General Manager - JFK NTO
2 days ago
New York
Do you want to help revolutionize a major industry? At Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), you’ll have the opportunity to impact the future of airports by developing innovative and engaging places that reinvent being together. Come join a team that builds excitement about working at URW. You’ll get to work with leaders who are passionate about tackling changing consumer behavior with innovative experiences. All this bold vision means the company culture embraces evolution and change. We are currently looking for our: General Manager - At JFK's NTO! What we offer The General Manager (GM) of The New Terminal One (NTO) at John F. Kennedy International Airport is the senior-most operational leader on-site, accountable for the overall performance, strategic execution, and commercial success of URW’s flagship commercial program. Reporting to the Vice President - JFK and collaborating closely with Development, Leasing, Marketing, Legal and Finance teams, the GM drives operational excellence, fosters high-impact stakeholder relationships, and delivers on URW’s ambitious vision to redefine the airport experience. A critical component of this role includes full ownership and oversight of URW’s contractual relationship with the Terminal Operator. The GM ensures all service level agreements and operational requirements outlined in the contract are not only met but enforced—holding all parties accountable to key performance metrics, quality standards, and agreed-upon deliverables. This includes proactive coordination, issue escalation, compliance oversight, and risk mitigation across all shared operational domains. Acting as URW’s primary liaison with key partners, including the Terminal Operator, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), tenants, airline clients, and government agencies, the GM must navigate a highly matrixed environment with strategic agility, operational rigor, and a partnership-first mindset. Scope Terminal Strategy, Contract Oversight & Client Leadership • Serve as a senior on-site representative and operational lead for The New Terminal One concessions program., • Maintain full ownership of URW’s contract with the Terminal Operator; ensure all contractual commitments are upheld and proactively enforce compliance, performance standards, and service delivery requirements., • Escalate and resolve contract deviations or underperformance in collaboration with Legal, Operations, and senior leadership., • Build and maintain trusted relationships with the Terminal Operator, PANYNJ, tenants, airline partners, and local stakeholders., • Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive 5-year business plan for The New Terminal One, aligning URW’s commercial, operational, and experiential goals with evolving passenger trends, client priorities, and airport partner strategies., • Champion the terminal’s commercial, operational, and customer experience strategies—ensuring full alignment with URW’s brand and mission., • Collaborate cross-functionally with Leasing, Marketing, Design, Development, and Tenant Coordination teams to deliver on project timelines and milestones., • Lead external communication and positioning of NTO as a world-class travel, retail, and cultural destination. Financial Stewardship & Operational Oversight • Develop and manage annual budgets (OPEX and CAPEX), ensuring alignment with financial targets and operational priorities., • Monitor monthly financial performance, implement cost controls, and forecast short- and long-term expenses., • Drive profitability and revenue generation through oversight of leasing performance, ancillary income, and storage programs., • Oversee common area maintenance, vendor contract execution, and facility upkeep in partnership with terminal operators., • Ensure contract and procurement compliance with corporate and regulatory standards. Tenant & Concession Management • Serve as the primary point of contact for all concessionaires within NTO, ensuring tenant success from onboarding through operations., • Support lease compliance, operational readiness, and retail performance—working closely with URW’s Leasing and Tenant Coordination teams., • Monitor construction activity and ensure it aligns with design, safety, and scheduling standards., • Drive sales growth and tenant engagement initiatives, collaborating with the Marketing Director to launch programs that enhance the traveler experience., • Partner with Retail Delivery and Leasing teams to ensure timely, high-quality store openings. Regulatory Compliance & Stakeholder Engagement • Ensure the program is fully compliant with all airport regulations, DBE requirements, and local/state/federal mandates., • Serve as a knowledgeable resource for navigating public sector frameworks, including Port Authority procedures and approvals., • Lead efforts to meet or exceed DBE participation goals; oversee certification tracking, reporting, and compliance., • Proactively identify risks or policy changes that may impact the business and drive mitigation strategies. Leadership & People Development • Build and lead a high-performing site team with accountability, alignment, and a shared vision for excellence., • Set goals and performance standards, conduct evaluations, and manage professional development for direct reports., • Promote a culture of safety, collaboration, inclusivity, and innovation., • Represent URW at community events, internal forums, airport committees, and partner functions. What we are looking for • Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Hospitality, Real Estate, or a related field; MBA or relevant graduate degree preferred., • Minimum 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in airport, real estate, retail, hospitality, or transportation environments., • Proven experience managing complex budgets, client relationships, and vendor networks., • Demonstrated success in cross-functional leadership, stakeholder engagement, and organizational change management., • Familiarity with airport operations, public-private partnerships (P3), and regulatory compliance highly preferred., • Proficient in Microsoft Office, budgeting tools, and project management software. Key Competencies • Strategic Thinking – Sees the big picture; connects operational details to broader business objectives., • Leadership – Empowers and inspires teams; sets clear direction and expectations., • Operational Excellence – Delivers efficient, high-quality results through strong planning and execution., • Stakeholder Management – Builds trusted partnerships with clients, public agencies, and internal departments., • Financial Acumen – Manages budgets, forecasts, and financial performance with precision., • Communication Skills – Articulates complex ideas clearly and persuasively across audiences., • Agility – Adapts quickly in a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment., • Customer-Centricity – Champions traveler experience and partner success at every touchpoint. Compensation • Exempt, • $125,000 – $168,000 per year + Discretionary Annual Bonus What is important to us Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) is driven by an entrepreneurial foundation of talented and ambitious employees who embrace change, strive for innovation, and know when to venture into uncharted terrain. Teams within URW are collaborative and thrive by working together to seize opportunity and solve challenges. Employees receive mentorship and guidance while being empowered to drive their initiatives, embracing their individuality and unique backgrounds. URW‘s flagship destinations are interwoven into the community fabric, and we give employees the power to be impactful in their work and lead meaningful change in our communities through volunteering, DE&I programming and leading ESG efforts. URW is an innovator and trend setter in experiential entertainment and is making bold moves to be a brand that creates inspiring consumer experiences in-person and digitally. Breaking beyond conventional beliefs, URW is surprising and delighting customers by reinventing being together and creating memorable moments. Our company purpose – to Reinvent Being Together – is about reimagining how individuals and communities come together, socialize, and enjoy dynamic experiences alongside one another in entirely new ways. We are at our best when we are TOGETHER safely and joyfully. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is an equal opportunity employer that embraces diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, experience, and skills. We believe that diversity plays an important part in the success of our business, and we are committed to creating an environment which respects, values, celebrates and makes the most of people’s differences. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, and other legally protected characteristics. Join us in