HEAD OF PROPERTIES

SUMMARY:
To lead and manage the organisation’s property portfolio strategy, ensuring optimal utilisation, regulatory compliance, cost efficiency, sustainability, and alignment with business growth objectives. The role oversees property acquisition, leasing, facilities management, maintenance, capital projects, and stakeholder relationships.

POSITION INFO:

Job Title: Head of Properties

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer / Chief Financial Officer
Department: Corporate Services / Operations
Location: Gauteng / National travel

Role Purpose

To lead and manage the organisation’s property portfolio strategy, ensuring optimal utilisation, regulatory compliance, cost efficiency, sustainability, and alignment with business growth objectives. The role oversees property acquisition, leasing, facilities management, maintenance, capital projects, and stakeholder relationships.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Property Management

• Develop and implement a long-term property strategy aligned to business objectives.
• Lead portfolio planning, space optimisation, and workplace strategy.
• Provide property insights to EXCO and Board to support strategic decisions.
• Oversee feasibility studies for new sites, expansions, or consolidations.

2. Portfolio & Asset Management

• Manage owned and leased properties across all regions.
• Negotiate leases, renewals, and property-related contracts.
• Ensure accurate property asset register and lifecycle management.
• Drive value optimisation of property assets.

3. Facilities & Operations Management

• Oversee facilities management teams and service providers.
• Ensure preventative and reactive maintenance programmes are in place.
• Monitor service level agreements (SLAs) and vendor performance.
• Ensure workplace safety and compliance standards are upheld.

4. Capital Projects & Development

• Lead property development, refurbishments, and capital projects.
• Manage project budgets, timelines, and risk mitigation.
• Coordinate architects, contractors, engineers, and consultants.
• Ensure compliance with building regulations and municipal requirements.

5. Financial Management

• Prepare and manage property budgets (OPEX and CAPEX).
• Drive cost control, efficiency, and financial reporting.
• Conduct cost-benefit and ROI analysis on property investments.
• Support audit processes and governance requirements.

6. Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with:
• Municipal by-laws
• Building regulations
• Occupational health and safety legislation (e.g. Occupational Health and Safety Act)
• Manage property-related risk assessments and mitigation plans.
• Ensure insurance coverage adequacy for all properties.

7. Sustainability & ESG

• Drive green building initiatives and energy efficiency programmes.
• Support ESG reporting requirements.
• Implement sustainability certifications where applicable.

8. Leadership & Governance

• Lead and develop the property and facilities team.
• Foster a high-performance culture.
• Present property reports to EXCO and Board.
• Ensure adherence to corporate governance standards (e.g. King IV Report on Corporate Governance principles).

Minimum Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Property Management, Real Estate, Engineering, Built Environment, or related field.
• Postgraduate qualification (MBA / MBL) advantageous.
• Professional registration (e.g., South African Council for the Property Valuers Profession or similar) advantageous.

Experience

• 8–12 years’ experience in property/asset management.
• 5+ years in senior leadership role.
• Experience managing multi-site corporate portfolios.
• Strong experience in lease negotiations and capital project oversight.

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking
• Financial acumen
• Negotiation skills
• Risk management
• Stakeholder management
• Project management
• Commercial awareness
• Strong leadership and people development capability

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Property cost per square meter
• Lease negotiation savings achieved
• Maintenance turnaround time
• Compliance audit outcomes
• Budget variance (OPEX & CAPEX)
• Space utilisation metrics

Sustainability performance indicators