Retail Store Development Lead (store expansion)

Hudson; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Hudson is seeking an experienced head of store expansion for the Western U.S. to own end-to-end development from market research to grand opening readiness.

This is a highly cross-functional, hands-on role: you will be the single point of ownership for every store from site identification to keys-in-hand.

You will coordinate market analysis, negotiations, design-build, and regulatory approvals to deliver ready-to-operate stores on schedule.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of retail store development or real estate expansion experience in the U.S.
• Deep knowledge of Los Angeles and Southern California markets including landlord relationships and entitlement pathways
• Proven track record negotiating retail leases (LOI through execution) for national or regional retailers
• Hands-on experience managing design-build projects, GCs, and permitting workflows in California
• Strong SoCal network across landlords, brokers, architects, expediters, and permitting offices

Responsibilities

• Market & Trade Area Analysis to identify priority markets across the region
• Site Selection and pipeline management for candidate locations
• Lease Negotiation with landlords; coordinate with legal on terms and TI allowances
• Due Diligence including surveys, environmental assessments, title review, and financial modeling
• Zoning & Entitlement liaison with city planning departments and public hearings
• Design & Construction management with architects, engineers, and general contractors
• Permits & inspections including permits, fire marshal review, inspections, and occupancy
• Licensing & Compliance for local regulatory approvals
• Store Opening Readiness coordinating facilities, IT, security, and setup teams

Skills

Retail store development

Real estate expansion

Site selection

Lease negotiation

Design-build coordination

Stakeholder management

English fluency

Job description

The Role You will own end-to-end new store development for the Western U.S. region, taking each site from initial market research through grand opening readiness.

This is a highly cross-functional, hands-on role: you will be the single point of ownership for every store from site identification to keys-in-hand.

What You’ll Own (Full Development Lifecycle)

• Market & Trade Area Analysis – Evaluate demographic data, traffic patterns, and competitive landscape to identify priority markets and trade areas across the region
• Site Selection – Source and qualify sites through broker networks and direct outreach; build and manage the pipeline of candidate locations
• Lease Negotiation – Lead LOI negotiation and lease execution with landlords; partner with legal on terms, TI allowances, and occupancy conditions
• Due Diligence – Coordinate site surveys, environmental assessments, title review, and financial modeling to confirm site viability
• Zoning & Entitlement – Navigate municipal zoning requirements, entitlement processes, and public hearings; serve as primary liaison with city planning departments
• Design & Construction – Manage architects, engineers, and general contractors; oversee design deliverables, bidding, budgets, and construction schedules
• Permits & Inspections – Drive the full permitting chain: building permits, fire marshal review, building inspections, and Certificate of Occupancy
• Licensing & Compliance – Secure business licenses, signage permits, and other local regulatory approvals required for operation
• Store Opening Readiness – Coordinate facilities, IT, security systems, and store setup teams to ensure each location passes final inspection and is fully operational on day one

What You Bring

• 8+ years of retail store development / real estate expansion experience in the U.S., with significant multi-site experience
• Deep working knowledge of the Los Angeles and Southern California market — including landlord relationships, broker networks, municipal processes, and entitlement pathways
• Proven track record negotiating retail leases (LOI through execution) on behalf of a national or regional retailer
• Hands-on experience managing design-build projects, general contractors, and permitting workflows in California
• Strong network across SoCal: landlord/broker community, GCs, architects, expediters, and city/county permitting offices
• Native-level English communication skills with strong executive presence
• able to represent the company credibly with landlords, attorneys, and government officials