General Manager - Commercial Fit out (Real Estate)

The General Manager Commercial Interiors Fitout will lead end-to-end delivery of commercial interior fitout projects across the companys portfolio and client mandates. The role is accountable for P&L, project execution (design-to-handover), contractor/vendor ecosystem, quality & safety, cost and schedule governance, and client/stakeholder management. The incumbent will scale a high-performing fitout delivery organization and build standardized processes to deliver predictable outcomes across multiple concurrent projects.

Key Responsibilities

1) Project Delivery Leadership (Design Execution Handover)

• Lead delivery of multiple concurrent projects (typically Grade A offices, retail, hospitality, industrial/warehouse offices, and common areas ).
• Establish and enforce delivery standards across:
• Design management and coordination (MEP, HVAC, fire, IT/AV, security, BMS)
• Procurement strategy and long-lead planning
• Construction execution, QA/QC, commissioning, snag closure, handover
• Set up and monitor integrated master schedules , risk registers, and milestone tracking across sites.
• Ensure statutory compliance and approvals with relevant authorities (fire, building, electrical, HSE, local bodies).

2) Cost, Contracts & Procurement Governance

• Own budgeting, cost planning, BOQ validation, value engineering, and cost reporting (EAC/ETC).
• Lead contract strategy: GC selection, package contracting, rate contracts, SLA frameworks.
• Govern tendering, evaluation, vendor onboarding, and performance measurement.
• Drive robust change-order/variation governance and claim management (client + subcontractors).

3) Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Establish fitout QA/QC frameworks (checklists, hold points, mockups, material approvals).
• Own HSE governance: toolbox talks, audits, incident management, corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with ISO/QMS practices (where applicable), statutory norms, and company policies.

4) Client & Stakeholder Management

• Be the senior escalation point for clients/tenants, landlords, consultants, PMCs, and internal stakeholders.
• Manage expectations proactively; lead reviews on progress, risks, and decisions.
• Drive customer satisfaction, repeat engagements, references, and case studies.

5) Team & Capability Building

• Build and lead a multi-disciplinary team (Project Directors/Managers, Design Managers, QS/Cost, Planning, Procurement, QA/QC, Site Safety).
• Set performance culture: hiring, mentoring, capability development, succession planning.
• Implement standard operating procedures (SOPs), templates, reporting dashboards, and governance cadence.

6) Systems, Processes & Reporting

• Implement/strengthen tools for execution visibility (MS Project/Primavera, ERP, cost control systems, dashboards).
• Establish portfolio governance: weekly/monthly reviews, RAID logs, vendor scorecards, project health metrics.

Key Deliverables / Success Metrics (KPIs)

• On-time delivery : % projects delivered as per committed schedule.
• Cost adherence : budget variance, procurement savings, EAC accuracy.
• Quality : defects per project, rework %, snag closure time.
• Safety : TRIR/LTI, audit scores, compliance closure rate.
• Client satisfaction : CSAT/NPS, repeat business, referrals.
• Commercial : gross margin %, variation realization, claims settlement, cash collection cycle.

Candidate Profile

Education

• Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering / Architecture / Construction Management (MBA preferred).
• Certifications in PMP/Prince2, QS, Lean construction, or HSE (NEBOSH/IOSH) are a plus.

Experience

• 1218+ years in commercial interiors/fitout delivery, with at least 5+ years in a leadership role managing a portfolio and teams.
• Proven experience delivering large commercial office fitouts (multi-floor / >50,000 sq ft) and/or multiple projects concurrently.
• Strong contracting and procurement experience (lump sum, item-rate, package contracting).
• Track record in stakeholder management with corporate clients, consultants, landlords, and statutory authorities.