Hays Property - April 2007

Hotspots

Western Australia:

• Senior client side project managers.

NSW:

• Centre managers throughout NSW, both contract and permanent.
• Property analysts to join the funds sector.
• Property specialists within the retail and growing aged care industry.
• Property managers and commercial valuers.

Queensland:

• Experienced development managers with track records in major project delivery in the commercial and retail sectors.
• Client side project managers - some companies are struggling to offer competitive salaries in comparison to those on offer from developers and many project managers are making moving into property development successfully. This movement is leaving a considerable gap in the market.

ACT

• Entry-level property candidates.
• Valuers - this remains a hotspot area with demand high for candidates with commercial leasing experience.

The coming quarter

In Western Australia there are a number of new property projects coming into the market in the next three to six months. This will create a need to further develop candidates at all ranges and levels. The demand for client side project management jobs at entry level and intermediate level will continue in Queensland, as will the need for senior development managers and good land acquisitions staff. In ACT the number of new commercial rental properties and government tenants is increasing and creating a need for commercial management. The demand for professionals in property management, especially in the FM area, is expected to continue.

Executive recruitment

In NSW, the major executive hotspot exists at the director/associate director level within commercial valuations practices in the funds/institutional sector. In Western Australia, highly qualified asset managers and executive level management are in most demand. There is a growing trend in Queensland to base decision makers in the local area rather than relying on directors in Sydney and Melbourne locations. In ACT, senior property managers with experience in construction rather than residential are in high demand. The public and private sectors both require property professionals, but the private sector is offering the most attractive packages.

Salaries

In NSW and Western Australia no salary changes are expected over the next quarter, however highly qualified candidates in demand continue to receive above average rates. Queensland project management consultancies will need to examine their salary and bonus structures to actively compete with developers and construction companies for quality staff. There appears to be a growing trend for developers to offer inflated salaries to attract candidates from NSW and this is having a major impact on the expectations of candidates in Queensland. The candidate short market is also driving up ACT salaries. Most private clients are asking how much the candidate wants rather than how much they are prepared to pay, with benefits such as free parking far more common.

Candidate trends

In NSW there is a lack of property managers at the $60,000 - $70,000 level. Recently in Western Australia a number of candidates moved from property into developmental roles. This has created a gap in the market. In Queensland there is a staggering amount of candidates looking to move into development management roles from valuations, quantity surveying, town planning, civil engineering, client side project management and building construction. There is an increase in ACT real estate managers moving into the commercial sector as firms are now willing to train them into the role.