Manager Portfolio Leasing

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Government Property Office is accountable for the strategic leadership of the government’s office accommodation portfolio and provisioning for the centralisation of components of the government’s property function. The Government Property Office is also responsible for delivering on MBIE's own property strategy as well as providing high-quality property management services to MBIE.

The government’s office accommodation portfolio is significant, encompassing circa 1,000,000 sqm of office space and a rental spend of circa $330 million per year across 73 agencies, including Crown Agents. MBIE is an agency with a significant property portfolio (about 10% of the government’s footprint), encompassing both office and non-office sites, across New Zealand and offshore.

The Leasing Team within the Government Property Office is a team of specialists providing commercial leasing expertise to support agencies leasing functions and to leverage the government’s investment, enable long term efficiencies, and minimise government’s risk.

The Manager Portfolio Leasing is a result orientated, strategic, and influential role reporting to the Programme Director Leasing. The position will develop and implement lease negotiation strategies and standards, particularly focussed on developing and implementing a leasing service offering to mandated agencies to achieve improved property portfolio performance for government, and ensure successful execution of leasing initiatives across multiple locations in a timely manner. The role holder is responsible for developing and guiding visibility on all aspects of good lease management practice for government office accommodation, including the development of lease artefacts and visibility of financial impacts of lease commitments. The role will work with agencies and landlords to resolve contractual lease issues should they arise, and support negotiations around lease exits as appropriate.

The Manager Portfolio Leasing requires a comprehensive understanding of how government office accommodation fits within the property system, as well as a strategic outlook and experience managing a diverse and large number of commercial properties.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• Must have 15+ years negotiating complex, detailed leases and managing an extensive property portfolio ideally in the Government sector.
• An existing reputation as a highly credible property negotiator and leader, and strong existing relationships with key players in the commercial property sector.
• Proven experience in leasing management, preferably at a national or regional level, with a solid understanding of leasing principles, real estate markets, and lease negotiations.
• Understanding of the business of government agencies, and the ability to engage effectively at senior levels to build trust and credibility, problem solve, influence, and gain cooperation.
• Proven experience in negotiating commercial outcomes between parties and resolving disputes in a way that protects relationships.
• Advanced experience leading the scoping, procurement and negotiation of complex commercial leases and leasing transactions including in-depth knowledge of partnering agreements, development agreements, agreements to lease and leases/licences.
• Advanced knowledge of building performance specifications, design, integration and construction delivery processes as these inform commercial negotiations.
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills, both written and verbal, relationship building and management skills with the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders in a range of complex situations.
• Extensive experience working a real estate portfolio and understanding how property supports wider business objectives.
• Extensive experience in property lease management including managing lease renewals, rent reviews, operating expense audits and related matters.
• Excellent financial and commercial acumen when applied to key property and investment decisions.
• Sound problem solving, report writing and written communication skills.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to analyse market data, financial reports, and lease terms to make informed decisions and drive leasing strategies.
• A commitment to achieving results, and the ability to effectively prioritise workloads in a fast paced and changing environment.
• Proven ability to contribute as a member of a high performing team, encouraging an innovative and continuous learning culture with a strong focus on service delivery and solutions.
• Sound knowledge of property law, health and safety legislation and tenant / landlord obligations.
• Enthusiasm for challenges with a professional and proactive approach to your work.
• Willingness to travel throughout New Zealand when required.

Other

• A tertiary qualification in a property discipline (or equivalent) would be beneficial.
• Must have a legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Leasing Responsibilities

• Lease Negotiation and Execution: facilitate and/or lead agency lease negotiations, renewals, extensions and exits ensuring favourable terms and conditions for the agency, savings for the Crown, while maintaining strong relationships with landlords.
• Ensure long term efficiencies and minimise government’s risk through effective negotiation and lease constructs.
• Lease Administration: Ensure accurate and timely lease administration, including lease documentation, lease renewals, rent adjustments, and lease compliance. Collaborate with legal and finance teams as necessary.
• Identify commercial leasing opportunities across the property portfolio, undertake appropriate due diligence, provide the commercial inputs and commercial context for business cases.
• Landlord Relationship Management: Foster positive relationships with landlord’s, addressing concerns and inquiries as appropriate and maintaining high satisfaction levels.
• Provide expert commercial property advice to mandated agencies as service offering.
• Maintain an in-depth understanding of the office accommodation market and prevailing market conditions.
• Ensure government lease negotiation activities are well anticipated, planned for, and delivered in partnership with agencies in a timely manner.
• Monitor all existing leases and key milestones and reporting to enable decision making well in advance of lease expiry and rent review dates.
• Use commercial procurement processes (while adhering to government’s rules of sourcing), appropriate due diligence and astute commercial and lease negotiation principles.
• Act as the initial point of contact for external landlords in managing all lease issues not resolved at an agency level.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships including developing networks (internally and externally) with individuals or groups to support business and market knowledge and the commercial management of the portfolio.
• Creation of a high degree of connection, engagement and influence with key stakeholder groups, including senior officials within government and the commercial property sector.

