JLL

Senior Managing Director, Retail Advisory Services

Columbus, OH Full time

JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way.  

Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people  and empowering them to  thrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong.  Whether you’ve got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades or technology, or you’re looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward.   

Position Overview 

We are seeking a visionary and experienced Senior Managing Director, Retail Advisory Services to lead and expand JLL's specialized retail design and advisory services across the Americas region within our Projects & Development Services business. This senior role combines strategic leadership of a high-growth business with deep retail expertise to oversee a portfolio of retail accounts, program managers, and specialized retail advisory teams. The successful candidate will drive business development initiatives across retail sectors while ensuring exceptional delivery of services to retail clients throughout North and South America. This position requires exceptional leadership qualities, proven retail industry expertise, and a passion for retail client success in an evolving omnichannel marketplace. 

Key Responsibilities 

Strategic Business Development & Retail Leadership  

  • Develop and execute comprehensive strategic plans to achieve portfolio growth targets, revenue generation, and profitability goals for retail advisory services across the Americas 

  • Lead strategic discovery sessions with retail prospects to uncover complex brand and customer experience needs, developing comprehensive solutions for multi-site retail operations 

  • Foster a proactive retail-focused sales culture and promote cross-selling opportunities across retail accounts, PDS services, and retail industry verticals 

  • Identify key Americas retail market trends, client needs, and emerging opportunities to position JLL as the premier retail advisory partner 

  • Lead high-stakes contract negotiations for Americas retail accounts, including national rollouts, flagship store developments, and brand transformation initiatives 

  • Develop and implement retail client retention programs to ensure long-term partnerships with major retail brands and maximize lifetime value 

Financial Performance & Portfolio Management 

  • Monitor financial performance metrics across the retail portfolio, driving accountability and identifying areas for improvement 

  • Develop retail ROI models, store performance metrics, and complex retail pricing strategies 

  • Prepare and present quarterly business reviews and performance reports to senior leadership, providing insights and strategic recommendations 

  • Establish and monitor key performance indicators aligned with Americas retail business goals and retail market metrics 

Team Leadership & People Development 

  • Build, lead, and develop high-performing teams of program managers, project managers, and retail specialists, setting clear expectations and providing guidance for success 

  • Mentor and develop retail business development professionals across the Americas through retail-specific coaching, skills building, and performance management 

  • Promote a collaborative and inclusive work environment that fosters teamwork, retail innovation, and excellence 

  • Conduct performance evaluations and identify training and development needs to enhance retail-specific team capabilities 

  • Proactively recruit retail talent and upskill existing talent to ensure technical and leadership capabilities for retail client retention and service delivery 

Client Relationship Management & Retail Advisory Excellence 

  • Develop and maintain strong relationships with key retail clients at C-Suite and senior levels, serving as their trusted retail advisor 

  • Foster client relationships with major retail brands across the Americas as a "retail client champion" 

  • Collaborate with program managers to understand retail client objectives, evaluate performance, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement 

  • Provide strategic guidance in addressing retail client concerns and resolving complex retail-specific issues 

  • Actively participate in strategic retail client events, industry conferences, and retail trade shows 

Retail Market Expertise & Innovation 

  • Serve as a thought leader and subject matter expert in Americas retail design trends, consumer behavior, and omnichannel retail strategies 

  • Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with retail developers, shopping center operators, and retail technology providers 

  • Collaborate with Americas Retail Marketing to develop campaigns, thought leadership, and sales enablement materials 

  • Develop scalable retail service models that enable efficient growth across multiple Americas markets while maintaining brand consistency 

Requirements 

Experience & Education 

  • Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Construction, Engineering, Business, Retail Management, or related field; Advanced degree preferred 

  • Minimum 15-20 years of proven business development leadership experience in Americas retail design sector with deep retail market expertise 

  • Demonstrated success leading business development teams within retail architecture, retail design, and/or commercial real estate firms 

  • Proven track record managing major retail brand accounts and multi-site retail rollouts across North and South America 

 

Retail Technical Expertise 

  • Deep understanding of Americas retail design processes, retail construction methodologies, and brand implementation across multiple regional markets 

  • Strong knowledge of retail architectural design standards, retail technology integration, visual merchandising, and retail branding fundamentals 

  • Progressive understanding of Americas retail trends, omnichannel retail strategies, and consumer behavior patterns 

  • Understanding of regional retail market differences, shopping center dynamics, and cultural retail preferences across the Americas 

Leadership & Business Skills 

  • Exceptional leadership and people management skills with demonstrated ability to mentor, motivate, and develop high-performing retail teams 

  • Strong retail financial acumen and ability to drive financial performance within a retail portfolio 

  • Excellent communication and presentation skills with ability to engage and influence retail seniors and stakeholders at all levels 

  • Proven ability to translate retail brand vision into sales excellence across diverse retail markets 

  • Strong problem-solving and strategic thinking capabilities for complex retail client challenges 

Additional Requirements 

  • Results-oriented mindset with commitment to achieving ambitious retail sales targets and delivering exceptional retail client service 

  • Extensive experience working with complex Americas retail businesses and retail real estate across multiple regions 

  • Data-driven decision-making capabilities with strong analytical skills in retail performance and consumer insights 

  • Ability to travel across the Americas region 

  • Experience leading retail transformation initiatives and retail change management programs 

 

This position does not provide visa sponsorship. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Location:

On-site –Columbus, OH

If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet all the requirements.  We’re interested in getting to know you and what you bring to the table!


Personalized benefits that support personal well-being and growth:

JLL recognizes the impact that the workplace can have on your wellness, so we offer a supportive culture and comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes mental, physical and emotional health. Some of these benefits may include:

  • 401(k) plan with matching company contributions

  • Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision Care

  • Paid parental leave at 100% of salary 

  • Paid Time Off and Company Holidays

  • Early access to earned wages through Daily Pay

At JLL, we harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to efficiently accelerate meaningful connections between candidates and opportunities. Using AI capabilities, we analyze your application for relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications to generate valuable insights about how your unique profile aligns with the specific requirements of the role you're pursuing.

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For candidates in the United States, please see a full copy of our Equal Employment Opportunity policy here.

Jones Lang LaSalle (“JLL”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.  If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process – including the online application and/or overall selection process – you may email us at HRSCLeaves@jll.com. This email is only to request an accommodation. Please direct any other general recruiting inquiries to our Contact Us page > I want to work for JLL.

Accepting applications on an ongoing basis until candidate identified.