Manager, Real Estate (Finance)

About Us
Who we are:

Samsonite is the worldwide leader in superior travel bags, luggage, and accessories combining notable style with the latest design technology and the utmost attention to quality and durability. For more than 100 years, Samsonite has leveraged its rich heritage to create unparalleled products that fulfill the travel lifestyle needs of conscious movers everywhere. With a portfolio of brands including Samsonite, Tumi, American Tourister, High Sierra, Gregory, eBags, Hartmann, and Lipault Paris, our products are sold in over 100 countries in North America, Asia, Europe and Latin America through our company-operated retail store, websites and a variety of retail partners.

Job Description
The Real Estate Manager will oversee the planning and execution of Samsonite's overall real estate strategy for North America. They will lead all leasing activity including lease negotiations, deal analysis, approval package preparation, lease execution documentation and lease abstract preparation. This position will work in close partnership with the Retail Operations and Retail Finance teams.

Real Estate Functions:

• Facilitate information flow and collaboration between retail operations, finance, marketing, store design, construction teams, and the landlord community
• Develop and execute the brick-and-mortar real estate strategy; including new stores, relocations, renewals, and remodels.
• Manage key landlord relationships.
• Responsible for LOI and lease negotiations, documentation, and administration.
• Prepare and present real estate activity and deals for approval to the real estate committee ( deal financials, sales projections, P&L and proforma estimates, market analysis, lease plans, site plans, etc.) .
• Support financial planning of capex and expense budgets related to real estate activities.
• Support a broad range of strategic and tactical initiatives affecting the Company's real estate portfolio (landlord portfolio reviews, deal-making, geographic information systems development, information technology integration, etc.)
• Partner with our leadership team in key strategic projects (store of the future, pop-up opportunities for secondary brands, etc.)
• Analyze potential store closings in partnership with finance and retail operations
• Identify, negotiate and secure remote storage leases and renewals.
• Source and manage outside brokers, consultants, and legal support as needed.

Lease Functions:

• Execute day-to-day financial, operational, and legal management of our leasehold interests in North America
• Track all key events including verification of occupancy payments, document coordination, audits, and remote storage leasing from the approval through expiration stages
• Maintain and update the Real Estate Store Portfolio Software including abstractions.
• Audit lease chargebacks, escalations, and tenant improvement contributions
• Monitor and report upon kick-outs, co-tenancies, renewals, options, lease expirations and store counts
• Establish and maintain rent contracts for all occupancy payments and percent rent calculations
• Verify all occupancy cost adjustments including rent steps, CPI adjustments, tax assessments, landlord chargebacks, fixed and capped increases
• Coordinate insurance documentation as needed
• Maintain lease binders for working files on the shared drive
• Communicate and handle estoppels and default notices in collaboration with our legal and finance teams
• Monitor security deposits, letters of credit, and bank guarantees.
• Recover funds or renew security instruments
• Identify, negotiate and secure remote storage leases and renewals.
• Verify operations requirements and repair/maintenance obligations
• Coordinate and distribute design and construction criteria to store development and construction departments for review
• Implement and discuss any changes to leases with legal counsel and brokers

• 5+ years of retail real estate experience with a national retailer or broker.
• Bachelor's degree preferred; Finance, Accounting, Legal or Real Estate majors desired.
• Experience in retail site selection, deal negotiation and lease documentation.
• Ability to network with current industry contacts and relationships.
• ICSC membership required.
• Strong analytical skills in retail real estate finance and feasibility proformas.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Team, etc.)
• Knowledge of lease administration software is a plus.

About the Team
Why you'll love working here:

• Our employees matter. As a people-focused business, we work hard to provide meaningful rewards and development opportunities for our employees, recognizing performance, and creating a supportive working environment for them, wherever they are based.
• Vibrant culture. We are committed to a diverse and rich culture, welcoming people from all walks of life. Our long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion empowers us to bring our authentic selves and unique differences to work every day.
• Socially responsible. We want to minimize our products' impact on the environment and help create positive journeys worldwide. We do this by creating the best products using the most sustainable and innovative materials, methods, and models.

What we value:

At Samsonite, we do more than create the bags that move with our consumer, we inspire and celebrate the moments that move them. We believe we have a responsibility to the world in how we operate, the products we sell, the communities where we live and work, and how we treat the people we employ. We're as diverse as travel itself, and like travel, your journey with Samsonite presents the opportunity to be a part of something bigger and explore your passions. This is why we offer various paths for professionals and celebrate the knowledge and skills they bring to our team. We are committed to a respectful workplace that allows our team members to bring their best selves to the workplace daily.

Samsonite is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to promoting and maintaining a work environment in which all applicants, associates, customers, and other individuals are treated with dignity and respect free from unlawful harassment, discrimination, or retaliation.