The posting
Job Description
Work Location: Home Office - Coppell, TX
Work Schedule: Hybrid
- Onsite: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
- Work from Home: Mondays, Fridays
JOB SUMMARY
The Director, Real Estate will serve as a senior dealmaker and market-facing leader responsible for originating, negotiating and advancing the new-store opportunities that enable At Home's next phase of profitable growth. This leader owns the front end of the real estate lifecycle from market prioritization and proactive deal sourcing through investment recommendation, executive approval, executed transaction and handoff for development and is accountable for the quality, pace and commercial value of the new-store pipeline.
The ideal candidate brings an established reputation and network in retail real estate, exceptional negotiating judgment and a demonstrated record of closing complex, high-value transactions. As a credible representative of At Home with landlords, developers, brokers and other decision-makers, the Director will unlock competitive sites and creative deal structures while partnering with Real Estate, Finance, Legal, Construction, Store Operations, Store Planning, Analytics and executive leadership. The portfolio includes second-generation and ground-up large-format retail opportunities.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Growth Strategy & Market Planning: Shape and recommend market-entry and expansion strategies aligned to enterprise growth and return objectives. Challenge and validate whitespace, trade-area, demographic, competitor, cannibalization and site-performance assumptions with leadership and Analytics.
- Origination, Site Selection & Deal Sourcing: Leverage a strong national and regional network to generate proprietary and competitive opportunities, build a high-quality multi-market pipeline, and position At Home as a preferred retail tenant or buyer. Prioritize second-generation, ground-up and power-center opportunities based on strategic and financial fit.
- Deal Leadership & Negotiation: Serve as the lead commercial negotiator and relationship owner for complex LOIs, leases, purchase agreements, ground leases, development agreements and REAs. Structure creative, commercially compelling transactions; resolve impasses; and partner with Legal through documentation and execution while protecting At Home's economics and risk position.
- Investment Judgment & Executive Recommendations: Own the commercial case for each recommended transaction, partnering with Finance and Analytics on rent, tenant improvement allowances, occupancy costs, capital, development costs, pro formas, investment returns and downside risks. Present clear go/no-go recommendations and alternatives to executive decision-makers.
- Due Diligence & Development Feasibility: Coordinate site-level diligence with Construction, Design, Legal and external partners, including zoning, access, parking, signage, utilities, entitlements, environmental considerations and other development risks. Identify issues early and drive practical resolution.
- Enterprise & Cross-Functional Leadership: Direct matrixed deal teams and external advisers through diligence, negotiation, approvals and development handoff; establish milestones, escalate risks and hold stakeholders accountable without requiring direct reporting authority.
- Executive Influence & Deal Approvals: Present persuasive, data driven, decision-ready market and deal recommendations to executive leadership and approval committees. Lead executive market tours, articulate negotiating leverage and investment trade-offs, and secure alignment on material business terms.
- Industry Leadership & Market Reputation: Act as a senior external representative of At Home and cultivate durable relationships with national and regional landlords, developers, brokers, municipalities and industry organizations. Proactively build market intelligence, represent the brand at relevant industry events and pursue appropriate incentives.
- Pipeline Performance & Continuous Improvement: Maintain an accurate, prioritized deal pipeline with stage gates, key economics, closing probabilities, milestones and risk flags. Track progress against agreed growth objectives, identify bottlenecks and continuously improve speed, quality and discipline of transaction execution while modeling At Home's values.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree required; MBA, J.D., CCIM or other relevant advanced credential preferred.
- 10+ years of progressive corporate retail real estate, site selection, acquisitions, leasing or development experience, including substantial independent responsibility for complex transactions and a successful multi-unit store growth program. Large-format or big-box retail experience strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated personal track record originating, negotiating and closing complex retail real estate transactions, with specific examples of competitive site wins, creative deal structures and measurable economic outcomes.
- Strong experience with second-generation space and ground-up development, including shopping centers, power centers, malls and other retail formats relevant to a large-format retailer.
- Recognized credibility with retail landlords, developers and brokers; advanced command of LOIs, leases, purchase agreements, ground leases, development agreements, REAs and the commercial levers that influence deal economics.
- Strong understanding of new-store economics and the ability to interpret pro formas, occupancy costs, capital requirements and investment returns; uses data and sound judgment to balance growth opportunity with risk.
- Ability to connect enterprise growth priorities to market and site decisions and to evaluate trade areas, demographics, competitive activity, access, visibility, co-tenancy and other drivers of store performance.
- Highly organized and self-directed, with the ability to manage a high-volume pipeline, prioritize competing opportunities, anticipate obstacles and maintain momentum against critical milestones.
- Strong judgment, presence and persuasive communication; able to negotiate credibly with sophisticated counterparties, influence executives and align internal and external stakeholders without direct authority.
- Ability and willingness to travel regularly for market tours, site visits, negotiations, industry events and other business needs.
- Experience helping a retailer or other multi-unit consumer business restart, accelerate or materially scale its new-location pipeline.
- Established Industry Network: Active, productive relationships with national and regional retail brokers, landlords and developers that can generate differentiated deal flow in target markets.
- Experience using site-selection, GIS, mobility, demographic or market-intelligence platforms such as Placer.ai, Buxton, Esri or comparable tools to inform location decisions.
- Experience navigating entitlements, municipal approvals, incentives and other public processes that affect site viability and development timing.
- Experience leading matrixed teams and developing others; direct people management is beneficial but not required for this senior individual-contributor/deal-leadership role.
OUR MISSION, VISION, VALUES MISSION: We empower people to design their best life at home through style, quality, and everyday value.
VISION: To be the most loved home brand inspiring people to live beautifully every day.
VALUES: Create and Inspire – Creativity and innovation inspire our customers and each other to do better and be better together. Win Together – Great teams are inclusive, collaborative, and high performing. Our best work and best experiences come from valuing every voice and working together to win. Do The Right Thing – Design it right, make it right, and always do it right – with integrity, transparency, and accountability for our customers, our team and community at large. Make It Better – Strive to continually learn and improve. Use data-driven insights, take smart risks and drive innovation, efficiency, and efficacy in everything we do. Enjoy the Ride – Happy teams perform better and find greater fulfillment and enjoyment at At Home.
To learn more about At Home, please click Company Overview.
SUMMARY OF BENEFITS
At Home is proud to offer competitive benefits for non-temporary positions, including but not limited to:
Part-Time
- 401(k) W/ Employer Match
- Dental, Vision, Life, and Disability Insurance
- 25% Store Discount (Seasonal TMs Included)
Full-Time – All Prior Benefits PLUS
- Medical Insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Paid Time Off, Holidays, and Volunteer Ti
ACCOMMODATIONS
If a reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the hiring process, to perform the essential functions of the job, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [email protected].
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY NOTICE
When you’re a part of At Home, you have the full support of a diverse, close-knit team. We consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, marital or military status. We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local law. At Home is committed to knitting diversity and inclusion into the fabric of our culture – we respect, appreciate, and celebrate the experiences and qualities that differentiate everyone on the At Home team.
This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive description of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job and duties. Employees may be assigned additional duties and responsibilities. Employment remains at-will and nothing in this job description changes the at-will employment relationship.
About Us
When you’re a part of our team, you have the full support of a diverse, close-knit team in our stores. We consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, marital or military status. We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local law. At Home is committed to knitting diversity and inclusion into the fabric of our culture; we respect, appreciate and celebrate the experiences and qualities that differentiate everyone on the At Home team.
