Vice President, Retail Development

About the role

Related California is seeking a Retail Development Senior Project Manager or Vice President to support the development and execution of the retail strategy for the Related Bristol project in Orange County.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and execution of the retail strategy for a large-scale, multi-phase mixed-use project including phasing, program, economics, delivery, and long-term performance.
• Cook up and coordinate across development, construction, leasing, capital markets, legal, marketing, and asset management to align retail execution with overall project objectives.
• Assist in managing leasing strategy in a highly competitive trade area impacted by non-compete and radius restrictions.
• Actively participate in LOI and lease negotiations, lease and tenant evaluation, produce work letters, and where appropriate, retailer joint ventures.
• Maintain ongoing market intelligence on key OC retail comps, tenant movement, exclusives, and competitive positioning.
• Assist with selection and oversight of third-party leasing agents and commission structures.
• Author, maintain and manage the Project’s budget, schedule and project tracker in coordination with overall Bristol development and team; Manage and advance the project’s plan check and building permits in coordination with the rest of the Bristol development and team; Manage and participate in project meetings and presentations, including: design and planning meetings, internal and external presentations, project coordination meetings, stakeholder meetings, construction administration meetings, and various workshops;
• Conduct recurring market research and other due diligence;
• Manage third party consultant contracts, budgets, schedules, scopes of work and deliverables;
• Review and summarize existing retail leases, author and maintain existing retail lease databases, and assist in the negotiation and acquisition of existing retail leasehold interests;
• Underwrite new development and acquisition opportunities as they may occur.
• Author and maintain complex pro formas, budgets and financial forecasts, project reports and investment memoranda that inform key project decisions and milestones.
• Support underwriting inputs, presentations, diligence responses, and materials supporting investment strategy.
• Support procurement and closing of construction financing, permanent financing and joint venture partnerships including due diligence processing, term sheet evaluation, legal document review and negotiations, title policy review, and other closing logistics.
• Prepare quarterly reports with the broader Bristol team for Related’s Investment Committee and third-party partners covering leasing, construction, operations, budgets, and key decision items.
• Provide active owner oversight of retail operations in coordination with the Property Manager, including review and approvals of budgets, forecasts, CapEx, reporting, and annual reconciliations.
• Oversee the pipeline of leasing transactions, renewals and rent reviews to drive value.
• Manage investor, tenant, and stakeholder relationships.
• Actively oversee retail construction execution including owner oversight of buyout and procurement, budgets, schedules, reporting, and change order negotiations.
• Conduct recurring site walks, OAC meetings, and manage issue resolution tied to schedule, cost, design intent, and tenant delivery.
• Support the project’s overall master planning, retail integration, design and plan check processes with a focus on placemaking, design excellence, and long-term value creation.
• Coordinate retail technical execution including tenant criteria integration, servicing/loading, back-of-house planning, storefront design standards, and signage/wayfinding.
• Coordinate tenant delivery requirements across shell/core turnover, TI coordination, and opening readiness.

Qualifications

• 6-10 years of experience in retail or mixed-use development, retail-led development, or comparable owner/operator roles.
• Experience supporting large-scale mixed-use projects with solid understanding of retail integration in a mixed-use environment, layered ownership/JV structures, shared infrastructure and complex cost allocations.
• Strong retail development project management, analytical, organizational, and commercial skills.
• Working knowledge of leasing, merchandising, and retail operations expertise, including experience navigating non-compete and radius-restricted trade areas.
• Familiarity with key Orange County retail center comps and demonstrated experience with OC leasing, tenant mix, and operating practices is preferred.
• Acumen for building relationships, particularly across retail, F&B and leisure sectors.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA/Real Estate/Architecture/Construction) a plus.