General Manager - Retail Shopping Centre

Ability Executive Recruitment Full time

Garden Route/ Knysna, South Africa Posted on 15/04/2026

The General Manager is responsible for the complete management of a retail centre and keeps abreast of new market opportunities and trends to ensure a top-class centre. The General Manager focuses on establishing effective business relationships with tenants and suppliers with the view of increasing profit at a centre level (incl. new lease negotiations and generation of additional income). This role utilises Customer Data to gain insights into the overall Customer experience in order to enhance service offerings and overall customer experience. This includes all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the centre through the Operations team to ensure a positive customer experience.

• Accountable for the overall budget for a specific centre. Prepares and presents the annual centre budget for deliberation and review by the Head of Asset Management (Retail).
• Ensures profitability of a specific mall by monitoring the centre's performance and analysing trends in order to implement remedial action where necessary.
• Provides sound business related advice to tenants to optimise performance.
• Keeps abreast with market activities in respect of tenant movement, new developments in the region, major vacancies and market trends.
• Provides accurate reporting and interpretation on net income.
• Ensures accurate forecasting, variance commentary and interpretation thereof.
• Reviews management pack and submits to Asset Manager for discussion and approval.

• Identify and explore new business opportunities to be implemented at the Centre to increase profitability and to address consumer requirements.
• Drives net income through the management of the delivery of the Centres' key performance indicators through actual day to day running of the buildings and leases with the assistance of the Centre Management team.
  • Ensures that the renewal rate is equal or better than the expected renewal rate set annually;
  • Oversee the management of arrears;
  • Manages expenses in terms of the annual approved budgets;
  • Performs new lease/renewal negotiations;
  • Manages lease audits; and
  • Monitor marketing and promotions in collaboration with the marketing and exhibitions teams.

• Oversees the management of the Centre from an operational viewpoint to protect the company's reputation and ensure tenant satisfaction.
• Motivates expansions to increase income and retail offering while being cognisant of the cost and frequency thereof.
• Plans and motivates for preventative maintenance and emergency maintenance a high-quality asset.
• Successfully delivers assigned projects according to the approved scope, quality, budget, time frames and quality requirements in line with strategic objectives.
• Manages service level agreements with third party providers and contractors.
• Oversees the operational management of a centre in collaboration with the Operations team.
  • Utilities Management;
  • Statutory compliance;
  • Occupational Health and Safety;
  • Use of technology to increase efficiencies; and
  • General maintenance.

• Builds and maintains relationships within the retail property industry as well as other business stakeholders in order to grow and maintain a competitive advantage.
• Builds strategic relationship with tenants to influence business performance.

• Analyse and monitor Customer Experience data to enhance the overall Customer Experience.
• Reviews and reports on trends resulting from customer and tenant feedback to ensure service standards and recommends improvements.
• Manages customer and tenant relationships and expectations by clearly and accurately communicating with the relevant party.

• Oversees and manages leasing to optimise net income and ensures proper execution of all terms and conditions contained therein. This involves:
  • Renewals;
  • Identification and generation of prospective tenants suitable for the centres' look, feel and tenant mix.
• Oversees and monitors the collection of tenant arrears to avoid legal action.
• Ensures compliance with relevant Acts.
• Controls, manages and governs the processes and systems within area of accountability to ensure compliance and minimise the business risk.
• Implements all audit recommendations in area of accountability and resolves audit findings timeously.
• Design, approval, implement and maintenance of policies within area of responsibility.

• Relevant degree in Business, Legal or Financial Management.
• 5-8 years' retail property management experience in a similar role is ESSENTIAL.
• Super Regional or Regional Mall experience is a must.