Head of Leasing and Delivery

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Government Property Office is accountable for the strategic leadership of the government’s office accommodation portfolio and provisioning for the centralisation of components of the government’s property function.  The Government Property Office is also responsible for delivering on MBIE's own property strategy as well as providing high-quality property management services to MBIE.

The government’s office accommodation portfolio is significant, encompassing circa 1,000,000 sqm of office space and a rental spend of circa $330 million per year across 73 agencies, including Crown Agents. MBIE is an agency with a significant property portfolio (about 10% of the government’s footprint), encompassing both office and non-office sites, across New Zealand and offshore. 

The Head of Leasing and Delivery is a result orientated, strategic, commercial, and influential role. The position reports to the General Manager Government Property Office and leads teams of specialists to establish and lead a leasing centre of excellence to support agencies leasing functions and deliver specific property system leadership outcomes in the government office accommodation portfolio, and the programme of works for MBIE’s property project portfolio.

The Heading of Leasing and Delivery is responsible for the development and implementation of the Government Property Office Leasing Strategy and development of the framework for lease management both on behalf of, and in partnership, with agencies. The position will be responsible for bringing together specialised commercial lease negotiation capability to work with and/or undertake leasing on behalf of, a wide range of public sector agencies. The role holder will foster cooperation and commitment to deliver the best possible lease negotiation outcomes for government office property, and the effective (proactive and reactive) management of lease-related issues across the portfolio.

They will also bring their significant experience in property development, highly tuned senior-stakeholder engagement skills and strategic property project knowledge to ensure commissioning, governance, leadership and delivery of the system and MBIE property development projects deliver expected benefits and value.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• Must have 15+ years negotiating complex, detailed leases and managing an extensive property portfolio ideally in the Government sector.
• Sound and up-to-date understanding of the business of government agencies, and the ability to engage effectively at senior levels to build trust and credibility, problem solve, influence, and gain cooperation.
• Reputation and mana with agencies that supports a partnership approach in delivering optimal lease management that achieves system and agency outcomes.
• Proven experience in leasing management, preferably at a national or regional level, with a solid understanding of leasing principles, real estate markets, and lease negotiations.
• Advanced experience leading the scoping, procurement and negotiation of complex commercial leases and leasing transactions including in-depth knowledge of partnering agreements, development agreements, agreements to lease and leases/licences.
• An existing reputation as a highly credible property negotiator and leader, and strong existing relationships with key players in the commercial property sector.
• Proven experience in building and managing property development capability and of national programme leadership.
• An excellent understanding of and experience applying of property project methodology.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, including the ability to bring innovative and effective options to the table.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to analyse market data, financial reports, and lease terms to make informed decisions and drive leasing strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi including appropriate understanding of current Government policy, tangata whenua perspectives and community views on Te Tiriti.
• Demonstrated ability to lead Te Tiriti responsiveness within the context of the Government Property Office.
• A commitment to achieving results, and the ability to effectively prioritise workloads in a fast paced and changing environment.
• Proven ability to contribute as a member of a high performing team, encouraging an innovative and continuous learning culture with a strong focus on service delivery and solutions.
• Sound knowledge of property law, health and safety legislation and tenant / landlord obligations.

Other

• A tertiary qualification in a property discipline (or equivalent) would be beneficial.
• Willingness to travel throughout New Zealand when required.
• Must have a legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Lease Management Leadership

• Provides overall oversight and leadership of the Leasing team.
• Leads advice on complex, ambiguous multi-agency issues with significant sensitivity and risk, and provides authoritative and frank policy advice that recognises the choices and constraints Ministers face, anticipates needs, predicts, and plans for potentially controversial or politically sensitive issues.
• Builds and maintains effective, executive-level, and strategic working relationships across government and industry for project success.
• Partners with the Manager Engagement and Portfolio Management to align lease management with the strategic policy agenda at a portfolio level.
• Oversees a framework for managing stakeholder lease management and enabling agency partners in their lease management activities.
• Ensures government lease negotiation activities are well anticipated, planned for, and delivered in partnership with agencies in a timely manner.
• Provides guidance, mentoring and support to the team to ensure that the work programme is delivered effectively, including in the production of any collateral or communications.
• Maintains a forward agenda, identifying opportunities and risks for the work programme and, where risks exist, recommending mitigations to the GM/Governance Board.

Lease Management

• Establishes capability and capacity to provide leasing management services for agencies as required.
• Ensures lease negotiation and execution is effectively managed to ensure favourable terms and conditions for the agency, savings for the Crown, while maintaining strong relationships with landlords.
• Ensures long term efficiencies and minimises government’s risk through effective negotiation and lease constructs.
• Maintains an in-depth understanding of the office accommodation market and prevailing market conditions.
• Ensures the use of commercial procurement processes (while adhering to government’s rules of sourcing), appropriate due diligence and astute commercial and lease negotiation principles in all lease management processes.

Property Planning

• Oversee the development and implementation of comprehensive leasing strategies to align with the long-term Portfolio Plan and enable the optimization targets to be met across the government’s office accommodation portfolio.

