Property Manager - Commercial & Retail

The University of Auckland is looking for a Property Manager to take ownership of its commercial and retail lease portfolio. This is a permanent, full-time role based in Auckland with hybrid working arrangements, and it reports to the Associate Director - Commercial. The job focuses on governance, administration and the optimisation of a diverse range of leased properties, retail tenancies and commercial occupancies, while keeping a positive campus experience for students, staff and visitors in mind. The university is New Zealand’s leading institution, and this role suits someone who wants to shape how the campus uses its commercial spaces.

You’ll be dealing with a broad mix of partners and stakeholders, landlords, tenants, operators, property managers, consultants and internal teams, so a practical, solutions-focused mindset and strong relationship skills go a long way. If you enjoy translating strategy into concrete property decisions and thrive in a campus environment, this position could be a great fit.

A full description of duties and the role is provided in the position description linked position description.

Owning the campus commercial and retail footprint

Day to day, you’ll lead the management of the university’s commercial and retail lease portfolio, handling leases, licences and occupancy agreements while ensuring compliance and favourable outcomes aligned with university objectives. You’ll build and sustain productive relationships with landlords, tenants, operators and internal stakeholders, and you’ll steer lease negotiations, renewals and variations to support long‑term strategy. You’ll monitor portfolio performance, maintain accurate lease data, oversee critical lease events and produce commercial reporting with practical recommendations. You’ll also look for opportunities to improve commercial value, optimise the portfolio and collaborate with Campus Environment, Finance, Risk, Legal and operational teams to deliver governance and service outcomes.

What you’ll need and what helps

The university is looking for a property professional with a strong commercial instinct and a track record of delivering practical, outcome‑driven results in a complex stakeholder landscape.

• Demonstrated experience managing a commercial lease portfolio, including negotiation of leases and administration of contracts
• Proven ability to build productive relationships and influence a broad range of internal and external stakeholders
• Strong analytical capability, with experience interpreting portfolio performance data and preparing commercial reports and recommendations
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to engage confidently across all levels of an organisation
• Highly organised, capable of juggling multiple priorities, meeting deadlines and maintaining accuracy
• A proactive, self-directed working style with sound judgement and a track record of owning outcomes
• Strong customer focus and a collaborative approach to service delivery, stakeholder engagement and problem solving
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in property, law, business or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience

• Desirable experience in large or complex organisations
• Knowledge of the New Zealand property environment
• Experience identifying and implementing process improvements that enhance efficiency and service delivery

Compensation, benefits and the practical details

The role comes with a salary range of $116,000 to $125,000 per annum depending on your skills and experience, and it is a permanent, full-time position at 37.5 hours per week with hybrid work arrangements in Auckland.

In addition to the salary, the university offers several benefits, including five weeks of annual leave, discounted public transport for permanent and long‑term fixed‑term staff, KiwiSaver/Superannuation with matching up to 6.75%, flexible working arrangements, inclusive parental leave provisions and opportunities for career development, along with other benefits such as discounted insurance, memberships and on‑site amenities.

The university’s equity commitments underpin its safe, inclusive and equitable environment for staff and students. Acknowledgement of these values is part of the recruitment process.

A few tips to help you stand out in this application

Make your relevant property and lease management experience clear at the top of your resume, with concrete examples of portfolio ownership, lease negotiations and contract administration you’ve handled.

Show how you interpret portfolio performance data and the kinds of commercial reports you’ve produced, including any recommendations that informed decision-making.

Be ready to discuss how you manage relationships across landlords, tenants and internal teams, and share a specific example where you balanced operational delivery with strategic thinking.

Have a question ready about how the university measures portfolio performance or the key lease governance metrics they monitor, and consider asking how the role collaborates with Risk, Legal and Finance to deliver service outcomes.

Getting your application in

Please apply online by the closing date of Sunday 1st November, 2026. Your application should include a brief cover letter explaining why you’re interested in this role and how your skills match the requirements, plus your updated CV. Note that email applications are not accepted.