Director - Residential & Commercial | Real Estate | Asset Management

Strategic Asset Management & Portfolio Planning • Develop and execute asset strategies tailored to DFC and AFRE's residential and commercial assets, aligned with long-term financial goals and investment mandates. • Drive annual business planning processes, performance benchmarking, and asset repositioning strategies across all asset classes. • Increase in Net Operating Income (NOI). • Delivery of approved annual and 5-year asset plans. • Asset valuation growth based on external and internal benchmarking. P&L Accountability • Manage the full profit and loss statement of each residential and commercial asset, including income, cost controls, service recovery, and profitability tracking. • Drive the creation of asset-level budgets, forecasts, and capital expenditure plans in collaboration with Finance. • Ensure budget compliance and variance control. • Meet or exceed revenue targets across the portfolio. • Timely and accurate reporting of monthly and quarterly financials. Residential & Commercial Leasing Strategy • Lead commercial leasing initiatives across retail and office segments in DFC and ARE projects, ensuring optimal occupancy, market-aligned rents, and long-term tenant satisfaction. • Define and monitor the residential leasing and sales strategy with a focus on tenant retention, unit absorption, and product-market alignment. • Maintain high occupancy rates by asset and segment. • Achieve renewal success rates and churn reduction. • Optimize average rental yield and tenant mix. Tenant Relationship & Community Management • Serve as a senior point of contact for VIP tenants and commercial lease partners. • Establish and act upon tenant feedback loops to support tenant retention and service excellence. • Achieve high tenant satisfaction and net promoter scores (NPS). • Resolve tenant issues within agreed service level agreements (SLAs). • Secure long-term lease renewals of strategic tenants. Property and Facilities Management Oversight • Oversee the performance of in-house and outsourced facilities management teams, ensuring assets meet operational KPIs, health and safety standards, and maintenance SLAs. • Align operational services with asset class needs, tenant expectations, and cost-efficiency mandates. • Ensure AMC contract compliance and SLA delivery. • Monitor downtime metrics for critical systems such as HVAC and elevators. • Enhance service issue resolution and preventive maintenance scores. Capital Projects, Lifecycle Planning & ROI Management • Lead planning and execution of major capital improvements, refurbishments, and lifecycle upgrades across all properties. • Prepare business cases for Capex approval, tracking performance through KPIs and ROI metrics. • Ensure timely and on-budget delivery of capital projects. • Achieve positive ROI on Capex investments. • Improve building quality and asset competitiveness. Service Charge Structuring, Recovery & Transparency • Oversee the development and auditing of service charge budgets in coordination with Finance and FM, ensuring transparency and recoverability. • Ensure compliance with RERA and relevant strata management regulations. • Achieve high annual service charge recovery rates. • Maintain audit compliance and reconciliation timelines. • Enhance tenant satisfaction with cost transparency. Market Intelligence & Competitive Benchmarking • Monitor real estate market trends, competitor positioning, and regulatory changes to inform pricing, leasing, and asset repositioning decisions. • Actively engage with brokers, research agencies, and industry events. • Ensure market-aligned pricing and product positioning. • Benchmark performance against peer assets. • Develop updated strategic responses to regulatory or market shifts. Team Leadership & People Development • Provide strategic direction and leadership to the asset management team responsible for residential and commercial properties across Dubai Festival City and AFRE’s broader portfolio. • Guide, mentor, and develop high-performing professionals including property managers, leasing specialists, and analysts. • Ensure alignment with organizational goals and foster a culture of performance, accountability, and collaboration. • Lead by example in cross-functional coordination with Finance, Legal, Facilities Management, and Development teams. • Achieve effective cross-functional collaboration and project delivery outcomes. Required Skills To Be Successful: • Strategic financial and commercial acumen with P&L accountability. • Strong leadership and stakeholder engagement skills. • Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple assets. • Sound understanding of leasing, FM operations, and capital planning. What Qualifies You For The Role: • Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field. • Master’s degree (MBA or MSc in Real Estate or Asset Management) preferred. • 20+ years of experience in asset and property management, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role managing large mixed-use portfolios. • Proven record of managing income-producing residential and commercial real estate assets. • Strong exposure to the UAE or GCC market essential. • Experience in design input, lease structuring, and service charge governance. • Experience in freehold properties advantageous.