Retail Asset Management VP

AEW Capital Management•Boston, MA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

AEW is seeking a retail real estate professional to join its Retail Asset Management team as a Vice President. This individual will report directly to the Managing Director, Head Retail. The VP will manage a portfolio of retail assets by combining valuation and financial analysis with hands-on asset management, leasing judgment, capital investments and timing of dispositions. The Vice President will serve as an owner-minded leader for assigned assets, translating investment strategy into executable business plans. The VP will quarterback working across leasing, property management, development, construction, and transactions. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable evaluating a complex lease, building a cash flow model, walking a property with local partners, and presenting a clear recommendation to senior leadership or an investment committee.

Requirements

7-10 years of relevant commercial real estate experience, with meaningful exposure to retail asset management, leasing, and valuation.
Open-air retail experience is strongly preferred.
Prior experience in retail acquisitions is a plus.
Demonstrated ability to connect detailed financial analysis with practical, creative asset-level execution.
Strong understanding of retail lease structures, tenant economics, merchandising strategy, capital investments, property operations, and investment return drivers.
Advanced financial modeling and valuation skills, including proficiency in Excel and deep experience with Argus Enterprise
Experience evaluating major leases, redevelopment opportunities, and hold/sell or capital allocation decisions.
Owner-oriented judgment, intellectual curiosity, and the confidence to form and communicate a clear point of view.
High energy, initiative, and a sense of urgency, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
Creative problem-solving skills and a genuine interest in placemaking, consumer experience, emerging retail concepts, and the evolution of physical retail.
Retail asset manager with established retailer and broker relationships, market knowledge and investment judgment.
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex analysis into concise, decision-ready recommendations.
Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in real estate, finance, economics, business, or a related field.
Ability and willingness to travel to assets, markets, and partner meetings as needed.

Responsibilities

Own and execute asset-level business plans for assigned retail investments, with clear priorities, milestones, risks, and return objectives.
Evaluate and negotiate major new leases, renewals, restructurings, expansions, relocations, and terminations. Partner with leasing teams and brokers to shape tenant mix, merchandising, rents, capital, and deal structures that strengthen long-term asset value.
Collaborate with joint venture partners, outside leasing teams, and third-party management teams to drive leasing strategy, execution priorities, and asset-level value creation opportunities.
Evaluate and maintain detailed property cash flow models and valuations, including lease economics, capital projects, redevelopment scenarios, hold/sell analyses, and sensitivities. Monitor performance against underwriting and budget and recommend corrective actions.
Identify creative, market-relevant opportunities to improve customer experience, tenant productivity, physical environment, and competitive positioning of each asset. Advance projects involving remerchandising, densification, redevelopment, public realm improvements, branding, events, and strategic capital investment.
Track operating results, leasing progress, capital improvements, market conditions, and key performance indicators. Diagnose variances, surface emerging risks, and communicate actionable recommendations.
Develop and prioritize annual and long-term capital plans. Evaluate return on cost and oversee execution with construction, development, property management, and operating partners.
Support acquisitions, dispositions, financings, and recapitalizations through market and lease diligence, site inspections, business plan development, and tenant outreach.
Maintain current knowledge of retail concepts, consumer trends, tenant performance, competitive supply, demographic shifts, and capital markets. Translate market intelligence into asset-specific strategies.
Prepare concise, decision-oriented materials and present recommendations to senior leadership, investment committees, clients, and partners. Build alignment across internal teams and third-party operating partners.
Manage workstreams and provide coaching and development to junior team members. Contribute to a culture of curiosity, accountability, collaboration, and high performance.