The Thistles - Centre Director

The Thistles - Centre Director

Centre Director The Thistles, Stirling

Contents Introduction

Page 4

Stirling

Page 6

The Thistles

Page 8

Job Description

Page 12

Programme Timeline and Application Process Page 16

Dear Applicant, Thank you for taking the opportunity to

consider applying for the role of Centre Director of The Thistles Centre in Stirling.

Having opened in 1977, The Thistles Shopping Centre is one of the premier retail destinations in Scotland. With an unrivalled selection of over 90 fashionable shops and restaurants, The Thistles is a prime retail asset with an outstanding track record and potential for future redevelopment and improvement. Owned by Standard Life Investments and managed by JLL, The Thistles is one of the most high profile shopping centres in Scotland. Both Standard Life and JLL are committed to making the Centre a memorable destination for tenants and customers alike. This is an outstanding opportunity to play a key leadership role managing one of Scotland’s most well known assets.

JLL is a financial and professional services firm specialising in real estate services and investment management. They have more than 70,000 people in more than 1,000 locations in 80 countries serving the local,

regional and global real estate needs of their clients. JLL is an acknowledged industry specialist in Property and Asset Management for property investors. They are dedicated to adding value to their clients’ assets, reducing operational risk and maximising value for money through the delivery of high quality landlord services to occupational tenants. With over 600 experienced, office-based staff and 650 site-based personnel operating across its extensive UK regional service platform, JLL provide a consistent, market-leading service across all sectors and geographies, managing commercial and retail assets for leading UK and international fund managers, property companies, the government, banks, receivers and financial institutions. JLL’s service is co-ordinated and delivered by bespoke service delivery teams located across their regional network of offices and headquarters in Central London.

Stirling • Home to one of the UK’s largest Campus Universities with over 11,000 students. • Ranked as 19 of top 39 Cities in the UK by CACI’s “Major Centre” classification. • Population of C.50,000 • In 1297 William Wallace defeated the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. • Stirling’s most popular tourist attraction is Stirling Castle, originally built in the 12th Century. • Mary Queen of Scots is Stirling’s most famous resident.

The Thistles The Thistles Centre caters for over 500,000 sq. ft of retail space, providing 87 units in total. Since opening in 1977 the Centre has undergone significant redevelopment including an extension added in 1997. Anchored by Debenhams, Marks and Spencers and Primark the scheme continues to evolve and offer a truly inspirational retail and leisure destination. With a catchment area of over 500,000 people within 20 km of the centre, it is estimated that the centre attracts over 12 million visitors per year, including around 3.7 million international tourists. Standard Life Investments bought the Centre in 1998 following the completion of the extension. They have since invested heavily to ensure that the quality and standards of the scheme remain high, safeguarding The Thistles as one of the major retail destinations in the UK.

Centre Director - Role Description Role Summary Job Title:

Centre Director – Thistles Shopping Centre, Stirling.

Reporting to:

Retail Management at JLL

Responsible for: For the strategic leadership, business management and operational management for the Centre and to improve the trading potential of the Centre with a clear focus on improving asset performance. Primary Purpose: To advance and contribute to the development of the asset management strategy and business objectives, and to play the central role in delivery of high and efficient standards of onsite management and care, in maintaining the Thistles position in the locality as a best in class, desirable, safe and progressive environment for retailers to trade in and customers to shop, visit and work in. Key Responsibilities: Continue to improve the quality of the retail environment at the Thistles. Lead, develop and inspire the Centre Management team. Working closely with the Landlord’s marketing consultant to optimise and ensure delivery of the marketing strategy To build and maintain effective relationships with all retailers in the scheme. Work with the Centre Team on reporting and benchmarking of retailer performance and turnover within the Centre. Undertake Annual Tenant/Occupier Surveys or more frequently as required. Create an ambassadorial role in local industry business groups, Local Authority and community/ civic stakeholder meetings including representing the Thistles at local BIDs meetings and any other relevant association meetings. To drive additional income generation via commercialisation activities in conjunction with appointed commercialisation team and optimisation of net operating car park income. Assume responsibility for the development and continual refinement of business plans to ensure outstanding business results delivered over time. Annual Business Planning and quarterly reporting on performance. Work with the Centre management team to oversee the management and delivery of significant project works including the replacement of the Centre’s lifts and substantial roof works. Review opportunities for cost control and efficiencies. Management of the two car parks linked to the Centre. This will include analysing the current income with reference to the current economic climate and the competing parking in the surrounding areas; and accurately prepare the annual operating and CAPEX budgets for the car

parks and implementing within the given timeframe. Management of contractor/supplier relationships and key staff. Overall responsibility for Health & Safety and Environmental Management. Key Skills

• 5-10 years Management experience gained within a high profile shopping centre environment. • Have a strong retail background and understanding and the ability to appreciate different retailers and the challenges they face • Be able to demonstrate a broad knowledge and approach to addressing the key business challenges facing both the retail market and the Thistles faces in the current environment and potential future trends. • A proven track record in managing onsite / in-house management teams • Experience of managing major CAPEX and service charge projects • Demonstrate high degree of Technical competence (via degree or recognised diploma). • Demonstrate ability to support change related initiatives and to determine what expertise and resources are required to resolve problems quickly and efficiently. • A detailed understanding of financial management, profit & loss, and IT skills • Ability to communicate at board room level and contribute to identification and evaluation of potential solutions to the problems based on the facts, assessment of risk and awareness of desired business objectives. This job description has been compiled in liaison with the Owners/Clients and forms part of the Centre Directors terms of employment and are supplemental to the Jones Lang LaSalle standard terms and conditions of employment. Management Structure Managing Agents: JLL is responsible to the Landlord for the general administration, operations and management of the Shopping Centre. As such it is concerned with providing high quality customer service and the maintenance/management of common areas, the services and facilities and ensuring that tenants fulfil their covenants and obligations as laid down in their individual lease and the Shopping Centre Regulations. In addition the Managing Agent is responsible for administering service charge accounts at the Centre and oversees and manages on site employees. Teamwork: The intention is that the Centre Director, Retail Management Team - JLL and Clients / Owners will operate as a united team in order to operate the Shopping Centre as an effective trading proposition and a profitable business aimed at maximising Client investment income. Centre Director Responsibilities Principal: To advance and contribute to the development of the centre, and to play the central role in delivery of high and efficient standards of onsite management and care, in maintaining the Thistles position in the locality as a desirable, safe and progressive environment for retailers to trade in and customers to shop, visit and work in. Reporting: The Centre Director will provide accurate and timely compilation of accounting, turnover, trading, car park and footfall and benchmarking >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16

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