Operations Manager - Shopping Centre

JLL; Ballarat; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Great employee discounts off fitness,

18 weeks paid maternity leave

Private Health Insurance Discounts

Active Social Club

Employee assistant program

Novated Lease for EV cars

Career Opportunities with Australia's

Premium offices

Job summary

JLL in Ballarat is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead day-to-day operations across Central Square Ballarat and Thompson Parkway Cranbourne. You’ll drive compliance, safety, and presentation while building strong retailer and client relationships.

You’ll manage contracts, budgets, audits, and capital projects, coordinating with the Centre Manager to deliver operational excellence and cost efficiencies in a retail property environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in shopping centre operations or facilities management.
• Strong understanding of compliance requirements and best practices.
• Budgeting, forecasting and cost control experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for diverse stakeholders.
• Experience with contracts, tenders, and project coordination.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations of Central Square Ballarat and Thompson Parkway Cranbourne centres.
• Build relationships with retailers and clients to address needs and concerns.
• Manage contracts, tendering, and safety compliance across sites.
• Conduct audits, energy assessments and regulatory reviews.
• Prepare and manage operating budgets and contribute to long-term plans.
• Oversee security, emergency procedures, and risk management.
• Lead capital improvements and tenant fit-outs from tender to completion.
• Maintain asset registers and lifecycle records for strategic planning.
• Deliver timely reports on operations performance and cost savings opportunities.

Skills

Operations management

Facilities management

Budget management

Stakeholder engagement

Contract administration

Education

Tertiary qualification in property management or FM

Tools

Microsoft Office

FM software

Job description

Shaping the future of real estate for a better world!

At JLL, we see a Brighter Way forward for our clients, our people, our planet, and our communities. With over 200 years of real estate experience, we are, and always have been, in continual pursuit of brighter ways of working.

We bring to life see a Brighter Way in all that we do by seeking better, smarter, more innovative ways of working. We approach our work in a warmer, more optimistic, and inclusive way.

JLL is a global leader in helping clients envision where people live, work, play, shop, and eat.

What this opportunity involves:

As an Operations Manager at JLL, you'll take full ownership of the day-to-day operations across Central Square Ballarat and Thompson Parkway Cranbourne, ensuring both centres operate at the highest standard of compliance, safety, and presentation. This role is about more than facilities management — it's about building strong relationships with retailers and clients, driving operational excellence, and creating environments where businesses and communities thrive. You'll oversee contract management, coordinate capital improvements, prepare budgets, and ensure every aspect of the centres meets regulatory requirements and industry best practice. At JLL, we are collectively shaping a brighter way — for our clients, ourselves and our fellow employees — and in this role, you'll be at the heart of delivering exceptional service and fostering collaboration across teams. You'll work closely with the Centre Manager to identify efficiencies, implement innovative solutions, and maintain the trusted reputation JLL is known for.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Supervise all operational aspects of the shopping centres, including facilities management, repairs and maintenance, contractor engagement, and project coordination to ensure seamless daily performance
• Build and maintain strong relationships with retailers through regular communication and proactive engagement, ensuring their operational needs are met and concerns are addressed promptly
• Manage contracts and tendering processes, ensuring all conditions are fulfilled, work is completed to standard, and contractors are qualified, insured, and compliant with safety regulations
• Conduct regular building audits, energy assessments, and compliance reviews to ensure adherence to building codes, workplace health and safety legislation, and environmental standards
• Prepare and manage operating budgets and contribute to the 3-year business plan, monitoring expenditure, forecasting capital and operational expenses, and delivering accurate financial reports
• Oversee security, emergency procedures, and risk management protocols to protect the property, retailers, customers, and staff at all times
• Develop and implement capital improvement projects, including renovations and tenant fit outs, managing timelines, budgets, and quality standards from tender through to completion
• Maintain a comprehensive asset register with detailed records of repairs, maintenance history, equipment efficiency, and lifecycle analysis to support strategic planning
• Deliver timely and accurate reports to clients and ownership groups, providing insights on operational performance, compliance status, and opportunities for cost savings and innovation

Sounds like you? This is what we're looking for:

• Proven experience in shopping centre operations or facilities management with a strong understanding of compliance requirements and industry best practice
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, prepare financial forecasts, and deliver cost-effective operational outcomes
• Strong technical knowledge of building systems, plant and equipment, and maintenance protocols within a retail or commercial property environment
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to produce clear, concise reports, correspondence, and technical documentation for diverse stakeholders
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, Word) and experience using property management or facilities management software
• Valid driver's license and a clear police record, particularly in relation to financial or other relevant offences
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build collaborative relationships with retailers, contractors, clients, and internal teams
• Tertiary qualification in property management, facilities management, engineering, or a related field (highly regarded)
• Experience in contract administration, tendering processes, and project management within a retail property environment (highly regarded)

• Great employee discounts off fitness, wellbeing & other renowned brands
• 18 weeks paid maternity leave
• Private Health Insurance Discounts
• Active Social Club
• Employee assistant program
• Novated Lease for EV cars
• Career Opportunities with Australia's #1 Commercial Real Estate firm
• Premium offices

What you can expect from us:

You’ll join an entrepreneurial, inclusive culture. One where the best inspire the best. Where like-minded people work naturally together to achieve great things. Join us to develop your strengths and enjoy a fulfilling career full of varied experiences. Keep those ambitions in sight and imagine where JLL can take you.

As an organization, we don’t just accept that we are a place of many different people, but we embrace it, we celebrate it, and we proactively support the needs that difference brings. JLL is committed to equal opportunity and building an inclusive workplace. This is why, for more than a decade, we continue to rank among the World’s Most Ethical Companies. We support applications from all underrepresented groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, LGBT+, people with disability and people of all age, religions and race. We are dedicated to offering veterans from all ranks and services a successful civilian career as they transition out of the military. We recognize and appreciate the skills acquired in their service careers as vital and transferable to our workforce.