Director of Leasing

Benderson Development is one of the largest privately held real estate companies in the United States. Founded in 1949, the company owns and operates more than 1,000 properties totaling over 58 million square feet across 41 states. Our diversified portfolio includes retail, industrial, office, medical, hospitality, and net-lease properties. As a fully integrated, long-term owner, Benderson brings leasing, development, construction, property management, and other key real estate capabilities together under one organization.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an accomplished retail leasing professional to join our Sarasota team as Director of Leasing. This is a highly visible role for an experienced dealmaker who brings strong industry relationships, sound business judgment, and the ability to identify opportunities and turn them into successful transactions.

The Director of Leasing will play an important role in shaping retail leasing strategy, strengthening tenant mix, and driving value across the portfolio. The ideal candidate is entrepreneurial, well connected and energized by pursuing deals, building relationships with retailers and brokers, and solving complex leasing challenges.

What You'll Do

• Drive retail leasing strategy and execution across the portfolio, with a focus on maximizing occupancy, strengthening tenant mix, and creating long-term asset value.

• Source and pursue new retail leasing opportunities through retailer and restaurant relationships, broker networks, market knowledge, direct tenant outreach, and creative deal sourcing.

• Build and expand relationships with local, regional, and national retailers, restaurants, brokers, and other key retail real estate partners.

• Lead transactions from opportunity through execution, including new leases, renewals, expansions, and relocations.

• Evaluate deals strategically and financially, considering tenant strength, economics, market positioning, merchandising strategy, co-tenancy, tenant mix, and long-term value to the property.

• Stay ahead of the market by maintaining a strong understanding of retailer and restaurant activity, competitive shopping centers, emerging concepts, consumer trends, and changing market dynamics.

• Find creative solutions for complex leasing opportunities, including challenging vacancies, unique spaces, redevelopment situations, and evolving tenant needs.

• Partner directly with ownership on significant transactions, leasing strategy, and key portfolio decisions.

• Collaborate with legal, construction, property management, development, and marketing teams to efficiently move deals from initial discussions through lease execution and tenant delivery.

• Bring a leasing perspective to acquisitions, redevelopment, new development, and other strategic portfolio initiatives.

What We're Looking For

• 7+ years of successful retail real estate leasing experience, with a strong track record of sourcing, negotiating, and closing transactions with local, regional, and national tenants.

• A meaningful network of retailer, restaurant, broker, and industry relationships, along with the ability to continually develop new relationships and opportunities.

• Strong business and financial judgment, with the ability to look beyond the immediate transaction and understand how a deal contributes to the overall success of an asset.

• A proactive, entrepreneurial mindset and the ability to create opportunities rather than simply respond to them.

• Strong negotiation skills and the confidence to navigate sophisticated transactions with experienced tenants, brokers, and business partners.

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

• The ability to work effectively with ownership and cross-functional teams in a fast-moving, highly collaborative environment.

Why This Opportunity

This is an opportunity for an experienced retail leasing professional to have a meaningful impact on a substantial national real estate portfolio while working directly with ownership. The role offers the ability to pursue significant retail transactions, influence portfolio and merchandising strategy, and contribute beyond individual lease negotiations.

Relocation assistance is available for the right candidate.