General Manager – Shopping Mall

Rainmaker Consultancy; Fatih; On-site; TRY 5,944,000 - 8,420,000; Full time

Job summary

Rainmaker Consultancy seeks a General Manager to lead the Istanbul mall's commercial and operational performance, focusing on leasing, tenant mix, revenue growth, and asset value creation. The role requires strategic leadership, budgeting, and cross-functional oversight across leasing, operations, and marketing.

The ideal candidate will drive long-term profitability through effective tenant relations, premium brand partnerships, and superior market positioning in Turkey's retail real estate

Qualifications

• Significant senior management experience in mall or retail real estate.
• Proven leasing strategy and rental income optimization.
• Strong knowledge of the Turkish mall market and retailer networks.
• Ability to manage budgets and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong commercial judgment and negotiation skills.
• Fluent in Turkish and English.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the mall's commercial strategy for income growth.
• Lead leasing activities: tenant acquisition, negotiations, renewals.
• Develop tenant mix and optimize occupancy.
• Manage relationships with retailers, luxury brands, partners.
• Oversee budgeting, revenue management, costs, profitability.
• Direct leasing, operations, marketing and property management.
• Identify opportunities to improve market positioning and customer experience.
• Lead and develop high-performing teams; align with strategy.
• Collaborate with leadership on investments and performance initiatives.

Skills

Senior mall management

Retail leasing strategy

Tenant mix optimization

Financial performance management

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Turkish market knowledge

English proficiency

Leadership

Job description

We are seeking a General Manager for a leading international real estate investment and development group. This role will oversee the commercial and operational performance of a prominent shopping mall in Istanbul, with a strong focus on retail leasing, tenant mix optimization, revenue growth, and long-term asset value creation.

Role Purpose:

To lead the shopping mall's overall business performance, combining strategic commercial leadership with operational excellence. The successful candidate will strengthen the mall's competitive positioning, enhance its retail offering, and drive sustainable financial performance through effective leasing strategies, tenant relationships, and cross-functional leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and execute the mall's commercial strategy, driving rental income growth, occupancy performance, and long-term profitability.
• Lead leasing activities, including tenant acquisition, lease negotiations, renewals, and tenant mix optimization.
• Strengthen relationships with leading local and international retailers, luxury brands, and strategic business partners.
• Oversee the mall's financial performance, including budgeting, revenue management, operating costs, and profitability.
• Direct the overall management of leasing, operations, marketing, and property management functions.
• Identify opportunities to enhance the mall's market positioning, customer experience, and commercial attractiveness.
• Lead and develop high-performing teams while ensuring alignment with the group's strategic objectives.
• Collaborate with local and international leadership on business planning, investment priorities, and performance improvement initiatives.

Must-Have Qualifications:

• Significant senior management experience in shopping mall management, retail leasing, or commercial real estate.
• Demonstrated success in leasing strategy, commercial negotiations, tenant mix development, and rental income optimization.
• Strong knowledge of the Turkish shopping mall and retail property market, supported by established relationships with major retailers and retail groups.
• Proven ability to manage financial performance, commercial budgets, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong commercial judgment, negotiation capabilities, and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent command of Turkish and English.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications:

• General management or senior commercial leadership experience within a premium shopping mall or major retail property portfolio.
• Established relationships with international luxury and premium retail brands.
• Experience working within an international real estate investment, development, or asset management organization.
• Exposure to shopping mall repositioning, major leasing initiatives, or commercial transformation projects.
• Previous experience transitioning from a senior leasing or commercial leadership role into broader business management responsibilities.

Key KPIs:

• Rental income growth and leasing performance
• Occupancy rates and tenant mix quality
• Net operating income (NOI) and profitability
• Lease renewal performance and commercial terms
• Tenant satisfaction and strategic retailer relationships
• Operational efficiency and asset performance

Rainmaker Note:

We are looking for a commercially accomplished leader who can translate deep retail leasing expertise into broader business leadership, strengthening the asset's competitive position and delivering sustainable long-term value.