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 installations and activations. Established in 1990, WS is a vertically-integrated company 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.

Overview

There are hundreds of Anchor/Big Box retail tenants – generally defined at WS as tenants greater than 10,000 to 15,000 SF in size - across the country. We are looking for an experienced Head of Anchor/Big Box Leasing to join our team to hold the primary responsibility for building and maintaining strong relationships with key national anchor retail accounts (“National Accounts”). The Head of Anchor/Big Box Leasing will divide time equally between building relationships and deals with National Accounts currently outside the WS portfolio as well as sustaining existing relationships and leases through management of options and renewals across the WS portfolio and expansions into additional properties.

To ensure success as the Head of Anchor/Big Box Leasing, you should have excellent interpersonal skills, confidence, and the ability manage accounts across the country. A top-notch national account manager will have a passion for deal making and bring skills as a negotiator, problem solver, and thought-leader to the table.

Responsibilities

• The Head of Anchor/Big Box Leasing will be responsible for securing new leases for the existing and to-be-acquired portfolio.
• Regularly communicate with National Accounts to understand their business needs and goals for existing locations and potential locations within our portfolio and strategize to help solve those needs within the Company’s portfolio.
• Understand the key characteristics of the Company’s portfolio and effectively pitch WS to prospective National Accounts.
• Partner with the leasing lead of specific properties within the portfolio to identify the right National Account for a specific property based on targeted metrics, including economics and merchandising mix.
• Identify, qualify, originate, and negotiate terms and conditions of new and renewal lease transactions with National Accounts.
• Take a leading role in presentations and proposals for National Accounts.
• Monitor and identify market trends, competitors, and new National Account leads.
• Maintain relationships with National Accounts by providing information about new location opportunities and services offered by the company.
• Manage the internal process between National Accounts and key cross-functional partners in the company, including marketing, development, asset management, and tenant coordination (construction).
• Oversee day-to-day interactions with National Accounts, including things like responding to requests, providing updates on projects, or liaising between National Account representatives and internal teams.
• Build and sustain a National Accounts team as necessary to accomplish the Responsibilities across the national WS portfolio. While concentrated in the Northeast, the breadth of this role will be national and will grow as the company continues to acquire new assets.

Requirements

• A minimum of eight years’ experience in retail leasing with a demonstrated history of performance with national accounts.
• A solid understanding of sales metrics, performance measures, and technical indicators.
• Experience with Salesforce or similar CRM system helpful but not required.
• A thorough aptitude for analysis and strategy.
• Decisive thinking and leadership abilities.
• Excellent interpersonal and client-relations skills.
• Negotiation, conflict resolution, and presentation skills.
• Dynamic and creative problem-solving abilities.
• A strong client-focused mindset.