
• Programme manage and provide guidance and clarity to the property development team in order to meet new opening deadlines
• Define and execute our property maintenance strategy, ensuring service and cost is optimised through the right balance of insourced and outsourced activity
• Develop strong relationships with the Operations and People functions, with clear expectations set during the property development phase in order to facilitate a streamlined handover and opening success
• Role model a culture and climate that attracts, retains and motivates a high performing team
• Coach and develop the team to maintain our record for internal promotion and talent management
• Hold people to account and set clear objectives around performance and behaviour, thereby developing a high-performance culture
• Communicate plans and change initiatives with clarity and care, ensuring the ‘why’ is discussed openly with teams
• Lead cross-functionally and develop strong relationships with critical internal teams
• Role model our client’s Behaviours (Passion, Adaptability, Responsibility, and Teamwork), recognising when they are observed and challenging when they are not.

The Candidate:

You will be an ambitious and high-energy property business leader with exceptional commercial acumen to be successful for this role.

Candidates will be educated to degree level, ideally with a postgraduate qualification in a property related discipline. They should have proven success in developing a strong property pipeline, ideally in QSR or casual dining in the UK.

They should be able to demonstrate:

• Sound understanding of the UK commercial property market with a well-developed network
• An entrepreneurial streak as well as an analytical, critical thinking and business problem solving mindset
• Commercially astute with strong negotiation and deal-making skills with demonstrated success in managing and growing a business
• Strong financial acumen and ability to influence at the highest levels of an organisation
• An approachable and credible communication style, both verbally and written, to keep all levels of the organisation informed and engaged
• The gravitas and ability to manage key relationships both externally and internally
• Tenacity with a high level of energy and commitment and the ability to energise those around them
• The ability to manage effectively in a matrix structure by setting clear expectations and holding people to account – not to be preoccupied with hierarchy
• A self-starter who is ambitious for our clients growth potential with the ability to spot opportunities
• Genuinely collegiate and low ego – not take themselves too seriously
• Unphased by ambiguity and able to navigate a way forward when faced with rapidly changing circumstances – able to pivot
• Welcomes challenge and responds well to feedback

The Salary & Supporting Benefits:

Attractive base salary, Bonus, Equity Scheme Pension, Private Medical Cover, Life Assurance x 4, 50% Discount on restaurant purchases, access to retail discount scheme, personal free lunch when in office/restaurants, 25 days holiday etc.

The Location:

London. The Property Director is likely to work from home two days a week.

The above are principal elements in an attractive and comprehensive package reflecting our Client’s determination to appoint a first class candidate.

It is our policy to practice equal opportunities in recruitment and selection for all candidates.

We have a responsibility to avoid unlawful discrimination.