Leasing Manager

Work Location  Edmonton Corporate Office
About the Role  The Leasing Manager is responsible for managing all aspects of the commercial leasing process for the company's retail real estate portfolio, including new site acquisitions, lease renewals, lease negotiations, and broker management. The role serves as the primary liaison between landlords, commercial real estate brokers, internal stakeholders, and legal counsel to ensure that leasing transactions are completed efficiently, commercially, and in accordance with company objectives.
Responsibilities  Portfolio Management  Manage an assigned portfolio of retail locations and maintain responsibility for all upcoming lease renewals and critical lease events.
Develop and maintain a comprehensive renewal schedule, ensuring negotiations commence well in advance of lease expiry dates.
Monitor lease option dates, notice periods, landlord obligations, and other critical milestones.
Prioritize leasing activities based on operational requirements, business strategy, and financial impact.
Maintain accurate lease status reports and provide regular updates to management.
Lease Renewals  Lead all lease renewal negotiations with landlords.
Analyze existing lease economics and identify opportunities to improve lease terms.
Prepare negotiation strategies supported by financial and market analysis.
Escalate significant business risks or commercial issues to senior leadership.
New Site Leasing  Manage the leasing process for new retail locations from initial site identification through execution of the final lease.
Retain, direct, and manage external commercial real estate brokers.
Clearly communicate site selection criteria and market objectives to brokerage partners.
Review potential opportunities and coordinate internal approval processes.
Negotiate Letters of Intent (LOIs) directly with landlords or through brokers.
Coordinate execution of binding lease documentation following approved LOIs.
Ensure all internal approvals are obtained before lease execution.
Broker Management  Select and retain qualified commercial real estate brokers.
Build productive relationships with brokerage firms across operating markets.
Establish leasing priorities and performance expectations.
Monitor broker performance and market coverage.
Ensure brokers actively pursue opportunities aligned with corporate growth strategies.
Coordinate broker activities to avoid duplication and maximize market intelligence.
Market Analysis   Market rental rates
Vacancy trends
Comparable retail transactions
Demographic information
Competitive positioning
Occupancy costs
Demonstrate whether proposed lease economics are consistent with market conditions and provide recommendations supported by data.
Present findings clearly to senior leadership.
Lease Administration & Transaction Management   Manage lease transactions from Letter of Intent through lease execution.
Coordinate with:
Legal counsel, Construction, Operations, Finance, Executive leadership, Leasing Assistant.
Ensure all required documentation is complete and properly approved.
Track transaction progress throughout each stage of the leasing process.
Maintain organized electronic and physical lease files.
Ensure executed lease documents are accurately recorded within corporate systems.
Cross-Functional Collaboration  Work closely with internal departments to ensure successful execution of leasing projects, including:
Construction regarding project feasibility, timing, landlord work, and tenant improvements;
Finance regarding budgeting, financial analysis, and lease economics;
Operations regarding store requirements and operational impacts;
Executive leadership regarding strategic approvals and transaction recommendations;
Leasing Assistant regarding document management, scheduling, and transaction administration;
Legal regarding lease drafting and risk management.
Negotiation  Represent the company in negotiations with landlords, developers, and their representatives.
Protect the company's commercial interests while maintaining productive long-term landlord relationships.
Identify creative solutions to complex leasing issues.
Balance financial objectives with operational requirements.
Negotiate confidently in a professional and ethical manner.
Organization & Project Management  Manage multiple lease transactions simultaneously across numerous markets.
Maintain accurate tracking systems for all leasing activities.
Ensure no critical renewal, option, or notice deadlines are missed.
Prioritize workload effectively in a fast-paced environment.
Maintain detailed records of negotiations and transaction status.
Produce regular leasing pipeline and status reports.
Reporting   Prepare reports for management including:
Lease renewal recommendations
Market rent analyses
Financial summaries
Transaction status reports
Leasing pipeline updates
Risk assessments
Executive approval packages
Portfolio performance metrics
Qualifications   Bachelor's degree in Business, Commerce, Real Estate, Finance, or a related discipline…