Estates Manager – Outdoors
About the Role:
Reporting to JD Outdoors’ Director of Property and working closely with the JD Group Estates Team, the candidate will assist with the delivery of the property strategy for JD Outdoors and assist in wider group estates team on other fascia where required.
The varied JD Outdoors estate comprises approximately 200 stores, including freeholds, leaseholds and flexible tenancies and trades from high street, shopping centre, retail park and stand alone locations.
The JD Outdoors strategy is to reduce the high street retail operation and concentrate on the growth of larger format stores, whilst maximising profitability of the stores it is to retain. The candidate will have responsibility for the proactive management of the estate across the UK estate, establishing regear opportunities and managing the high street closure programme, ensuring consistent messaging with Landlords, retail teams, and all necessary stakeholders.
Specific responsibilities will include:
- Negotiation of rent reviews, lease renewals and break options to mitigate property costs and drive profitability.
- Proactively consider regear opportunities to reduce occupational cost and generate incentive that can be used for reinvestment
- Manage store closures and the exit process including dilapidations negotiations
- Support the Property Director with strategic opportunities for growth.
- Retain ownership of Outdoor Property Database and the JD Group Lucernex Property Management System
- Preparation of board reports for monthly board meetings
- Invoice Authorisations for rent and service charges ensuring turnover linked rents are correctly paid
- Liaise with Maintenance and Health and Safety team regarding ongoing and necessary works.
- Advise on upcoming financial year end budgeting for rent and dilapidations
- The candidate will need to be an excellent communicator, with a need to liaise with internal and external stakeholders including retail operations, stores, finance, maintenance, health & safety, property invoicing, utilities departments as well as Landlords and other external legal, service charge, dilaps, professional and rating advisors
The role shall be based from Bury office with regular Nationwide Travel required.