Vice President, Business Development - Retail Property Management

Location: Memphis, Tennessee

Position Overview

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Vice President of Business Development to lead the establishment and growth of our new retail property management division. This entrepreneurial, high-impact role is ideal for a proven business development professional who thrives in a build-it-from-the-ground-up environment. The position will focus on building relationships with retail property owners and operators across the country, including power centers, lifestyle centers, and regional malls. This is a rare opportunity to shape the strategy, culture, and client base of a new business line within an established, respected company — with direct visibility to senior leadership from day one.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Growth

• Develop and execute strategic business development plans to establish and expand our retail property management portfolio nationwide with accountability for divisional revenue targets and margin performance.
• Identify, pursue, and secure new retail property management contracts through prospecting, networking, and relationship building.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of potential clients and opportunities.
• Conduct market analysis to identify growth opportunities and competitive positioning.
• Represent the company at industry conferences, trade shows, and networking events.

Client Relationship Management

• Serve as primary relationship manager for property management accounts.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with existing clients to ensure contract renewals and expansion opportunities.
• Develop a deep understanding of client needs, challenges, and business objectives.
• Ensure exceptional service delivery that exceeds client expectations.

Strategic Leadership

• Collaborate with senior leadership to develop long-term strategic plans for the retail property management division.
• Participate in company-wide strategic initiatives and planning sessions.
• Contribute to overall company growth and profitability targets.

Operational Excellence

• Work closely with operations teams to ensure seamless service delivery and smooth onboarding of new properties.
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators and business metrics.
• Develop and implement processes and procedures to support scalable growth.

Required Qualifications

Experience & Background

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Real Estate, Marketing, or related field
• Minimum 5-7 years of progressive experience in commercial real estate, including retail property management, third-party management services, or retail leasing/business development.
• Proven track record in retail real estate (shopping centers, power centers, lifestyle centers, or similar); direct property management experience strongly preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional relationship-building, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong negotiation and deal-closing abilities.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to execute tactical plans.
• Leadership experience with demonstrated ability to influence and motivate others.
• Analytical skills with proficiency in financial modeling, market analysis, and property management software (e.g., Yardi, MRI, RealPage).
• Self-motivated with an entrepreneurial mindset.

Personal Attributes

• High integrity and professional ethics.
• Results-oriented with strong business acumen.
• Adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity in a growing business environment.
• Willingness to travel for client meetings, site visits, and industry events

What We Offer

Growth & Development

• Clear succession pathway to Senior Vice President of Management and Marketing, with active mentorship and visibility to senior leadership throughout your tenure.
• Opportunity to build and lead a new business division from the ground up.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience.
• Performance-based bonus structure tied to business development success and portfolio growth.
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, and retirement plans.

Success Metrics

• Revenue growth and new contract acquisitions within the first 18 months.
• Maintaining profit margins
• Client retention and satisfaction scores.
• Pipeline development and conversion rates.
• Market share growth in target geographic regions.
• Successful transition planning and readiness for senior leadership role.

Reporting Structure This position reports directly to the Senior Vice President of Management and Marketing. The VP will work closely with operations, finance, and marketing teams across the organization.

Poag Development Group

The world of retail is changing at breakneck speed, and we are evolving to stay a step ahead. It’s important to find an innovative partner who has the experience and vision necessary to lead an industry in transition. Poag Development Group is that partner. We create great places that foster memorable experiences by focusing on the details. Over three decades ago, industry visionary Dan Poag, along with former business partner Terry McEwen, founded Poag Development Group’s predecessor and coined the term “lifestyle center.” Today, the mixed-use concept is the most sought-after retail real estate design, and we are widely recognized as an industry leader in the lifestyle and mixed-use segments.

As our industry evolves to mixed-use development solutions, we once again find ourselves at the forefront of innovation by blending our experience in placemaking centric, lifestyle retail with integrated residential, office, hospitality and entertainment uses. Our diverse team of professionals have worked on some of the largest, most complex mixed-use developments in the world. Our new partnership with Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) provides access to multiple real estate disciplines and resources, including JLL’s management and leasing services.

Poag Development Group strives to continue to be the leading mixed-use developer that focuses on retail and experiential retail as the basis for value creation. We anticipate success by filling this market void, maximizing opportunities with public/private partnerships, and creating unique and exciting environments. Our ideal opportunity is a value-add retail property, requiring our skills in redevelopment.

Poag Development Group focuses on placemaking and experiential retail as the basis for value creation. Our approach fills a void in the market by creating compelling places that authentically engage people in their daily lives: where they work, live, and shop.