West Coast Retail Store Development Lead

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

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.