Leasing Representative

Whitestone REIT is seeking an experienced Leasing Representative who is energized by retail real estate and passionate about creating vibrant centers where tenants, customers, and communities thrive. This public-facing role is ideal for a relationship-driven leasing professional who enjoys being in the field, meeting business owners, working with restaurant operators, engaging brokers, and pursuing regional retailers, national tenants, and big-box users. In this role, you will help shape the long-term success of high-quality neighborhood, community, and lifestyle retail centers by identifying the right tenant mix, building strong market relationships, and moving deals from prospecting through lease execution. The ideal candidate combines market knowledge, persistence, creativity, and a genuine interest in helping businesses succeed. Key Responsibilities Community Presence & Relationship Building Maintain a consistent, visible presence at assigned properties and within the surrounding business community Build trusted relationships with existing tenants, local business owners, restaurant operators, brokers, and prospective retailers 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 REIT 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 helping businesses grow Enjoys 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 5+ 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 REIT At Whitestone REIT, 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 an experienced leasing professional who enjoys prospecting, building relationships, working with operators, and bringing great concepts to life, we invite you to bring your energy, market knowledge, and passion for retail real estate to Whitestone REIT. #J-18808-Ljbffr