Retail Commercial & Leasing Manager

What you will be doing

Auckland Airport is looking for a commercially sharp retail professional to help grow and shape one of New Zealand's most complex and high-profile retail environments.

This role sits at the intersection of retail strategy, business development, category planning and commercial leasing. You will identify growth opportunities, assess retail categories and concepts, develop retailer pipelines, support commercial strategy, and help secure the right partners and deal structures to lift sales, income and customer experience across Auckland Airport's high-performing terminal retail portfolio and Mānawa Bay.

We're looking for an experienced and proven commercial operator who can bring sound judgement, strong business acumen, initiative with commercial curiosity and passion to roll up their sleeves to get things done. You'll bring sharp analysis skills and confidence working through contracts, lease terms, and with lawyers, tenants and internal stakeholders. You will need to understand what drives retail performance, how to assess market and customer opportunities, and how to turn insight into practical commercial outcomes. That includes developing clear recommendations, building business cases, shaping tenancy and category mix, and negotiating detailed commercial terms through to strong retail leasing outcomes.

Working in the Retail division and engaging with property, finance, legal, infrastructure, operations and customer teams, you will help ensure Auckland Airport's retail offer remains relevant, distinctive and commercially successful.

Experience in retail strategy, business development, commercial property, leasing, shopping centres, travel retail, airports or other complex customer-led environments would be highly relevant. Airport or travel retail experience would be outstanding - and the core requirements include strong critical thinking, commercial savvy mindset, proven ability to assess opportunities, and the drive to create value.

In this role, you will:

• Identify and develop new retail and commercial growth opportunities, and make them happen
• Get involved in major retail redevelopments - in existing and new terminals, and Mānawa Bay.
• Assess retail categories, customer needs, passenger trends and market gaps.
• Build and manage a pipeline of prospective retailers, brands and concepts.
• Contribute to tenancy mix, category strategy and spatial planning.
• Prepare business cases, commercial rationale and approval papers.
• Use sales performance, customer insights, market trends and financial analysis to support recommendations.
• Lead or support commercial negotiations, including lease and licence terms.
• Work with internal teams and external advisors to convert strategy into executable outcomes.
• Support retail development projects with a strong commercial, customer and retailer lens.
• Build trusted relationships with retailers, prospective partners, consultants and stakeholders.

What you will bring to the role

At Auckland Airport, we are a busy hive of activity, and a lot of what we look for is how you would align with our AKL values All In | Tātou tatou - How we feel, Know How | Kōkiri Tahi - How we think and Let's Go | Karawhiua - How we act.

You are commercially minded, detail orientated, proactive and solutions-led. You understand that growing a successful retail portfolio is not just about leasing space - it is about identifying the right opportunities, understanding customers and categories, shaping the right proposition, finding the right partners and building deals that create long-term value.

To be successful in the role, you'll need:

• Significant experience in retail leasing, or property management role with contract/ licence creation, or a similar function/role and management in a high value asset.
• Strong business acumen, financial literacy, critical thinking and commercial judgement.
• The ability to assess retail categories, concepts, market opportunities and commercial fit.
• Excellent attention to detail - legal clauses, licences and leases and performance analysis is your thing
• Experience developing recommendations, business cases or commercial proposals.
• Proven negotiation experience and comfort working through detailed commercial terms and agreements.
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing and communication skills.
• A good understanding of retail performance drivers, customer behaviour and market trends.
• Initiative, curiosity and confidence working with ambiguity.
• The discipline to move opportunities through to completion.
• Airport, travel retail, shopping centre, outlet centre or complex retail precinct experience would be highly regarded.

As a gateway for millions of passengers and freight goods each year, Auckland Airport supports a thriving business and logistics precinct - home to world-class commercial buildings, transport and warehousing facilities, hotels, and recreation spaces.

Now deep into the largest infrastructure investment programme in its history, Auckland Airport is undertaking over 400,000 sqm of new aeronautical development, including a state-of-the-art Domestic Jet Terminal that will redefine how people move through and experience New Zealand's most critical transport hub. With these works underway there is a significant amount of construction being completed in Auckland Airport's Terminal Retail space, which sets us up for success in providing world-class travel and shopping experiences to our customers.

The Property and Commercial team has an important part to play to this journey-shaping the airport's retail, property, and commercial landscape to deliver exceptional experiences and strong commercial outcomes. We're focused on creating a sense of place where everyone can thrive, and where others aspire to be.

E mahi ana mātou mō Aotearoa. We are working for New Zealand.

Auckland Airport is more than just a business. It's a truly unique place with an important role to play in New Zealand. Together we're its custodians, knowing that the work we do has the power to create positive change for our customers, the community, the environment and for the prosperity of Aotearoa. We're a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcome people from all walks of life.

Whiria te tangata. Our values weave us together. They're what we stand for, who we are and how we act.

Apply today

If this role sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you. Click the "Apply" button now.

Please note that applications will be reviewed continuously throughout the recruitment period, and appointments may be made before the official closing date of the advert.

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