Senior Project Manager - Retail (Tenancy Coordination)
At Turner & Townsend we’re passionate about making the difference. That means delivering better outcomes for our clients, helping our people to realize their potential, and doing our part to create a prosperous society.
Every day we help our major global clients deliver ambitious and highly technical projects, in over 130 countries worldwide.
Our team is dynamic, innovative and client-focused, supported by an inclusive and fun company culture. Our clients value our proactive approach, depth of expertise, integrity and the quality we deliver. As a result our people get to enjoy working on some of the most exciting projects in the world.
Due to growth and ongoing delivery success with our clients, Turner & Townsend's Project Management team in Melbourne are expanding and looking for a Senior Project Manager with retail experience.
Position Purpose
The Senior Project Manager is responsible for the end-to-end delivery of retail tenancy outcomes while operating as a key second-in-command within the Tenancy Delivery team.
This role combines strong tenancy coordination expertise with commercial project leadership and plays a critical part in supporting the Retail Tenancy Lead in driving delivery performance, stakeholder alignment, and continuous improvement. The role requires a deep understanding of both landlord priorities and retailer expectations, ensuring commercially balanced, high-quality outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
End-to-End Project Delivery
- Lead the full lifecycle of retail tenancy projects, from deal handover through design, approvals, construction, and trading
- Manage multiple concurrent projects across new tenancies, refurbishments, relocations, and redevelopment works
- Drive programme, cost, quality, and risk outcomes aligned to both landlord and tenant expectations
- Ensure efficient transitions from leasing to delivery, maintaining momentum to meet trading deadlines
- Act as the trusted interface between landlord, tenant, and delivery partners, balancing competing priorities
- Translate asset requirements into practical outcomes for tenants, while protecting commercial and operational objectives
- Provide retailers with clear guidance on processes, approvals, design standards, and delivery pathways
- Influence internal stakeholders (Leasing, Asset Management, Operations) to support optimal tenant outcomes
Tenancy Coordination & Design Management
- Manage tenancy design submissions and approvals, ensuring alignment with:
- Centre design guidelines
- Statutory and authority requirements
- Brand standards and retailer operational needs
- Facilitate efficient turnaround of design reviews and approvals to minimise delays
- Provide practical, solutions-focused feedback to retailers and consultants
- Understand retailer business drivers including:
- Cost sensitivity and ROI expectations
- Brand and customer experience requirements
- Critical trading dates and launch pressures
- Support tenants in navigating landlord processes while advocating for practical outcomes
- Identify and resolve delivery challenges that could impact store opening timelines
- Manage the Vacate, Handover & Opening Schedules
- Create and manage the tenancy packs.
- Coordination between the builder, client, and stakeholders
- Program of works and driving the retailer to meet their handover date
- Manage project budgets, capital expenditure, and tenancy-related cost recovery where applicable
- Provide commercial oversight of:
- Variations and value engineering
- Contractor procurement and performance
- Cost alignment with leasing deal assumptions
- Balance cost control with quality and brand requirements
Construction & Delivery Oversight
- Coordinate base build and tenancy works to ensure seamless integration
- Monitor contractor performance, site progress, and programme adherence
- Ensure compliance with WHS requirements, site constraints, and operational impacts
- Minimise disruption to trading environments and customer experience
- oversee all works comply with:
- Building codes and statutory requirements
- Landlord standards and operational constraints
- Safety and risk management frameworks
- Identify and mitigate delivery risks early, particularly around programme and approvals
- Maintain strong documentation and audit trails
Strategic Contribution & Continuous Improvement
- Contribute to the optimisation of tenancy delivery processes across the portfolio
- Identify opportunities to improve speed to trade and tenant experience
- Provide insights into retailer expectations, market trends, and delivery challenges
- Support development of design guidelines and project standards
- 5+ years of extensive experience in retail tenancy coordination, project management, or construction delivery
- Demonstrated experience working with both landlords (shopping centres/developers) and retailers or client-side delivery
- Strong understanding of:
- Retail leasing and tenancy delivery lifecycle
- Shopping centre operations and constraints
- Retail fit-out design and construction processes
- Proven ability to manage complex stakeholder environments with competing priorities
- Experience delivering projects in live trading environments
- Highly developed communication, negotiation, and influencing skills
- Advanced Microsoft skills are essential
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to lead and develop a team.
- Highly motivated and driven with a passion for delivering to your clients
- Degree in Construction Management, Property, Architecture, or related field
- Experience with major retail landlords and/or national/international retail brands
- Project management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, etc.)
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