Property Planning

• Leasing Strategy Development: Develop and implement comprehensive leasing strategies to maximize occupancy across government’s office accommodation portfolio.
• Partnering with the Engagement and Portfolio Planning team to identify opportunities where GPO leasing services can assist mandated agencies to achieve best value outcomes.
• Market Research: Conduct market research to identify potential leasing opportunities, evaluate market conditions, and stay updated on competitive properties and industry trends.

Team Leadership and Management

• Establishes clear accountabilities, expectations and performance standards with direct reports and ensures regular performance management and development occurs.
• Monitors immediate individual and team performance to ensure that performance targets are met.
• Provides feedback to direct reports(s) on team and individual performance.
• Motivates immediate team members and gives them opportunities to participate.
• Coaches and develops immediate staff, where applicable, to meet the needs of MBIE now and in the future.
• Regularly monitors and reports on progress towards achievement of plans and strategies.
• Effectively and consistently identifies and manages risk.
• Promote a positive team environment.

Wellbeing, health & safety

• Displays commitment through actively supporting all safety and wellbeing initiatives
• Ensures own and others safety at all times
• Complies with relevant safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, safe systems of work and event reporting
• Reports all incidents/accidents, including near misses in a timely fashion
• Is involved in health and safety through participation and consultation

Tō tūranga i roto i te Manatū – Your place in the Ministry

The Portfolio Leasing Manager reports into the Head of Leasing and Delivery within the Government Property Office. The branch sits within the Kānoa - Regional Development and Commercial Services group.

More information about MBIE's structure

Matatautanga – Competencies (Leadership Success Profile)

The Leadership Success Profile (LSP) is a leadership capability framework, developed by the New Zealand public sector for the New Zealand public sector. It creates a common language for leadership and establishes what great leadership looks like. You can look at the twelve underpinning capabilities and four leadership characters here: Leadership Success Profile | Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission(external link)

To mātou aronga – What we do for Aotearoa New Zealand

Hīkina Whakatutuki is the te reo Māori name for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Hīkina means to uplift. Whakatutuki means to move forward, to make successful. Our name speaks to our purpose, Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All.

To Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All, we put people at the heart of our mahi. Based on the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi, we are committed to upholding authentic partnerships with Māori.

As agile public service leaders, we use our breadth and experience to navigate the ever-changing world. We are service providers, policy makers, investors and regulators. We engage with diverse communities, businesses and regions. Our work touches on the daily lives of New Zealanders. We grow opportunities (Puāwai), guard and protect (Kaihāpai) and innovate and navigate towards a better future (Auaha).

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

As an agency of the public service, MBIE has a responsibility to contribute to the Crown meeting its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Te Tiriti). Meeting our commitment to Te Tiriti will contribute towards us realising the overall aims of Te Ara Amiorangi – Our Path, Our Direction, and achieve the outcome of Growing New Zealand for All. The principles of Te Tiriti - including partnership, good faith, and active protection – are at the core of our work. MBIE is committed to delivering on our obligations as a Treaty partner with authenticity and integrity and to enable Māori interests. We are committed to ensuring that MBIE is well placed to meet our obligations under the Public Service Act 2020 (Te Ao Tūmatanui) to support the Crown in strengthening the Māori/Crown Relationship under the Treaty and to build MBIE’s capability, capacity and cultural intelligence to deliver this.

Mahi i roto i te Ratonga Tūmatanui – Working in the public service

Ka mahitahi mātou o te ratonga tūmatanui kia hei painga mō ngā tāngata o Aotearoa i āianei, ā, hei ngā rā ki tua hoki. He kawenga tino whaitake tā mātou hei tautoko i te Karauna i runga i āna hononga ki a ngāi Māori i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi. Ka tautoko mātou i te kāwanatanga manapori. Ka whakakotahingia mātou e te wairua whakarato ki ō mātou hapori, ā, e arahina ana mātou e ngā mātāpono me ngā tikanga matua o te ratonga tūmatanui i roto i ā mātou mahi.

In the public service we work collectively to make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders now and in the future. We have an important role in supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi. We support democratic government. We are unified by a spirit of service to our communities and guided by the core principles and values of the public service in our work.

What does it mean to work in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Public Service?(external link) — Te Kawa Mataaho The Public Service Commission