Director, Retail Leasing Strategy

Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America; Miami (FL); Hybrid; USD 155,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Nuveen Real Estate is seeking a strategic and execution-oriented Leasing Strategy professional to join its platform, reporting to the Head of Retail Leasing Strategy. This senior leadership role drives merchandising strategy, leasing performance, and retailer relationships across a national portfolio of open-air suburban retail assets.

The Head Director will work cross-functionally with transactions, asset management, and capital raising to ensure leasing strategies support investment objectives

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required in a related field.
• 5+ years in retail real estate; 7+ years preferred.
• Willingness to travel frequently.

Responsibilities

• Lead merchandising and leasing strategies across open-air and high street properties, aligning with asset business plans and platform goals.
• Drive retailer curation and leasing execution with asset management and external leasing teams/brokers.
• Direct third-party leasing broker relationships across the portfolio, setting objectives and monitoring performance.
• Oversee leasing materials, pipeline reporting, and presentations for internal teams and investors, ensuring consistency with strategy.
• Evaluate deal terms and economics to align with underwriting, market comps, and long-term asset value.
• Partner with transactions and fundraising teams to support underwriting, market positioning, and investor-facing materials.

Skills

Leasing Strategy

Retail Real Estate

Broker Relationships

Merchandising

Travel

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Hybrid Flex

Newport Beach, CA - 4675 MacArthur Court

Miami, FL - 801 Brickell Avenue

San Francisco, CA, USA

New York, NY, USA

Full time

R260800321

Nuveen Real Estate is seeking a strategic and execution-oriented Leasing Strategy professional to join its platform, reporting to the Head of Retail Leasing Strategy. This is a senior leadership role and a key external face of the platform within the retail leasing and retailer community, driving merchandising strategy, leasing performance, and retailer relationships across a national portfolio of open-air suburban retail assets. The Head Director will work cross-functionally with teams across transactions, asset management, and capital raising to ensure leasing strategies support overall investment objectives and drive long-term value creation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead merchandising and leasing strategies across open-air and high street retail properties, aligning with asset business plans and platform goals.

• Drive retailer curation and leasing execution in collaboration with asset management and external leasing teams/brokers.

• Direct third-party leasing broker relationships across the portfolio, setting clear leasing objectives and holding brokers accountable to performance and pipeline expectations.

• Oversee leasing materials, pipeline reporting, and presentations for internal teams and investors, reviewing prospect activity and marketing efforts across the portfolio to ensure leasing execution remains consistent and on strategy.

• Evaluate deal terms and economics to ensure alignment with underwriting, market comps, and long-term asset value.

• Partner closely with transactions and fundraising teams to support underwriting, market positioning, and investor-facing materials.

• Advise on retailer demand and lease-up strategy for acquisitions, redevelopment, and development initiatives.

• Build and maintain relationships with national, regional, and emerging retailers across categories (grocery, F&B, wellness, fashion, etc.), translating relationships into market insight and off-market leasing opportunities.

• Track retail trends, market shifts, and leasing performance metrics to guide portfolio-wide strategy.

• Represent Nuveen and organize industry events, dinners, and other engagements to source retailer leads, maintain visibility, and deepen market intelligence.

Educational Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree Required

Work Experience

• 5+ Years Required; 7+ Years Preferred

Physical Requirements

• Physical Requirements: Sedentary Work

Career Level

7IC

Required Experience

• 5+ years of experience in retail real estate, ideally within institutional ownership, retail development, or advisory platforms. Experience on the retailer side in real estate, strategy, or operations is a plus.

• Comfortable with frequent travel

Preferred Experience

• 7+ years of experience in retail real estate, ideally within institutional ownership, retail development, or advisory platforms. Experience on the retailer side in real estate, strategy, or operations is a plus.

• Strong understanding of suburban open-air retail formats, lifestyle centers, and high street merchandising.

• Demonstrated success in driving leasing strategy and execution across diverse asset types and geographies.

• Deep industry relationships with retailers and brokers, particularly in F&B, wellness, fashion, and emerging retail categories.

• High proficiency in lease economics, merchandising logic, and financial modeling fundamentals.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across functions.

• Willingness to travel nationally as the role requires.

• Familiarity with both gateway and high-growth secondary markets.

