Senior Director, Real Estate Strategy & Analytics

Serving the needs of all families with young children, Carter’s Inc. is the largest North American apparel retailer exclusively for babies and young children, encompassing Carter’s, OshKosh B’gosh, Skip*Hop and Little Planet brands. Meaningful work, constant learning, genuine people, and a community guided by core values that promote inclusion and innovation is in everything we do. There are many reasons to build your career at Carter's.

HOW YOU’LL MAKE AN IMPACT:
The Senior Director, Real Estate Strategy & Analytics is responsible for developing, negotiating, and overseeing deals for store growth and optimization. This role is responsible for engaging with cross-functional business partners to identify, quantify, and drive strategic real estate initiatives to enhance profitability and the customer experience. 

This role reports to the SVP, Real Estate North America and is based in our Buckhead office.

Real Estate Deals (50%):

• Negotiate terms of real estate transactions to obtain the lowest possible overall occupancy cost for the company's stores
• Partner with the site development team in developing the site plan (or space allocation plan for right sizes) for each proposed store
• Drive sound real estate decision making with a deep understanding of market characteristics, competition, demographics, shopping patterns, and real estate market values
• Responsible, along with the key business partners, for overseeing projects through the planning, zoning, and permitting process
• Coach and train on site tours, site selection, negotiations, lease renewals, closures, etc. to ensure best practices and continual improvement of performance
• Ensure plans are regularly reviewed, adapted and improved
• Establish project budgets and monitor expenses throughout project lifecycles
• Develop, maintain, and strengthen collaborative relationships inside and outside the organization 

Real Estate Strategy: (25%):

• In partnership with SVP Real Estate, create and implement a comprehensive real estate strategy aligned with Carter’s growth objectives and brand positioning. Identify new market opportunities and make data-driven recommendations for store locations
• Support the acquisition of new sites, partnering with external brokers, developers, and landlords to negotiate and secure retail space. Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in-line with Carter’s standards
• Assist with strategically positioning the portfolio for long-term profitability and market share by defining metrics to optimize operational efficiencies and cost-effectiveness
• Support the preparation and presentation of key materials for senior leadership, including presentations for the Board of Directors, Real Estate Committee, and Portfolio Management Committee

Analysis and Planning (25%):

• Analyze market trends, competitive landscape, and consumer behavior to inform real estate decisions. Present regular updates to senior leadership on portfolio performance, capital projects and strategic initiatives
• Leverage data to evaluate fleet performance: identify trends to anticipate issues, develop alternative solutions, and escalate risks
• Partner with Finance leadership on analysis for Portfolio Management Committee and Real Estate Committee decisions on opening/closing/renewing individual store locations
• Monitor site performance and implement continuous improvements to maximize productivity, profitability, and service

WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU IF:

Must have:

• 10+ years of strategic real estate planning and negotiation experience
• Bachelor’s degree 
• Demonstrated knowledge of the market dynamics, local customs, real estate values, and third-party relationships
• Ability to think strategically about real estate as a driver of business success, with a deep understanding of how real estate impacts operational efficiency, customer experience, and brand growth
• Excellent negotiation skills with a strong network of industry contacts. Ability to manage relationships with landlords, developers, brokers, and other key stakeholders
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate sophisticated analyses into a logical, convincing business narrative
• Proven success in presentation of analysis with recommendations to stakeholders and senior executive leadership
• Strong financial analysis and budgeting skills, with experience in managing large capital expenditures and real estate investments
• Ability to travel approximately 50% of the time

Preferred skills and experience:

• Exceptional collaborator; can easily navigate and drive consensus through influence i