Legal Property Manager at Truworths

Job Description

• Join South Africa’s leading fashion retailer and become part of a winning team! Truworths is looking for a highly skilled Legal Properties Manager who is passionate about working for a dynamic Fashion retailer. The successful incumbent will provide property-related legal advice and support for the Truworths Group with entities in South Africa and the UK. The role is based at our head office in Cape Town.

 Key Responsibilities

Drafting lease agreements:

•  Update standard Truworths heads of agreement and lease agreement as may be necessary;
•  Review, negotiate, recommend and draft non-standard and deal specific clauses for lease proposals and lease agreements;
•  Assist property managers with negotiations relating to legal terms for lease proposals;
•  Prepare leases, sub-leases, lease addenda and cession agreements;
•  Negotiate and finalise hybrid lease agreements;
•  Negotiate and draft ancillary legal agreements;
•  Review and approve lease agreements and addenda prepared by lease administrators; and
•  Oversee lease tracking process to ensure timeous preparation and signature of leases.

Legal compliance:

•  Ensure compliance by Truworths, tenants and landlords with their respective lease obligations and address any rental or legal disputes;
•  Assist the Truworths operations team members with lease queries relating to stock-take closures, obstructions, trading hours, etc.;
•  Assist the Truworths contracts team members with lease queries relating to maintenance matters, air-conditioning unit replacements, interruption in services, etc;
•  Oversee annual lease audit processes (both internal and external lease audit processes); and
•  Implement structure, system and process flow improvements in the properties department.

Ad hoc projects and tasks:

•  Assist with ad hoc projects which could include property acquisitions, property sales, due diligence investigations, system/process enhancements, utility cost savings projects, generator connections, new business integration tasks, etc.

Qualifications and Experience 

• At least 10 years’ experience in a legal managerial role in a retail , property development or property management organisation

Competencies

• Strong negotiation skills
•  Excellent legal drafting skills
•  Great leadership coupled with interpersonal and relationship-building  skills
•  Good written and verbal communication skills
•  High attention to detail
•  Proven ability to work well under pressure
•  Resourceful and able to work independently
•  Excellent time management skills
•  Self-disciplined and self-motivated
•  Administrative and numeracy skills
•  Computer literate