Job Description

BACKGROUND
Brolls Strategy & Consulting (SC) division is a rapidly expanding business and since its inception, has grown its client base. Today, it consults and advises various local and multinational corporate companies, and public sector clients in respect of their leased/owned properties. SC acts for occupiers and investors of office, industrial, retail and other commercial property and its primary role is to optimise costs while maximising value for its contracted clients. The SC division forms part of a cluster of businesses which offer a range of services to clients including Transaction Services, Capital Markets, Risk Management, Occupier Services, Workplace Strategy and Project Management. The cluster of businesses comprises of the designated Cushman & Wakefield representative service lines for South Africa and certain other African countries.

The position provides a broad and advanced level of strategic support to Brolls leading clients.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW
SC provides real estate advisory services to local and global organisations responsible for over 40 million sqm of real estate across 6,000 buildings in 56 countries valued at over $17bn.

SC Clients are responsible for creating and maintaining a secure and efficient workplace and real estate is one of the largest overheads that organisations have to bear. In addition, they are investors of real estate that seek to benefit from agile asset management solutions in an increasingly complex market.

SC is dedicated to efficiently investing in, managing and maintaining Client facilities in a cost-effective manner, by providing a safe, healthy and quality environment in support of the Firm's business operations, and hosting portfolios of space that compete effectively in the market. This also reflects the image Clients want to portray to staff, their clients / customers, investors and tenants. The strategic asset management of buildings and support services, aligned to 'business' needs, adds value to Clients. This is achieved by its ability to adapt to support changes in the Clients investment and occupier strategy, including but not limited to enhancing the effectiveness of people by providing a flexible working environment, and by meeting the Clients social and environmental responsibilities.

SC consists of a relatively small number of experienced and highly skilled individuals who are recognized within the Industry as being at the top of their profession.

MAIN FUNCTION

The position will develop Client real estate strategies and in addition:
Collaborate with the RE team and vendors
Manage relationships with landlords and/or tenants
Effectively manage RE vendors
Assess performance of property portfolios, and identify opportunities to extract value from assets

This role has 6 key interfaces:
Take direction from the Client real estate custodian to drive forward Real Estate Strategy
Work with the Clients local business to understand needs
Work with the other workstreams to integrate insights
Work with other divisions in Broll and external partners/parties to integrate insights and deliver comprehensive real estate strategies, and facilitate their implementation
Interact with landlords and direct property transactions strategically
Provide meaningful input towards the cohesion of the team

MAIN DUTIES

1. Develop asset and portfolio strategies for clients to meet the business needs in and outside of South Africa.
Develop and maintain a real estate strategies aligned to business growth plans
Work with the global and/or investment teams to develop the strategies for clients
Keep abreast of market best practice and emerging trends
Agree and deliver against performance measures for successful management of the real estate portfolio

2. Ensure timely and effective implementation of real estate strategy
Ensure all key critical event dates are met
Co-ordinate project teams and take initiative in developing business cases / recommendation papers
Co-ordinate project teams to deliver real estate transactions, managing productive stakeholder relationships
Determine priorities with a supporting implementation/project plan
Support transactions team to deliver execution of real estate strategies through transactions
Demonstrate commercial / economic value in all real estate transactions

3.Stakeholder Management
Communicate, influence and gain buy-in from stakeholders on RE strategy and direction
Partner with stakeholders to effectively understand their requirements
Develop relationships with key business stakeholders across clients to understand business direction
Influence key business stakeholders in direction of real estate
Act as an ambassador for Client RE within its business
Ensure effective monitoring of stakeholder feedback

4. Financial Management
Ensure budget actuals are closely managed against forecasts, performance is reported, trended and if necessary recovery plans quickly and implemented
Identify opportunities for converting strategies into transactions in a manner that must (and is conditional to) deliver recognized value to Clients
Meet annual income targets

5. Personal Development
Support leadership to meet Client standards
Proactively set appropriate development opportunities that are aligned with the Broll core business
Research best practice and information sharing across colleagues and the Client RE teams
Support diversity throughout the team

6. Manage regional process and procedures
Ensure Client Global and Group governance and standards are applied
Efficient execution of process and procedure
Clear communication to all stakeholders

7. Provide centre of expert knowledge of Real Estate
Give intermediate input to a range of forums/activities where specialist knowledge is of value
Import best practice and strategy from external market and industry think-tanks

REQUIREMENT

Qualifications / Education:
Masters / Honours / 4-year degree level education, preferably in real estate, business or related field
Fluent in both spoken and written English
Strong financial and IT desktop skills

Experience required:
3 10 years professional experience within the real estate sector
Experience within large business, and interfacing with senior personnel
Knowledge of Africa Real Estate market including players and current trends
Portfolio management experience preferably corporate real estate
Business case development and writing
Lease negotiation experience (optional)

Skills and Aptitude:
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Strong financial and analytical management abilities
Strong commercial acumen
Intermediate financial modelling skills
Ability to learn new skills and acquire knowledge
Ability to write clear compelling reports
Ability to compile Business Cases that can be presented with confidence to Clients
Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills

Candidate Profile:
Energetic and dynamic
Self-confidence
High attention to detail
Superior time management

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