Assistant Manager; Deputy Manager - Property Acquisition (Retail)

Job Title: Assistant Manager / Deputy Manager - Business Development (Retail Property Acquisition)
Location: Kolkata / Patna
Department: Business Development

About the Role

The candidate will be responsible for driving the retail expansion of the brand across North, East and North-East India by identifying high-potential locations, evaluating retail properties, negotiating commercial terms, and managing the end-to-end property acquisition and closure process.

The role requires strong expertise in retail real estate, commercial leasing, market mapping, property acquisition and negotiations, along with the ability to independently manage relationships with mall developers, landlords, property consultants and brokers.

The candidate will work closely with internal teams including Legal, Finance, Projects and Operations to ensure timely commercial closure, lease signing and handover of locations for store development.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate high-potential locations for new stores across North, East and North-East India.
• Conduct market mapping and market visits to identify suitable retail catchments and upcoming development opportunities.
• Evaluate properties based on catchment potential, footfall, visibility, accessibility, competition and commercial viability.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with mall developers, landlords, property consultants and brokers.
• Identify and develop a strong property pipeline and market network across assigned regions.
• Independently negotiate rentals, revenue share, CAM, security deposits, lock-in periods, fit-out periods and other commercial terms.
• Manage the complete property acquisition process from location identification and evaluation through commercial negotiation, closure and lease signing.
• Prepare and present feasibility reports, commercial evaluations and business proposals for Management approval.
• Coordinate with the Legal team for lease documentation, agreement drafts, negotiations and final sign-offs.
• Coordinate with Finance, Projects and Operations teams to ensure smooth and timely closure and store handover.
• Track competitor locations, market trends, mall developments and emerging retail destinations to identify future expansion opportunities.
• Maintain an updated database of properties, landlords, developers, consultants and brokers.
• Take end-to-end ownership of deals until the location is signed and handed over for store development.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong understanding of Retail Real Estate, Property Acquisition and Commercial Leasing.
• Proven ability to independently identify, negotiate and close retail real estate deals.
• Strong understanding of retail occupancy economics and commercial terms.
• Excellent negotiation, communication and relationship management skills.
• Strong network and relationships with mall developers, landlords, property consultants and brokers.
• Strong market knowledge and ability to assess catchment, footfall, visibility, accessibility and commercial potential.
• Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional coordination skills.
• Ability to manage multiple opportunities and negotiations simultaneously.
• Proficiency in MS Office Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
• High ownership, strong follow-up and execution-oriented mindset.

Qualifications & Experience

• Graduate/Postgraduate in Business, Real Estate, Management or a related field is preferred.
• 5-10 years of experience in Retail Expansion, Commercial Real Estate, Leasing, Property Acquisition or Business Development.
• Prior experience in the retail industry is a must.
• Proven experience in end-to-end retail property acquisition and commercial deal closure.
• Experience dealing with mall developers, landlords, property consultants and brokers.
• Strong market network across North, East and North East India will be an advantage.
• Willingness to travel extensively across South India.

What Youll Love About Us

• Competitive compensation + performance bonuses.
• High visibility and ownership in shaping the expansion of a national retail brand.
• Opportunity to work on end-to-end retail expansion and real estate deals.
• Work with a passionate, creative and collaborative team.
• Exclusive employee perks & discounts on books and gifts.
• Career growth opportunities across Business Development, Retail Expansion and leadership roles.