Regional Real Estate Director

Company Information
Borders Group is a dynamic, Fortune 500 company made up of an international group of retail brands with one common goal: to sell books, music, video, and other information and entertainment products profitably by making the experience of shopping easy, enticing, enjoyable, and enriching. Borders Group operates over 1200 Borders and Waldenbooks stores around the world. Our headquarters, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is the hub of it all-from marketing to finance to information technology-the corporate office works together to support the success of our stores.

Job Location
This position is responsible for real estate activity in the following states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Texas. Borders will consider basing the position out of any major metropolitan area in these states or in Colorado.

Job Description
Execute real estate strategy in assigned region including new store site selection, relocations, lease renewals and asset management Expertly negotiate leases for new Borders store locations and lease renewals for existing Borders storesIdentify, evaluate and secure new locations for Borders store concepts in accordance with the Company’s strategic plan Prepare and present real estate site packages to Real Estate Committee. This includes a comprehensive analysis for each proposed lease, which should accurately reflect all economic, real estate and legal issues pertinent to the lease, including the Return on Investment for each proposal Develop strategic plan for region including analysis of existing store base, market share, market trends and market competition Coordinate regional broker network Manage and facilitate all aspects of the lease process through the store opening in partnership with Legal, Finance, Operations, Store Services and Construction departments Develop and maintain strong business relationships with landlords and other retailers. Communicate emerging trends and notable events to Real Estate DepartmentCoordinate special projects related to Borders Real Estate as needed

To Apply:
Please click on the "Apply Now" button below to be routed to our website where you can apply directly for this position.
REQUIREMENTS
7+ years of corporate retail "big box" real estate site selection/development experience and/or related retail leasing experience Bachelors degree in Finance/Business Administration or equivalent experienceStrong working knowledge of mall leasing functions and proceduresDemonstrated track record of successfully - directing and completing deal and lease negotiations Superior negotiation skills Demonstrated excellence in troubleshooting and problem solvingDemonstrated ability to think strategically and execute effectivelyExcellent verbal and written communication skillsProven ability to build effective relationships with internal and external customersDemonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks and to be able to work both independently and as part of a team Willingness and ability to travel approximately 10-15% of the time Legal and/or finance experience/knowledge a plus