Senior Director, Development Leasing

Senior Director, Development Leasing- (Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus, New Jersey)

The Senior Director, Development Leasing is responsible for driving revenue growth and leading strategic leasing initiatives across development projects and existing assets. This is an individual contributor role, which requires a bold vision for mixed-use environments, strong financial acumen, and the ability to manage complex projects from concept through execution. The Senior Director will partner with internal and external stakeholders to deliver innovative leasing strategies that maximize asset value and align with company objectives.

• Drive revenue growth aligned with company and asset strategies.
• Own the full-cycle sales process: prospecting, C-suite engagement, negotiating contracts, and closing new and renewal business.
• Manage existing client relationships to secure a high percentage of renewal business.
• Negotiate and execute leases to achieve center leasing budgets.
• Develop and execute center-specific merchandising strategies that differentiate assets and support local business development.
• Leverage strategic relationships to sell across multiple shopping centers and achieve annual quotas.
• Directly influence scope, budget, and direction of retail, food & beverage, and entertainment development projects.
• Manage deal flow with tenants, legal leasing, retail delivery, design management, and center management to achieve rent commencement dates.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to create and execute unique commercial opportunities supported by comprehensive financials.
• Oversee preparation of lease proposals, including LOIs, marketing materials, lease plans, and space drawings.
• Ensure compliance with company standards and governance for all memorandums and agreements.

• Develop deep market understanding through analysis of sales, traffic trends, demographics, and competitive positioning.
• Maintain awareness of industry trends and emerging concepts to inform leasing strategies.
• Constantly define and execute innovative options to optimize asset valuation.
• Apply strong business and financial acumen to evaluate opportunities and mitigate risk.
• Prepare and analyze financial projections, proformas, and transactions.
• Maintain financial budgets and forecast reports.
• Understand and apply accounting principles including budgeting, forecasting, NPV, and IRR calculations.

• Interface with internal and external stakeholders, including legal, finance, operations, marketing, IT, development, and government agencies.
• Build and maintain relationships with anchor tenants, city officials, planning boards, and community groups.
• Represent the company as a polished, articulate public speaker in meetings and presentations.

• Effectively prioritize and manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.
• Drive implementation and oversight of business strategies and procedural changes to improve efficiencies.
• Ensure accurate data flow and reporting between leasing teams and other departments.

• Exempt
• $180,000 - $225,000 per year + Discretionary Annual Bonus

• Minimum 8–10 years of experience in real estate development leasing, with proven success in managing complex projects and negotiations.
• Strong understanding of the development process, including strategic planning, underwriting, finance, design, construction, and stabilization.
• Demonstrated ability to structure and solve complex financial transactions.
• Experience with entitlements, government planning processes, and stakeholder engagement.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, and Salesforce.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with ability to innovate and adapt in dynamic environments.
• Willingness to travel as required.

• Strategic thinker with strong business development skills.
• Collaborative leader who values diversity and inclusion.
• Creative and passionate about delivering best-in-class experiences.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and able to lead through…