Director, Retail Asset Management

Core Spaces (Core) is more than a real estate company, it’s a people company. Where building relationships is just as important as building properties. From researchers and architects to designers and operators, Core is made up of risk takers and dreamers who are on a mission to invent the future of living. Our six cultural values guide us every day and we strive to live them in everything we do: PUSH (Invent Better Places to Live), GRIT (We Got This), LIFT (Help Each Other Win), SHINE (Bring Your Full Self), UPHOLD (Never Break Trust), GROW (Always Get Better). Everything Core does stems from this culture of collaboration and innovation, and the drive to constantly improve the resident experience. This unique approach has led to creating spaces and services that are redefining the way people live.

Founded in 2010, Core is a vertically integrated real estate investment manager focused on acquiring, developing and managing across the student housing and build-to-rent (“BTR”) sectors. Its residential communities feature world-class amenities, progressive design, and hospitality-driven service. Core’s student housing portfolio includes over 59,000 beds currently owned or managed, with a pipeline of over 50,930 beds in various stages of development. Core’s BTR division has over 3,000 homes under development, now leasing or in its pipeline in high-growth metros nationwide. For more information, visit www.corespaces.com.

*Portfolio and pipeline numbers as of Q4 2025

• A culture that provides you with a sense of belonging
• Competitive pay that values your contributions
• Incentives designed to reward your achievements
• Paid flexible PTO to disconnect or celebrate life milestones
• Paid 14+ holidays, including your birthday, to disconnect and celebrate
• Paid Parental Leave that begins after 90 days
• Paid volunteer time off to give back to your community
• Monthly workshop weeks; fewer meetings & more collaboration
• Robust health plan options that begin within at least 30 days of your employment
• Monthly phone reimbursement
• Wellness allowance and perks, including a yearly subscription to a meditation app
• An environment that provides you a voice to share your perspectives
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for access to confidential support services
• Company retirement options including 401(k) + matching & Roth account option

The Director, Retail Leasing Management, is the single point of accountability for retail leasing execution across the portfolio. This role is designed for a commercially sharp operator who thrives at the intersection of strategy and execution, building and managing broker relationships across multiple markets, leading deal negotiations from LOI through lease execution, and partnering cross-functionally with Development, Operations, Legal, and Asset Management to protect and grow retail asset value. This is not a property management role; it is a portfolio-wide leasing and deal-making position.

Local Retail Broker Sourcing & Management

• Drive leasing velocity across the portfolio by sourcing, vetting, and selecting best-in-class local retail brokers by market—ensuring each market is represented by a partner with the right relationships and executional track record.
• Lead broker onboarding and set clear expectations around target tenants and use types, deal economics, underwriting constraints, and activity and reporting cadences.
• Manage broker coordination across tours, LOIs, negotiations, and deal progression—holding partners accountable for execution quality, velocity, and communication.
• Coordinate broker commission agreements in alignment with internal approval processes.

Retail Leasing Strategy & Market Intelligence

• Develop and maintain market rent comps by asset and submarket to anchor leasing assumptions in current market conditions.
• Establish target rent, TI, and deal parameters by suite type and use—refreshing regularly to reflect shifts in the market.
• Ensure alignment between retail leasing strategy, underwriting assumptions, and asset business plans across the portfolio.

LOI Negotiation & Deal Structuring

• Lead negotiation of Letters of Intent (LOIs) in coordination with brokers and Legal, balancing rent, term, TI, guaranties, and security to optimize deal outcomes within internally approved parameters.
• Operate within established “deal goal posts”—no unilateral authority to bind the company; all LOIs and leases are subject to internal approval.

Approval Memos & Internal Deal Review

• Prepare comprehensive LOI approval memos covering key business terms, comparison to market comps and underwriting, Net Effective Rent (NER) analysis, and tenant financial and operator background—enabling informed, efficient decision-making for leadership.
• Support Asset Management leadership and JV approval processes as required.

Lease Execution & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Partner with Legal to advance deals from LOI through lease execution, and coordinate with Development and Operations on suite layouts, delivery conditions, landlord work letters, and tenant build-out questions.
• Drive open issues to resolution while protecting asset value and maintaining deal momentum.

Tenant Transition & Portfolio Oversight

• Facilitate smooth tenant handoff to Property Management upon lease execution, supporting Asset Management and PM as needed if pre-opening issues arise.
• Provide monthly retail portfolio updates covering active broker activity, LOI pipeline, lease status, and key risks ensuring leadership has a clear and current view of the portfolio.
• Occasional travel may be necessary as needed.
• Perform all other duties and tasks as assigned by management.
• Must be able to complete all physical requirements of this role with or without a reasonable accommodation.

• Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business, or a related field
• 5–10+ years in retail leasing, retail asset management, or commercial brokerage
• Proven experience sourcing and managing third-party brokers across multiple markets
• Strong command of retail lease economics, deal structuring, and LOI negotiation
• Experience preparing deal approval memos and presenting to leadership or JV partners

You'll crush it if you have experience with

• Working cross-functionally with Asset Management, Legal, Development, and Operations in a vertically integrated platform
• Retail leasing within mixed-use, multifamily, or student housing environments
• NER modeling and underwriting-level financial analysis
• Lease administration or deal management platforms

Organizational Structure

Reports to: Managing Director, Asset Management

Direct Reports: N/A

Please note that job responsibilities, reporting lines, and duties outlined in this job description are subject to change to meet the evolving needs of the organization.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Core Spaces celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment, which creates a sense of belonging for all employees. We do not discriminate and believe every individual should be proud of who they are and the community they represent.

The compensation range listed reflects the base salary or hourly rate that we reasonably and in good faith expect to offer for this role at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as education, experience, skills, certifications, seniority, geographic location, and business needs.

This role may be eligible for additional forms of compensation, including bonuses, commissions, stipends, or non-cash incentives, depending on position and performance. Benefits may include health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and other role-based offerings, subject to eligibility requirements.

All compensation components are subject to change based on business needs or market conditions.