Group Level - Head of Leasing

The Head Group Leasing is responsible for developing and executing retail leasing strategies across the retail portfolio, ensuring a strong tenant mix and driving profitability through optimal occupancy rates and rental growth. The role involves strategic oversight of leasing operations, tenant relations, and lease administration, while collaborating with key departments to implement marketing initiatives, optimize retail space, and elevate the tenant and customer experience. The Head Leasing will also ensure compliance with legal and regulatory standards, manage team performance, and identify long-term growth opportunities for the retail portfolio.

Key Outcomes

• High Occupancy Rates – Achieve and maintain target occupancy rates through strategic leasing initiatives, focusing on tenant mix, space optimization, and market‑aligned strategies.
  
• Rental Growth and Profitability – Drive rental growth by leading strategic lease negotiations, monitoring market trends, and optimizing lease terms to enhance profitability across the portfolio.
  
• Tenant Mix Optimization – Curate and maintain a well-balanced tenant portfolio that aligns with market demand, business objectives, and customer preferences to create a thriving retail environment.
  
• Operational Efficiency and Compliance – Oversee lease administration to ensure seamless execution of lease agreements, renewals, and compliance with legal standards, minimizing operational risks.
  
• Enhanced Retail Performance – Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive foot traffic, enhance tenant performance, and improve overall customer satisfaction through effective marketing, events, and retail management strategies.
  
• Digitalization and System Improvement – Lead the integration of digital tools and a new tenancy system to streamline leasing administration and operations, and to enhance data‑driven decision‑making.

Key Responsibilities

Retail Leasing and Tenant Mix Planning

• Develop and execute strategic leasing initiatives to optimize the tenant mix based on market demand and consumer trends.
  
• Analyze market data and tenant performance to inform leasing decisions and space allocation.
  
• Prospect, negotiate, and secure leases with potential tenants, ensuring high occupancy rates.
  

Lease Administration and Compliance

• Oversee the preparation and management of lease documentation, including agreements, amendments, and renewals.
  
• Ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, and internal standards across leasing activities.
  
• Coordinate and manage rent invoicing, collection, and lease‑related financial processes.
  

Retail Marketing and Tenant Engagement

• Collaborate with the marketing team to develop and implement campaigns that drive tenant sales and foot traffic.
  
• Plan and execute promotional events and community initiatives to elevate the retail experience.
  
• Build strong relationships with tenants, understanding their needs and aligning strategies to support their performance.
  

Strategic Retail Planning and Portfolio Growth

• Lead long-term leasing strategies to ensure sustainable growth and value creation for the retail portfolio.
  
• Monitor the performance of existing leases, conducting renewals, renegotiations, and term adjustments as needed.
  
• Identify growth opportunities by analyzing market conditions, emerging retail trends, and consumer behavior.
  

Team Leadership and Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Provide leadership and direction to the leasing team, ensuring strong performance and alignment with company goals.
  
• Work closely with Asset Management, Marketing, Finance, and Retail Operations to optimize the overall retail experience.
  
• Drive continuous improvement within the leasing function, ensuring best practices and innovative strategies are consistently applied.
  

Digitalization and Lease Administration System Improvement

• Lead the integration of digital tools and the new tenancy system to streamline leasing administration and operations and enhance data‑driven decision‑making.
  
• Align cross-functional teams such as Finance, Operations, and Marketing to ensure smooth migration and adoption of the new system for maximum operational and financial efficiency.
  
• Identify inefficient or manual leasing administration tasks and redesign these processes to leverage automation, real‑time data access, and system‑driven alerts for critical lease dates or actions.
  
  
  

Technical Competencies

• Leasing Economics – Strong understanding of retail leasing economics, including rental income, yield management, and common area maintenance (CAM) charges.
  
• Market Insight – Deep understanding of market trends, consumer behaviour, and tenant performance metrics.
  
• Contract Structuring – Strong knowledge of Malaysian commercial real estate law and lease contract structuring.
  

Qualifications & Experience

Educational Background

• Minimum Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Real Estate Management, Marketing, or a related field.
  

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 10 years of experience in retail leasing or property management, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
  
• Proven track record in tenant acquisition, lease negotiation, and retail space optimization; experience with retail or mixed‑use developments is preferred.
  
• Experience managing large retail portfolios and implementing market‑aligned leasing strategies.
  

Must-Have Criteria

• Proven retail leasing track record at portfolio scale.
  
• Strong commercial negotiation experience with senior‑level tenants and key retail brands.
  
• Demonstrated ability to lead and collaborate across multiple functions and stakeholders.