Outlet Leasing Director

We identify and shape places that create opportunity, enhance quality of life, and bring joy to the people connected to them. This is how we’ve created the UK’s leading portfolio of urban places and one of the largest real estate companies in Europe. Our £10 billion portfolio is built around premium workplaces, the country’s pre-eminent retail platform, and a residential pipeline that will redefine urban life. We’ve honed this ability over 80 years. Spotting the opportunities, building the partnerships, and continually adapting to shape the places that meet the needs of a changing world. Places where life happens. Where businesses grow. And where cities are defined.

Location
Ideally Gunwharf Quays (otherwise 80 Victoria Street); on site across the UK as required.

The role:
The Outlet Leasing Director is a leadership role responsible for the end to end leasing performance and brand curation of Landsec’s outlet portfolio, comprising three top ten UK outlet destinations with a combined rental value in excess of £40m. The role is critical to delivering sustained rental growth, enhanced asset relevance and long term value creation, directly supporting Landsec’s 30x30 ambitions. Through a clearly articulated brand mix strategy and disciplined leasing execution, the Leasing Director will ensure Landsec’s outlets continue to compete effectively with the leading outlet schemes in the UK and Europe. Reporting into the Head of Retail and Hospitality Leasing, the role works in close partnership with the Asset Management Director for Outlets, Centre Directors and the wider Leasing and Business Development teams. It has visibility and influence at Retail MD and ExCo level, reflecting the strategic importance of the outlet channel within the wider retail portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Brand mix & leasing strategy
  • Ensure Landsec’s outlet portfolio has a clear and compelling brand direction that strengthens our ability to compete for investment from brands against leading European operators.
  • Develop and lead the implementation of a clear, differentiated outlet brand mix strategy for each asset, aligned to individual asset plans and targeted market positioning.
  • Identify and develop a pipeline of leasing targets, including:
    • Growth opportunities with existing outlet brands.
    • New brand entrants to the outlet channel.
    • Adjacent categories or uses that complement the core off-price retail proposition.
  • Continually review and evolve the brand mix to drive KPI’s on visitation, spend and density; benchmarking performance against UK and European peers.
• Leasing performance & delivery
  • Deliver annual leasing performance in rental growth, incentives, occupancy levels and transaction timings, in line with approved asset budgets.
  • Lead longer term leasing performance in accordance with 5 year business plans, balancing sustainable income growth with enhanced asset appeal.
  • Define, agree and apply leasing parameters and standard terms in order to optimise rental performance through the levers of leasing.
  • Lead the end‐to‐end leasing lifecycle with a strong focus on deal momentum, guiding asset and centre teams from origination through to store opening.
  • Negotiate optimal commercial terms, secure stakeholder alignment through robust deal rationales, and cultivate senior brand relationships to ensure a seamless operational handover to centre teams.
  • Provide clear leasing insight and commercial rationale to support delegated authority submissions for capital expenditure within the outlet portfolio.
• Customer & stakeholder relationship management
  • Act as the primary Landsec ambassador and leasing interface for outlet brands, tenant-rep agents and other key contacts in the off-price occupier market.
  • Build effective partnerships that reinforce Landsec’s credibility with existing and prospective key brands investing in Landsec outlets.
  • Build strong, collaborative and influential working relationships with key internal stakeholders including Asset Managers, Centre Directors and Business Development Managers.
  • Represent the outlet team and leasing function with confidence and authority at senior internal forums, including engagement with the Retail MD and other ExCo stakeholders.
• Team leadership & development
  • Lead and manage a team of two Leasing Managers, ensuring clear allocation of responsibilities and accountability across the asset and brand portfolio.
  • Create a high-performance culture through setting and monitoring clear objectives and performance measures combined with regular feedback and performance updates.
  • Coach and mentor the team to build capability, performance and succession.
  • Ensure the team is well connected into the wider Leasing, Asset Management and Operations teams, and contributes positively to cross-team and cross-functional initiatives.
• Commercial insight & market leadership
  • Maintain a strong understanding of UK and European outlet market trends, occupier strategies and competitor performance through market engagement, research and trips.
  • Use data and insights to inform leasing decisions, challenge assumptions and identify emerging opportunities or risks.
  • Contribute to broader retail and leasing strategy discussions, sharing best practice from the outlet sector to inform decision making across the wider portfolio.
• Operational excellence & governance
  • Ensure all leasing activity is conducted in line with Landsec’s DA, governance and compliance frameworks.
  • Work collaboratively with Asset, Legal, Finance and Project Management teams to ensure efficient, well managed deal execution.
  • Enable accurate planning, forecasting and reporting through the provision of timely, high quality market insights and inputs that inform asset and portfolio level decision making.

Essential Criteria

• Sector expertise: A strong strategic thinker with a deep understanding of the UK and European outlet sector, and a clear perspective on Landsec’s role and competitive positioning within it. Demonstrates strong awareness of current and emerging strategies, trends and operating models shaping off‐price retail.
• Leasing experience: Demonstrates a strong track record of sustained success in outlet retail leasing, ideally with a leading operator, underpinned by deep knowledge of the UK and European outlet occupier landscape.
• High numeric ability: Must be highly numerate, with extensive experience of analysing, interpreting and presenting data and information.
• Excellent communication: Strong communication skills are vital, both written and verbal. The ability to make complex issues simple will be a key ingredient to success.
• Managerial courage: Must have the ability to build a perspective on a range of diverse issues as they arise, being comfortable delivering their own point of view with conviction, when required.
• Stakeholder management: Must be able to effectively influence a wide variety of stakeholders, up to and including the Retail MD / Exco.
• Leadership & people development: Must demonstrate the ability and desire to motivate and develop their people, even when the environment or business performance is challenging. Must also act as a role model for the wider retail team, clearly demonstrating the DNA of a great Landsec leader.