General Manager, Breton Village

Overview

The General Manager (GM) has overall responsibility for the success and excellence of Breton Village and is relentlessly focused on customer, tenant, and client experience while always keeping the financial bottom line in mind. The property is an open-air retail destination in the heart of East Grand Rapids, MI, and was recently acquired by WS Development. Home to best-in-class local and national retailers, scenic spaces, and thoughtful amenities, Breton Village will continue to grow and serve as a community hub. The GM is a leader at WS Development, overseeing the asset on the ground and within the community while advocating to corporate leadership the actions that they feel will continue to position the property as the best in the market.   At Breton Village, this person will lead the property strategy and oversee all marketing initiatives and operational needs, thoughtfully partnering with their cross-functional teams and maintaining the highest standards for customer experience.

The ideal candidate will be both a strategic leader and one who motivates his/her cross-functional team with a passion for and understanding of a modern consumer-centric experience. This person looks to related, but different industries (think Disney, cultural centers, civic public space, etc.) for inspiration and understands our innate challenge is a battle for people’s time – in the pursuit of creating places where people want to be. Further, this person will possess exceptional interpersonal skills, the ability to sell what we do and inspire partners around the mission. This includes selling in the context of Leasing tours and brand partnership development.

We work in an entrepreneurial environment, so the candidate must have the ability to pivot and evolve, and to make decisions in a rapidly changing environment. Comfort in business plans, strategy, and financial fluency are a part of day-to-day project management. Candidates will come from a wide variety of backgrounds including retail, hospitality, entertainment, and marketing. The day-to-day work of a GM is highly cross-functional in nature. The GM will report to a regional Director of Asset Strategy and Experience.

Key position accountabilities

• Oversight and ownership of the property budget, including marketing and operations, supporting the business plan, and thinking like a fiduciary.

• Build + manage external partnerships, including those with tenants, customers, the community, local government leadership, and financial partners.

• Overall responsibility for achieving excellence in the day-to-day operations of Breton Village, including but not limited to deliveries, snow removal, landscaping, trash removal, contracted cleaning services, contracted security services, physical plant and systems.

• Plan, organize, and monitor the scheduling, completion, and documentation of Preventative and Corrective Maintenance for both Tenant and base building-related equipment. Ensure that all maintenance records are kept up-to-date and maintained as required
• Build relationships with key local partners/officials such as Building Department, Fire Safety, Board of Health, Police Department, DOT, and Emergency Services.

• Create, develop, and implement an annual marketing plan. The plan should maximize the marketing budget to drive traffic to the property and its tenants while staying true to the brand identity of Breton Village

• Frequently review and understand center sales and traffic trends and implement reporting strategy
• Maintain and manage website presence, email list, and social channels.
• Actively consider your consumer and help identify leads for Leasing; partner with Leasing to attract, retain, and grow the best tenants in the market.
• Partner with Construction and Development to improve the property and continually focus on the details that make the customer experience the best it can be (consider parking, added services, amenities, public spaces, art, etc.)
• Experience working in a complex cross-functional environment involving management of a wide variety of stakeholders– including the Executive Committee, marketing, operations, brand partnerships, competitive landscape, etc.
• Assist in managing capital improvement projects, working alongside your cross-functional team sharing your on-site knowledge all with the tenant and customer in mind
• Manage the property finances within the context of its performance and critically evaluate financial trade-offs. This includes preparing a budget and its management.
• Juggle and prioritize a large workload with a focus on impact vs effort (and where your ROI will be the most effective).

Qualifications and competencies

• Experience-centric mindset

• Enthusiasm, passion, curiosity, entrepreneurial initiative, and a strong work ethic

• A people-person who enjoys developing people, growing relationships, and collaboration.

• Ability to implement both long-term and day-to-day tactical strategies on a wide variety of operational and marketing-related matters.

• Strong organizational skills

• Salesmanship and passion

• Clear, concise communication skills

• Desire to work hard & with a strong sense of urgency.

• Can-do, optimistic attitude
• Orientation toward innovation and trying new things.
• Consistent focus on optimization and improvement (both self-improvement and the work)
• High ethical standards and integrity
• Proficiency in computer skills, including Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Experience leading a cross-functional team towards productive, shared outcomes
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Comfort with ambiguity and adaptability to change.

Education and experience

• A college degree preferred
• 5 years’ experience in retail property management, retail, consumer goods, hospitality, marketing, or a service industry preferred.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, rapidly evolving workplace.
• Demonstrated success as a proven leader, passionate about hiring great counterparties, and leading great teams.

About WS Development

Massachusetts-based WS Development is a mixed-use developer with a singular mission: creating places people want to be. With an approach that values art, science, innovation and, above all else, people, WS strives to engage each community it serves with best-in-class experiences, designed with our customers, tenants and partners in mind. Established in 1990, WS is one of few vertically-integrated real estate companies that conceptualizes, owns, operates and leases more than 100 properties that range from cutting-edge urban spaces to lifestyle and community centers. With over 22 million square feet of existing space and an additional nine million square feet under development, it is one of the largest privately-owned development firms in the country.

WS is where great ideas and great people come together to design, build, and operate some of the best loved real estate projects in the country. We live at the intersection of entrepreneurship and establishment. We have the infrastructure of decades supporting a culture of free-thinking excellence.

We expect every WS employee to feel welcomed and valued irrespective of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, and life experiences. Or for any other reason.