Director, Real Estate

Groupe Dynamite Inc. (GDI) is a Montréal-based, public company of integrated omni-channel brands, designing and distributing accessible, trend-forward fashion for women since 1975.

Our mission of "Empowering YOU to be YOU, one outfit at a time" is brought to life through the GARAGE and DYNAMITE banners and represents the consumer-centric core of GDI's long-standing success as a leading retailer in North America.

Today, GDI operates nearly 300 stores across Canada and the United States, as well as shoppable brand experiences at Garageclothing.com and Dynamiteclothing.com.

Job Summary

Reporting to the VP, Real Estate, the Director of Real Estate is responsible for reviewing, managing, and negotiating leases and their renewals, as well as supporting store expansion in the Canadian and U.S. markets.

Responsibilities

• Manage real estate initiatives, including market visits, development strategy and planning, site selection, deal analysis and presentation, lease negotiation and administration, and deal pipeline management;
• Negotiate favourable terms and conditions for offers and leases including their renewals, terminations, and all other related documentation, in the assigned territory;
• Support the Vice President in creating and implementing strategic fleet optimization plans and objectives;
• Manage and maintain relationships with landlords, real estate brokers, owners, and developers within the assigned region;
• Participate in sales calls with business analysts;
• Participate, with the support of the Finance Department, in preparing P&L analyses for the business units that are part of the assigned territory. Serve as the main point of contact between various departments, such as store design, construction, Sales Ops, and landlords to ensure that new store openings go smoothly.
• Communicate, troubleshoot, and resolve key issues with landlords as required;
• Conduct proactive market analyses to understand the different demographic landscapes and stay up to speed with the markets.

Qualifications

• BA in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a related field;
• 8+ years of experience in a similar role;
• Excellent team player and coach;
• Strong business and financial acumen to understand and provide context for decisions, as well as the ability to challenge and influence them when required;
• Excellent communication skills, as well as the ability to speak and write clearly and concisely to get messages across with the desired effect;
• Critical thinker with high emotional intelligence and strong conflict management skills;
• Demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards and confidentiality;
• The ability to interact with multiple stakeholders and proactively anticipate their needs;
• Strong analytical skills to be able to assess deals as well as review and negotiate leases and renewal documentation;
• A comprehensive understanding of retail real estate leasing, both at the national and U.S. level;
• The ability to travel across North America (about 30% of the time).

What We Offer

• A comprehensive compensation package that includes performance-driven bonuses;
• A group retirement savings program with employer matching;
• Flexible group insurance with personalized coverage that meets your needs;
• An employee discount at Garage and Dynamite;
• Exclusive private sample sales;
• A flexible vacation policy;
• And more!

GDI has been repeatedly voted one of Montréal’s Top Employers and one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People.

We are committed to employment equity.