Who We Are

Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation. Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 88 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library. Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg is home to five world class accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge Autograph Collection, the Griffin Hotel, the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotels and Suites and the unique Colonial Houses in the Historical Area. Visitors may also indulge in food and drink at our many on site restaurants and taverns that blend a historically inspired dining experience with today’s evolved tastes. Each year over 5 million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with us digitally.

The Commercial Properties Specialist is responsible for property management and leasing of Merchants Square space, including offices, retail and restaurants, (65 businesses) and selected commercial properties outside Merchants Square. Manages lease negotiations for retail and office leasing. Oversees maintenance. Directs marketing activities for Merchants Square and manages tenant relations.

Essential Functions: 

1. Directs work of marketing and advertising consultants. Works with the Merchants Square Marketing Committee to create effective annual marketing plans. Works with consultants to conduct research and to implement marketing and promotional plans.
2. Develops and executes a strategic plan for Merchants Square incorporating leasing strategies, marketing directions, and capital improvement projects.
3. Develops and implements leasing plans. Analyzes and evaluates new lease transactions and renewals. Establishes rents, negotiates leases, advertises space for rent, identifies and contacts prospective tenants, shows property, prepares space for rent. Responds to inquiries.
4. Addresses and resolves issues with tenants including rent payment issues.
5. Responds to tenant complaints and concerns.
6. Acts as primary liaison to the Merchants Square Association. Works closely with the leadership of the Merchants Square Association to achieve mutually agreed upon objectives.
7. Prepares annual financial forecasts and quarterly performance reports. Oversees the preparation of accurate, timely, and complete reports on sales and rental revenues.
8. Develops operating budgets for Merchants Square operations and for the Marketing Fund.
9. Administers leases: assures the proper setup and termination of leases, the proper management of payables and receivables, and the timely calculation, billing, and receipt of rental revenues.
10. Oversees landscape, custodial, and facilities maintenance of Merchants Square and selected commercial properties. Inspects properties regularly. Identifies maintenance problems, develops and implements solutions, and prioritizes work to be performed. Coordinates work with tenants to insure work is accomplished expeditiously, efficiently, and with minimum disruption.
11. Attends Merchants Square promotional activities, which may be in the evenings or on weekends.

Supervision to be Exercised:

Indirect: Consultants, contracted service providers, and in-house maintenance personnel

Required and Preferred Education and Experience: 

Required: This position requires a bachelor’s degree in business, real estate, or related field or equivalent work experience, and 5-8 years of experience in the real estate or commercial property management field.

Preferred: Virginia real estate salesperson license, MBA, or CCIM certification

Qualifications:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Customer service and/or customer contact experience are required, as are fluency in basic computer skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook) and a basic understanding of legal and accounting principles related to commercial real estate.
• Financial analysis skills are required. Prior commercial property management experience is strongly preferred.

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.