Watches of Switzerland Group Real Estate Manager

Role & Responsibilities

• Direct real estate and business development strategy across North America, supporting brand growth through high-impact site acquisitions, relocations and market entries.
• Manage the retail expansion lifecycle, including opportunity assessment, site selection, contract structuring, financial viability and alignment with Legal, Retail, Store Development, Business Development and Finance.
• Build and manage relationships with mall operators, landlords, brokers and department store partners.
• Provide regular strategic real estate updates to US and UK Trading Board executives and present detailed monthly business cases.
• Manage the lease portfolio, including renewals, rent benchmarks, performance KPIs and renegotiations.
• Lead and create executive-level real estate presentations incorporating engineering feasibility, P&L impact assessments and long-term sustainability.
• Travel for business, including site visits, meetings and project needs.
• Undertake other projects and responsibilities assigned by management.

Qualifications

• Experience growing and managing a retail property portfolio for a national or global brand, ideally in luxury retail.
• Use market data, performance results and customer insights to guide decisions and develop long-term portfolio plans.
• Skill in lease discussions and securing terms that support financial goals and brand needs.
• Ability to build strong working relationships across departments and with third parties.
• Solid understanding of North American retail markets, including trends, consumer patterns and key regions.
• Genuine interest in creating memorable retail environments that reflect the brand.
• Knowledge of tools used in real estate or market planning, such as mapping, location analytics or lease management software.
• Willingness to travel for site visits, meetings and project needs.
• Experience in luxury or premium retail, where showroom presentation, service and brand storytelling are central to the client experience.
• Familiarity with major North American shopping districts and key landlord groups.
• Background supporting new market entries, flagship openings or large-scale relocations.
• Experience partnering closely with construction or store development teams during site handovers and build-outs.
• Ability to present recommendations to senior leaders and support business cases for new projects.
• Interest in emerging retail trends, client behaviors and how physical locations support brand growth.

Skills

Experience

Experience growing and managing a retail property portfolio for a national or global brand, ideally in luxury retail; experience in luxury or premium retail; experience supporting new market entries, flagship openings or large-scale relocations; experience partnering with construction or store development teams during site handovers and build-outs.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.