Retail Property and Store Development Manager
Impact: Securing and developing the retail locations that enable a retailer to reach its customers and grow its business
Manage a retailer's property portfolio and new store development programme, identifying and securing new retail locations, negotiating leases, and managing store fit-out projects. Conduct retail location analysis and catchment studies; negotiate with landlords and developers; manage the planning and construction of new stores and refits; and oversee the property management of the existing estate. Develop expertise in a specific retail format such as high street, out-of-town, or concession.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Moderate
- Team vs solo
- 55% Team / 45% Solo
- Client facing
- Frequent
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- 30-50% travel to sites
- Schedule flexibility
- Moderate
- Remote work
- Hybrid
- Typical work hours
- 42-55 hours/week
- Stress level
- High
At a glance
- Median salary
- $60,000
- Entry-level
- $32,000 - $45,000
- Senior
- $95,000+
- Growth by 2033
- 4% (retail estate rationalisation and new format development sustaining demand)
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- High -- 100-200% growth from property analyst to head of property and store development
- Typical student debt
- $20,000 - $50,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Retail location analysis (GIS
- catchment modelling)
- Lease negotiation
- Store fit-out project management
- Planning application management
- Property portfolio management
- Retail property law
Soft skills
- Negotiation
- Commercial acumen
- Project management
- Stakeholder management
- Analytical thinking
Technical complexity: Moderate
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Bachelor's Degree
- Licensing
- No
- Years to mid-career
- 3-5 years
- Years to senior
- 7-12 years
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
- Commercial Property Surveyor
- Retail Area Manager
Where you can go from here
- Head of Property
- Retail Property Consultant
Typical progression
- Property Analyst
- Property Manager
- Senior Property Manager
- Head of Property and Store Development
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 15% -- location analysis tools are growing but negotiation and project management remain human
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Stable
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 7.5/10
- Meaning
- 7.2/10
- Work-life balance
- 6.5/10
- Prestige
- 7/10
- Social perception
- Moderate