Real Estate Portfolio Manager

About the Role

The Portfolio Manager will function as an individual contributor with leadership responsibilities to manage Food Lion's existing 1,100+ store portfolio. This role leads processes to renew existing leases, improve shopping center conditions, gain additional lease term, enhance financial performance through early lease renewals, and create urgency across Food Lion and ADUSA Services to achieve aggressive targets. The Portfolio Manager evaluates complex business situations and owns the chosen course of action, working closely with Legal, Research, and Engineering staff on matters relating to existing stores.

Responsibilities

• Manage various real estate responsibilities across the Food Lion portfolio.
• Collaborate on shaping the annual strategic planning for real estate portfolio activities.
• Oversee all lease maintenance efforts, including LMAs, lease renewals/extensions, new vendor set-up, and landlord consents.
• Act as the lead real estate resource for miscellaneous projects relating to existing stores, such as Food Lion To-Go additions, traffic improvements, signage, parking lot modifications, securing easements, resolving disputes, EV chargers, and IT projects.
• Identify and drive strategies for navigating real estate issues and develop/implement short-term and long-term solutions.
• Establish and maintain strong business relationships with outside commercial real estate brokers, developers, municipal officials, attorneys, and landlords.
• Assist Real Estate Accounting, Leasing, Property Management, and Maintenance associates with existing store negotiation issues.
• Lead efforts to build an effective lease renewal process to improve store relevance by upgrading store exteriors, modernizing shopping centers, and enhancing customer experience.
• Define strategies for each market requiring unique research, assessment, and deployment plans to transform the existing portfolio across 10 states and 37 DMAs.
• Track and monitor progress of execution for Senior Level communications.

Requirements

• B.A./B.S. degree required.
• 4-6 years of experience in the retail corporate real estate industry.
• Previous experience with corporate grocery retailers.
• Work experience or educational background in corporate/commercial real estate or a real estate-affiliated field such as finance, market research, law, or engineering.
• Proficient in web-based research, Excel, Word, and familiarity with database software.
• Ability to create new processes, drive accountability, and execute in a cross-functional environment.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong project management skills with a proven history of handling multiple projects and shifting priorities.
• Complex problem-solving skills; strategic thinker with the ability to evaluate, set, and reset priorities.
• Highly developed interpersonal, communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to exercise influence without authority and maintain highly confidential information.
• Strong analytical and judgment skills; ability to comprehend a broad range of technical issues.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
• Highly motivated, self-directed, and results-driven.
• Ability to travel (~15%) and conduct physical evaluations of store locations, including 2-3 nights/month.
• Strong leadership, decision-making, and critical thinking skills.
• Highly proficient in dealing with economics and contract negotiation.
• Ability to effectively resolve financial and contractual issues and disputes.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated track record of leadership for a high-growth business unit/region.
• Advanced degree in Law, Business Administration, Engineering, or related subjects.
• Post-graduate real estate development certificates and/or coursework.