Director of Real Estate

Location: Remote

Reporting to: Chief Development Officer

Salary Range: $150,000-170,000 base salary

Travel: up to 75% travel potential

Thirty years ago, Dr. Barnes founded Eyemart Express to deliver everything a patient needs. It started with one friendly shop in Appleton, WI and has since expanded to over 250 stores in 42 states. Today, Eyemart Express is celebrated for promptly delivering quality eyewear at great prices, while maintaining great relationships with optometrists and local communities. We’re not like everyone else, with local labs in stores, eye exams, and same-day delivery on glasses — our customers never miss a moment.

Now, you can join one of the nation’s top optical retailers and improve lives by helping people see better. We are seeking seasoned candidates for a critical position within our Real Estate group. This position is responsible for site selection and all related tasks for new and relocated stores. Related tasks include demographic analysis, management of broker network and landlord relationships, presentation of property attributes to Real Estate leadership along with other company executives, negotiation of letters of intent, assisting attorneys in lease negotiations, and assisting in coordinating projects with other department functional areas. The ideal candidate will bring experience, a commercial mind and high energy into a critical function at Eyemart Express.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Execute corporate real estate strategy and align with strategic company growth goals under the direction of the Chief Growth Officer Deliver a robust pipeline of deals which allow for properly paced and sequenced openings Responsible for managing the full project life cycle for new store growth within an assigned region by creating and executing a strategic real estate plan for each designated market area within the region, including building, maintaining, and managing relationships with regional brokers, landlords, and developers for new store pipeline Perform market planning & trade area reviews to identify potential sites based on demographics, regional draw, and market potential, utilizing a GIS web-based tool Secure quality sites within desired trade areas that meet/beat fair market value and negotiate, review & approve Letters of Intent associated with new stores and relocations Work closely with attorneys (internal and external) on leases and track progress to assure execution in a timely manner Work cross-functionally with Professional Affairs, Construction, Business Intelligence, Legal, Finance, Operations, Marketing and other internal team members to execute on all new store related activities within assigned region. Lead effort to prepare for Real Estate Committee presentations for new stores, relocations, and store expansions within region

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Must be a US Citizen or permanent resident Bachelor’s degree required 10+ years of experience working for a national or regional retailer or outsourced occupier services group, with at least 5 years real estate site selection and lease negotiation experience Strong understanding of current retail real estate environment in the United States, knowledge of market research and experience in real estate negotiations. Managed a retail lease portfolio across multiple states with multiple landlords Strong knowledge of commercial/retail real estate lease documents and leasing process Ability to work with the latest GIS tools and PowerPoint & Excel ability Demonstrated ability to effectively manage all job responsibilities while being accountable for executing 25+ new store leases per year Ability to work in a fast paced environment and adapt quickly to change Ability to lead and inspire others

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS & SKILLS NEEDED FOR THE ROLE

Demonstrated ability to effectively establish relationships with and interact with the real estate development community including developers and brokers Demonstrated skills in the areas of financial proforma analysis and lease/contract negotiations. Ability to present information effectively and respond to questions from executive team members, property owners, store managers and local government officials Ability to carry out multiple assignments concurrently while holding self and others accountable Superior communication, presentation, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with demonstrated ability to understand the audience and customer Strong negotiation and transaction management skills

Eyemart Express is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of an individual's sex, age, race, color, creed, national origin, religion, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, disability, veteran or military status and other personal characteristics protected by law. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce - one that reflects the varied communities where we live and serve. Our work greatly benefits from a range of perspectives, so we encourage you to apply!