Leasing Representative

Whitestone is seeking an accomplished Leasing Representative to support the strategic growth and long-term performance of its retail real estate portfolio across the Houston metropolitan area. This market-facing role is ideal for a relationship-driven leasing or sales professional who is passionate about working with people, enjoys building meaningful connections with tenants and business owners, and has the discipline to identify, pursue, and execute high-quality leasing opportunities. The successful candidate will play an important role in strengthening tenant mix, enhancing property performance, and supporting the continued success of Whitestone’s neighborhood, community, and lifestyle retail centers throughout the Houston market. This position requires a proactive professional who is comfortable being in the field, skilled at cultivating relationships, energized by meeting new people, and capable of advancing opportunities from initial engagement through lease execution. Key Responsibilities Community Presence & Relationship Building Maintain a consistent, visible presence at assigned properties and within the surrounding Houston-area business community Build trusted relationships with existing tenants, local business owners, restaurant operators, brokers, and prospective retailers across the Houston metropolitan area Actively engage with the local brokerage network and business community to identify leasing opportunities Develop a strong understanding of tenant business models, customer behavior, and neighborhood demand drivers Represent Whitestone professionally as a market-facing ambassador for the company and its properties Strategic Leasing Create and execute a leasing plan for each property Curate the tenant mix to strengthen long-term asset value, customer traffic, and the overall merchandising strategy Identify unmet neighborhood needs and recruit complementary retail, restaurant, service, and anchor concepts Evaluate prospective tenants’ business models, growth plans, and fit before recommending opportunities Present leasing strategies supported by market and demographic research Deal Execution Prospect, source, and pursue local, regional, and national retail, restaurant, service, and big-box users Negotiate letters of intent and leases in partnership with internal stakeholders and external partners Manage transactions from initial prospecting through lease execution, buildout coordination, and store opening Coordinate closely with construction, property management, legal, finance, and other corporate stakeholders Maintain current knowledge of assigned submarkets, competitive centers, leasing trends, and tenant movement Track retailer expansions, relocations, closures, performance indicators, and emerging concepts Analyze market positioning, competitive gaps, demographics, traffic patterns, and merchandising opportunities Provide thoughtful recommendations to improve occupancy, tenant mix, center performance, and long-term value What Makes Someone Successful in this Role Has a genuine passion for retail real estate, leasing, and working with people to help businesses grow Enjoy spending time in the market, meeting new people, and building relationships with business owners, restaurant operators, brokers, regional retailers, and national tenants Understands how tenants make money and uses that insight to create stronger leasing outcomes Thinks strategically about how properties evolve over time and how the right tenant mix creates lasting value Takes pride in building durable relationships and creating outcomes that go beyond individual transactions Skills & Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Economics, Communications, Real Estate, or a related field preferred 3+ years of experience in retail leasing, commercial real estate, brokerage, tenant representation, or a related field preferred Experience working with restaurant users, local operators, franchise groups, regional retailers, and/or national big-box tenants preferred Strong communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills Ability to analyze markets, demographics, tenant demand, and competitive positioning Self-directed, proactive, and comfortable working in the field on a regular basis Why Join Whitestone At Whitestone, leasing is more than filling space. It is about shaping dynamic retail environments, supporting business owners, and creating centers that serve the everyday needs of the communities around them. This role offers the opportunity to be entrepreneurial, market-facing, and directly involved in decisions that influence the future of our properties. If you are a strong leasing professional who enjoys prospecting, building relationships, working with operators, and bringing great concepts to life across the Houston metropolitan area, we invite you to bring your energy, market knowledge, and passion for people and retail real estate to Whitestone. #J-18808-Ljbffr