Commercial Leasing Associate

Retail Leasing Associate – Open-Air Shopping Centers

Benderson Development is one of America’s largest privately held real estate companies, with a portfolio that includes more than 1000 properties totaling over 56 million square feet in 40 states. The diverse Benderson portfolio includes retail, office, industrial, hotel, residential, and landholdings. With over 77 years of experience, Benderson Development has engineered impressive growth through innovation, insight, and determination.

General Summary

The Leasing Associate's primary role is to search for prospective retail tenants, both regional and national, to lease spaces within Benderson Development’s shopping centers in Western New York region.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities:

• Partners with the Leasing team to develop and execute strategic leasing plans to identify, qualify, and engage prospective tenants.
• Researches and analyzes prospective tenants for shopping centers based on credit profile, tenant mix, financial impact, and alignment with the overall merchandising strategy of the property.
• Coordinates with third-party brokers responsible for canvassing and cold calling to bring qualified new tenants to the shopping center.
• Assists in sourcing and qualifying prospective national, regional, and local tenants through market research, industry outreach, and broker relationships.
• Assists in reviewing and negotiating letters of intent (LOIs) and lease agreements as part of the leasing process.
• Collaborates with internal teams, including asset management, property management, construction, and legal, to support the negotiation and execution of leasing documents such as LOIs, Exclusive/Restriction Use reviews, and new leases.
• Supports tenant retention efforts by assisting in lease renewal negotiations and evaluating opportunities to optimize tenant mix within the portfolio.
• Gathers data and prepares financial and strategic analyses, including transaction proformas, to ensure alignment with the objectives set by ownership and investment partners.
• Prepares leasing activity reports and participates in bi-weekly leasing meetings with the leasing department, as well as monthly updates for partners and clients.
• Represents the company at local, regional, and national conferences and industry events to build relationships and promote leasing opportunities.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree is not required but preferred
• 5+ years of retail commercial real estate industry experience with a proven track record of success.
• Must have an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Proficient communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative team environment
• Customer service-focused interpersonal skills.
• Must have an active driver's license.
• Open to relocation to Buffalo, NY or Rochester, NY.

Pay Range: $70,000 - $80,000 Annually

Please note that the final offer amount will be dependent on geographic location, applicable experience and skillset of the candidate

Equal Opportunity Employer
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