Leasing Manager

Centerpoint•Oak Brook, IL

About The Position

The Leasing Manager, Central Region will lead the execution of leasing strategies across CenterPoint s Central Region, which includes significant industrial portfolios in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin. This newly created position will report directly to the Senior Vice President of Asset Management (Central Region), and their primary responsibility will be to maximize portfolio value through the leasing function across the Central Region s industrial portfolio. The Leasing Manager will collaborate closely with the Executive Vice President, Head of Central Region, as well as the regional Senior Vice Presidents of Development and Investments and teams, ensuring alignment across all regional initiatives. This role is accountable for driving portfolio performance through proactive leasing efforts, including sourcing and securing new tenants, negotiating new and renewal leases, and supporting speculative development lease-up. The Leasing Manager will also play a critical role in advancing CenterPoint s regional growth objectives by partnering with Development and Investments teams on underwriting, market analysis, and deal execution. Success in this position requires strategic thinking, strong financial and negotiation skills, and the ability to maintain and expand a robust broker and tenant network. The ideal candidate will demonstrate competitiveness, energy, enthusiasm, and professionalism while managing complex transactions from initial concept through final execution.

Requirements

A seasoned professional with 5+ years of proven expertise in leasing, with a strong track record in industrial or logistics, negotiating complex lease agreements, and driving regional portfolio performance.
A strong academic background with a Bachelor s Degree in Business, Real Estate, Finance, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
Extensive knowledge of industrial leasing with a strong grasp of market dynamics in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin, including tenant requirements and competitive positioning.
Demonstrated ability to roll up sleeves and manage all aspects of the leasing process from start to finish.
Established track record of closing leases across diverse sizes, markets, and complexities, ranging from 15,000 SF to 1.6M SF.
Demonstrated ability to source and secure tenants for both existing assets and speculative development projects.
Proven track record of negotiating complex lease agreements that maximize portfolio value and align with company standards.
Skilled in financial analysis and underwriting, leveraging tools such as Yardi Deal Manager to inform decision-making.
Adept at building and maintaining broker and tenant relationships to support leasing objectives and long-term portfolio growth.
Comfortable working in a fast-paced, competitive environment with frequent travel and high transaction volume.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and Yardi; familiarity with CRM and analytics platforms preferred.
Capable of conducting property tours and site inspections, including evaluating building systems and construction progress.
Comfortable blending social engagement and relationship-building with rigorous behind-the-scenes analytical work.
Willingness and ability to travel frequently (50-60%) and attend industry events. In-office presence is required when not traveling.
Ability to build strong, trust-based relationships across teams and stakeholders; operates effectively in a matrixed, cross-functional environment.
Ambitious, and driven; thrives in a high-performance, results-oriented environment.
Propensity to aggressively and strategically pursue and win competitive Tenant leasing requirements.
Resilient and adaptable able to embrace the demands of a dynamic and role market.
Efficient and resourceful, with strong time management skills to balance multiple priorities.
Demonstrates a high level of personal integrity, initiative, and commitment to excellence in all aspects of work.
Applies sound judgment and analytical rigor to assess opportunities, solve problems, and make informed decisions.
Highly developed written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills; able to convey complex ideas clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
Strong organizational skills and executive-level presentation capabilities; able to synthesize and communicate project status and strategy effectively.
Brings creativity, curiosity, and a proactive approach to identifying opportunities and implementing best practices.
Skilled in building and maintaining relationships to support project success.
Willing to embrace calculated risk and pursue new opportunities that align with CenterPoint s strategic growth objectives.

Nice To Haves

advanced degree preferred.
familiarity with CRM and analytics platforms preferred.

Responsibilities

Under the direction of the Senior Vice President, Asset Management, execute established real estate leasing plans aligned with regional goals.
Actively work with Brokers, Tenants, and CenterPoint s internal resources to identify new leasing prospects and attract them to CenterPoint s properties; in doing so, minimize lease-up periods and maximize lease economics.
Negotiate lease terms that adhere to CenterPoint standards and maximize portfolio value.
Serve as the primary point of contact for broker RFPs, solicitations, and requests for clarification during the leasing process.
Prepare, review, analyze, and interpret financial analyses using Deal Manager in Yardi to support informed decision-making.
Work with outside legal counsel to draft and finalize lease documents, including proposals, leases, amendments, license agreements, and related documents.
Coordinate lease transitions with the SVP of Asset Management, Property Manager, and Director of Construction.
Ensure post-lease execution follow-up with team members to finalize and complete lease files.
Process and approve lease commissions.
Assist in preparing submittal information for proposed deals to the Executive Committee, Management Committee, and Board of Directors, as necessary.
Act in accordance with company values and comply with all processes and procedures.
Complete other duties as assigned.
Maintain expertise in market conditions, including rents, available product, and economic trends.
Frequently tour markets to evaluate competition, track market fundamentals, and visit CenterPoint property sites (vacant, upcoming vacancies, and under construction).
Conduct regular property tours with current and prospective tenants, brokers, and CenterPoint team members.
Manage open houses and property showings as needed.
Cultivate broker and tenant relationships through industry events and brokerage meetings; maintain mandatory memberships in professional organizations and participate in local activities and community events.
Represent CenterPoint as part of the market-facing team, raising awareness of the company s position and promoting business plans and initiatives.
Develop and maintain strong relationships with key tenants to support renewals and expansions.
Collaborate with the Vice President, Tenant Engagement and CenterPoint s broader national leasing team regularly to grow relationships and leasing opportunities with CenterPoint s strategic tenant network.
Act as a liaison between tenants and internal teams to resolve issues and ensure high tenant satisfaction.
Collaborate with Regional SVPs in selecting listing brokers for portfolio vacancies.
Support lease-up of new development projects by partnering with the SVP of Development to identify and source prospective tenants for speculative space.
Liaise with JV partners regarding approvals, reporting requests, and annual meeting preparation; attend annual meetings as needed.
Under the direction of SVPs (Asset Management, Development, and Investments), review existing property appraisals, speculative lease-up underwriting, acquisition market leasing assumptions, and redevelopment scenarios for future projects.
Coordinate with team members on asset management, investments, and development for input on proformas, underwriting, and other reports.
Track and maintain a database of lease and sale comps through CenterPoint s CUB system.
Prepare and present regular market reports to leadership, highlighting trends, competitive activity, and opportunities.
Maintain a pipeline report of active prospects and deals for internal review.
Contribute to annual regional business planning by providing leasing forecasts and market insights.
Collaborate with marketing to develop property-specific collateral and campaigns; ensure consistent branding and messaging in all leasing materials and broker communications.
Ensure all leasing activities comply with company policies, legal requirements, and risk management standards.
Monitor lease obligations and coordinate with property management to enforce compliance.
Leverage technology platforms (CRM, Yardi, analytics tools) to streamline leasing processes.