• Natural curiosity for retail, consumer behavior, and evolving trends in shopping, dining, and lifestyle experiences.

• Experience with redevelopment or ground-up retail development projects.

• An active Broker in Charge or Supervising Broker license (or the equivalent), in good standing with the state of issuance, is required.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring ordinance and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

Related Skills

Construction Management, Due Diligence, Financial Acumen, Financial Analysis, Financial Risk Management, Financial Statements, Market/Industry Dynamics, Organizational Savviness, Real Estate Investments, Real Estate Property Management

Anticipated Posting End Date:

2026-09-30

Base Pay Range: $155,000/yr - $175,000/yr

Actual base salary may vary based upon, but not limited to, relevant experience, time in role, base salary of internal peers, prior performance, business sector, and geographic location. In addition to base salary, the competitive compensation package may include, depending on the role, participation in an incentive program linked to performance (for example, annual discretionary incentive programs, non-annual sales incentive plans, or other non-annual incentive plans).

Company Overview

Every worker deserves a secure retirement. For more than 100 years, TIAA has delivered it for millions of people. Founded to help educators retire with dignity, today weʼre a market-leading retirement company fueled by world-class asset management. But weʼre not just another legacy financial services firm. Weʼre fighting harder than ever before for our clients and the many Americans who need us.

Our Culture of Impact

At TIAA, we're on a mission to build on our 100+ year legacy of delivering for our clients while evolving to meet tomorrow's challenges. We equip our associates with future-focused skills and AI tools that enable us to advance our mission. Together, we are fighting to ensure a more secure financial future for all and for generations to come. We are guided by our values: Champion Our People, Be Client Obsessed, Lead with Integrity, Own It, and Win As One. They influence every decision we make and how we work together to serve our clients every day. We thrive in a collaborative in-office environment where teams work across organizational boundaries with shared purpose, accelerating innovation and delivering meaningful results. Our workplace brings together TIAA and Nuveen's entrepreneurial spirit, where we work hard and work together to create lasting impact. Here, every associate can grow through meaningful learning experiences and development pathways—because when our people succeed, our impact on clients' lives grows stronger.

Benefits and Total Rewards

The organization is committed to making financial well-being possible for its clients, and is equally committed to the well-being of our associates. That’s why we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package designed to make a positive difference in the lives of our associates and their loved ones. Our benefits include a superior retirement program and highly competitive health, wellness and work life offerings that can help you achieve and maintain your best possible physical, emotional and financial well-being. To learn more about your benefits, please review our Benefits Summary (https://www.tiaa.org/public/pdf/benefits-at-a-glance.pdf) .

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We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. TIAA does not discriminate against any candidate or employee on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, sex, religion, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected status.

Our full EEO & Non-Discrimination statement is on our careers home page (https://careers.tiaa.org/) , and you can read more about your rights and view government notices here (https://www.dol.gov/general/topics/posters) .

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TIAA offers support for those who need assistance with our online application process to provide an equal employment opportunity to all job seekers, including individuals with disabilities.

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TIAA maintains a drug-free and smoke/free workplace.

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TIAA started out over 100 years ago to help ensure teachers could retire with dignity. Today, many people who work at not-for-profits rely on our wide range of financial products and services to support and strengthen their financial well-being.

Privacy Notices

• For Applicants of TIAA, Nuveen and Affiliates residing in US (other than California), click here (https://www.tiaa.org/public/tiaa-nuveen-privacy) .

• For Applicants of TIAA, Nuveen and Affiliates residing in California, please click here (https://www.tiaa.org/public/tiaa-nuveen-ca-privacy) .

• For Applicants of TIAA Global Capabilities, click here (https://www.tiaa.org/public/support/privacy/tiaa-global-capabilities-privacy-notice) .

• For Applicants of Nuveen residing in Europe and APAC, please click here (https://www.tiaa.org/public/nuveen-eu-privacy) .

Nondiscrimination & Equal Opportunity Employment

TIAA is committed to providing equal opportunity across all employment practices and we believe our employees have a right to a diverse and inclusive workplace.

EEO is the Law (https://assets.phenompeople.com/CareerConnectResources/TIAAGLOBAL/documents/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights-1688394514088.pdf)

Pay Transparency

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