Programme and Project Leadership

• Establishes and manages the capability and practices necessary to deliver on the Government Property System and MBIE property outcomes, including benefit realisation, risk management, contract management and stakeholder engagement.
• Ensures programmes and projects are established with governance, leadership and internal and external resourcing appropriate to ensure their success.
• Provides oversight and leadership of significant projects that deliver on Property System Leadership outcomes.
• Ensures delivery of quality results that contribute to the system outcomes and enable delivery of services by agency partners.
• Provides oversight of programme processes, including communications with the sector and cross-agency engagement at a senior level, procurement, iwi and community engagement, and negotiations.
• Builds and maintains effective, executive-level, and strategic working relationships across government and industry for programme success.
• Leads advice on complex, ambiguous multi-agency issues with significant sensitivity and risk to the success of the programme.
• Partners with the Engagement and Portfolio Management unit to align programme management with the strategic requirements at a portfolio level.
• Works with the NZ Government Procurement to ensure property development contracts support government objectives and broader outcomes.
• Supports the General Manager, Government Property Office in meetings with the Minister and Senior public service leaders on property programmes or significant projects.
• Provides thought leadership on complex, ambiguous programme issues with significant sensitivity and risk, setting and driving programme priorities.
• Cement programme planning and process to ensure that all workstreams are delivered to deadline and a high standard.
• Function as a point of escalation for significant risks, issues, funding or resourcing challenges that could impact the delivery of the programme.
• Build and maintain working relationships between the programme and other government teams, agencies, and initiatives to ensure the programme is cognisant of related priorities and activities.
• Oversee programme budgets, timelines, and dependencies.

General Leadership

• Provide day-to-day leadership, management, and HR responsibility for direct reports.
• Foster an open, collaborative environment that encourages quality, innovation, on-going learning, and knowledge sharing within the team and with agency partners.
• Provide intellectual support and coach others on relationship management, monitoring, government systems and knowledge of institutional practice.
• Create a positive and delivery-focussed culture within the team, which is open to taking risks and learning lessons from failure, and where diverse views and perspectives are sought out and considered.
• Model MBIE’s values and culture.

Relationship Management

• Builds and maintains effective relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including senior leaders and ministers across the public service in order to ensure effective project delivery.
• Builds strategic alliances with key government and non-government representatives to ensure Property System Leadership views are influential in their decision-making.
• Develops effective supportive working relationships with other managers and teams in the Government Property Office to deliver the programme of work and transfer knowledge and learning across the branch.
• Represents whole-of-Ministry views and protects its reputation in any external interactions.

Wellbeing, health & safety

• Displays commitment through actively supporting all safety and wellbeing initiatives
• Ensures own and others safety at all times
• Complies with relevant safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, safe systems of work and event reporting
• Reports all incidents/accidents, including near misses in a timely fashion
• Is involved in health and safety through participation and consultation

Tō tūranga i roto i te Manatū – Your place in the Ministry

The Head of Leasing and Delivery reports into the General Manager within the Government Property Office branch. The branch sits within the Kānoa - Regional Development and Commercial Services group.

More information about MBIE's structure

Matatautanga – Competencies (Leadership Success Profile)

The Leadership Success Profile (LSP) is a leadership capability framework, developed by the New Zealand public sector for the New Zealand public sector. It creates a common language for leadership and establishes what great leadership looks like. You can look at the twelve underpinning capabilities and four leadership characters here: Leadership Success Profile | Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission(external link)

To mātou aronga – What we do for Aotearoa New Zealand

Hīkina Whakatutuki is the te reo Māori name for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Hīkina means to uplift. Whakatutuki means to move forward, to make successful. Our name speaks to our purpose, Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All.

To Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All, we put people at the heart of our mahi. Based on the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi, we are committed to upholding authentic partnerships with Māori.

As agile public service leaders, we use our breadth and experience to navigate the ever-changing world. We are service providers, policy makers, investors and regulators. We engage with diverse communities, businesses and regions. Our work touches on the daily lives of New Zealanders. We grow opportunities (Puāwai), guard and protect (Kaihāpai) and innovate and navigate towards a better future (Auaha).

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

As an agency of the public service, MBIE has a responsibility to contribute to the Crown meeting its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Te Tiriti). Meeting our commitment to Te Tiriti will contribute towards us realising the overall aims of Te Ara Amiorangi – Our Path, Our Direction, and achieve the outcome of Growing New Zealand for All. The principles of Te Tiriti - including partnership, good faith, and active protection – are at the core of our work. MBIE is committed to delivering on our obligations as a Treaty partner with authenticity and integrity and to enable Māori interests. We are committed to ensuring that MBIE is well placed to meet our obligations under the Public Service Act 2020 (Te Ao Tūmatanui) to support the Crown in strengthening the Māori/Crown Relationship under the Treaty and to build MBIE’s capability, capacity and cultural intelligence to deliver this.

Mahi i roto i te Ratonga Tūmatanui – Working in the public service

Ka mahitahi mātou o te ratonga tūmatanui kia hei painga mō ngā tāngata o Aotearoa i āianei, ā, hei ngā rā ki tua hoki. He kawenga tino whaitake tā mātou hei tautoko i te Karauna i runga i āna hononga ki a ngāi Māori i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi. Ka tautoko mātou i te kāwanatanga manapori. Ka whakakotahingia mātou e te wairua whakarato ki ō mātou hapori, ā, e arahina ana mātou e ngā mātāpono me ngā tikanga matua o te ratonga tūmatanui i roto i ā mātou mahi.

In the public service we work collectively to make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders now and in the future. We have an important role in supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi. We support democratic government. We are unified by a spirit of service to our communities and guided by the core principles and values of the public service in our work.

What does it mean to work in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Public Service?(external link) — Te Kawa Mataaho The Public Service Commission