Occupancy Planner, Sub-Saharan Africa, Israel, and Mediterranean, - Global Real Estate and Faci[...]

Amazon Development Centre (South Africa) (Proprietary) Limited; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 350 000 - 700 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global e-commerce company is seeking an Occupancy Planner to oversee strategic management of space within their corporate real estate portfolio in the Cape Town area. The ideal candidate will manage occupancy planning initiatives and collaborate with stakeholders to optimize space utilization. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree and experience in project management and occupancy planning. The position is office-based and valued at supporting a diverse workplace culture.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in broad scale occupancy planning and move management projects.
• Experience delivering cross-functional projects.

Responsibilities

• Manage an OP team of vendors responsible for tactical occupancy planning.
• Oversee collection and analysis of headcount and space data.
• Develop occupancy scenarios and migration plans.
• Project manage all occupancy planning activities.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Data analysis

Communication skills

Project management

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Project Management, architecture, interior design or related field

Job description

Work hard, have fun, make history. That's what we do every day at Amazon. As a key leader within Amazon's Global Real Estate & Facilities (GREF) team, the Occupancy Planner (OP) will oversee the strategic and tactical management of space and allocations within the corporate real estate portfolio for their assigned area. The area lead collaborates closely with various stakeholders to drive successful occupancy planning initiatives and deliver data-driven recommendations for future space requirements.

The OP will be expected to align real estate strategy to business needs in partnership with key GREF stakeholders and maintain a customer centric approach. The role will partner with both business leaders and employees to understand and influence space needs and requirements to inform supply and demand allocations. The role will be responsible for developing strategic recommendations on business line space allocations at a city level by leveraging Amazon’s size and scale and translating business requirements into effective solutions aligned with the workplace strategy. The OP will oversee Sub‑Saharan Africa, Israel, and Mediterranean regions to include planning, budgeting, and activities that support corporate office locations across their assigned area.

The optimal candidate is an experienced and engaging professional who will excel within an entrepreneurial culture – providing vision, leadership, and communication – not afraid to dive deep into details and take ownership. They should also understand the nuance of being approachable, while at the same time consultative– providing direction / recommendations and fostering transparent relationships. The candidate must be able to balance frugality with creativity in offering solutions and approach problem‑solving with an emphasis on root cause. An ideal candidate is able to navigate high level of ambiguity and demonstrate a bias for action, taking calculated risks in a fast‑paced environment.

This position is office-based; however, Amazon encourages open communication about unique needs for flexible arrangements.

Key job responsibilities

• Manage and guide an OP team of vendors responsible for the tactical occupancy planning across the area, ensuring all activities align with Amazon’s goals and standards.
• Oversee the collection, verification, and analysis of headcount and space data, including current capacity and future projections, to support strategic occupancy planning and area optimization.
• Act as the primary liaison between the OP area teams, the GREF EMEA OP manager, and local business units. Ensure effective communication and collaboration to gather strategic direction and align area occupancy plans with regional requirements and local business needs.
• Develop occupancy scenarios and migration plans, evaluating multiple options to deliver data‑driven recommendations that support real estate strategy and business goals.
• Project manage all occupancy planning activities, including data collection, scenario analysis, and presentation of recommendations for your assigned area to the regional OP lead; facilitate alignment calls with Workplace Strategists.
• Oversee all reporting on area‑based occupancy metrics, space allocations, and other relevant data to support real estate decisions and portfolio strategy.
• Manage day‑to‑day operational occupancy requests and coordinate with GREF teams to ensure accurate and up‑to‑date space utilization data and as‑built documentation for assigned area.
• Responsible for production for Geo reporting, e. g. Monthly / Quarterly Business Reviews

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Project Management, architecture, interior design or related field, or related professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience in broad scale occupancy planning and move management projects.
• Demonstrated program / project management, to include delivering cross functional projects.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong ability to think strategically and develop long‑term occupancy plans that align with business objectives and real estate strategies.
• Expertise in analyzing complex data sets, identifying trends, and using data to inform strategic decisions and optimize space utilization.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels, build strong relationships, and manage expectations effectively.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and ensure timely delivery of high‑quality outputs.
• In‑depth understanding of occupancy planning, space management, and corporate real estate, with experience in managing large, geographically diverse portfolios.

Amazon is an equal opportunities employer, and we value your passion to discover, invent, simplify and build. We welcome applications from all members of society irrespective of age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief. Amazon is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from South African citizens who are members of designated groups who may contribute to Employment Equity within the workplace and the further diversification of ideas. In this regard, the relevant laws and principles associated with Employment Equity will be considered when appointing potential candidates. We are required by law to verify your ability to work lawfully in South Africa. Amazon requires that you submit a copy of either your identity document or your passport and any applicable work permit if you are a foreign national, along with an updated curriculum vitae.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers.