Director of Retail Leasing – Development | Houston, TX Hunington Properties | Houston, Texas

Director of Retail Leasing – Development | Houston, TX Hunington Properties |

About Hunington

Hunington is a full-service commercial real estate company founded in 1984 and based in Houston, with operations across Texas and the South/Central U.S. For over four decades, we've helped clients protect, enhance, and realize the value of their commercial property investments — combining deep market knowledge with a flat, entrepreneurial structure that lets us move quickly and adapt to changing conditions.

Job Summary

Hunington Properties is seeking an experienced, results-driven retail leasing professional to lead leasing across our growing portfolio of retail developments in the Houston market. We're looking for a proven producer with established relationships with national and regional retailers, their real estate decision makers, tenant representatives, and other key industry contacts.

The right candidate already knows the real estate decision makers at the soft goods and big box retailers and those calls get returned. You bring deep experience with off-price, apparel, home, sporting goods, junior anchors, and anchors. You know the site criteria, the co-tenancy asks, and who signs.

This is a hands‑on role for someone who thrives on originating opportunities, building relationships, negotiating transactions, and getting deals across the finish line. You'll be involved in every stage of the leasing process, from identifying prospective tenants and securing commitments to negotiating and executing leases. Lease approvals come directly from Hunington's principals — no committee sits between an LOI and a decision — so a well‑built deal moves fast.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Tenant Origination

• Originate leasing opportunities across Hunington's Houston retail development portfolio, targeting national and regional soft goods and big box retailers
• Leverage established relationships with retailer real estate decision makers, tenant representatives, and brokers to build and convert a pipeline of qualified prospects
• Match tenants to sites based on their site criteria, trade area requirements, and merchandising strategy
• Use CoStar, Placer.ai, and AI‑enabled research tools to identify prospects, analyze trade areas and foot traffic, and build compelling site pitches

Deal Negotiation & Execution

• Lead deals from first conversation through LOI, lease negotiation, and execution
• Draft and negotiate LOIs, using AI tools to accelerate drafting while maintaining accuracy and deal discipline
• Structure and negotiate key lease terms, including co‑tenancy provisions, exclusives, tenant improvement allowances, and delivery requirements
• Present deals directly to Hunington's principals for approval and move quickly from LOI to decision
• Coordinate with legal, development, construction, and property management to keep deals on schedule through execution and tenant delivery

Merchandising & Development Support

• Shape the merchandising plan for each development, sequencing anchor and junior anchor commitments to drive in‑line and pad leasing
• Provide market and tenant input on site plans, building configurations, and development feasibility
• Track market conditions, competing projects, and retailer expansion plans to inform leasing and development strategy

Pipeline Management & Reporting

• Maintain an accurate, current deal pipeline in Hunington's CRM
• Report on leasing activity, prospect status, and deal economics to the principals

Other

• Support broader corporate initiatives as needed
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Business, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• Five years of retail leasing experience, with a track record of personally originated and executed deals in retail development or redevelopment
• Established relationships with real estate decision makers at national and regional soft goods and big box retailers, and calls that get returned
• Deep experience leasing off‑price, apparel, home, sporting goods, junior anchor, and anchor tenants
• Working knowledge of retailer site criteria, co‑tenancy requirements, and approval processes, including who signs<