Leasing Associate

About EDENS

Established in 1966, EDENS is an owner, developer, and steward of more than 100 open-air retail and mixed-use places in high-growth markets across the country. Our purpose is to enrich community through human engagement, creating places where people come together and feel part of something bigger than themselves.

About the Market

The Washington, DC metropolitan area gives this role exposure to a diverse retail landscape spanning Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and suburban Maryland. As a Leasing Associate, you will spend significant time in the market learning neighborhoods, discovering emerging concepts, building industry relationships, and helping shape the tenant mix across EDENS' portfolio.

Job Summary

The Leasing Associate is an opportunity to build a career in commercial real estate from the ground up. You will become deeply immersed in the DMV retail and restaurant landscape, identifying best-in-class operators, building relationships with brokers and prospective tenants, and supporting the leasing team throughout the deal process.

This is not a role spent entirely behind a desk. A meaningful portion of your time will be in the market, canvassing retail districts, evaluating concepts, touring properties, attending industry events, and developing the relationships and market knowledge that make a great leasing professional.

What you will do:

- Know the market. Develop a deep understanding of retailers, restaurants, service providers, emerging concepts, competitive properties, and consumer trends throughout Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and suburban Maryland.

- Discover what's next. Identify compelling local, regional, digitally native, and expanding brands that could complement EDENS' properties and the communities they serve.

- Build relationships. Develop connections with retail brokers, business owners, restaurateurs, prospective tenants, and industry partners while representing EDENS at events, property tours, and market visits.

- Support leasing opportunities. Build prospect lists, conduct research, prepare for outreach and market tours, coordinate tenant follow-up, and assist with letters of intent, proposals, presentations, and lease negotiations.

- Turn market knowledge into insights. Track openings, closings, relocations, expansions, key retail corridors, and emerging neighborhoods, bringing relevant opportunities and recommendations back to the leasing team.

- Learn the full real estate process. Collaborate with leasing, development, construction, property operations, and legal teams to understand how an opportunity moves from market strategy and tenant identification through lease execution and store opening.

What you bring:

- Bachelor's degree.

- One to three years of experience in commercial real estate, retail, hospitality, business development, sales, market research, or a related field is preferred.

- Genuine curiosity about retail real estate, restaurants, consumer brands, neighborhoods, and the places that bring communities together.

- Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the confidence to initiate conversations and build relationships with new people.

- An analytical and resourceful mindset with strong research, organization, and problem-solving skills.

- Ability to manage multiple priorities independently while maintaining attention to detail and seeing the broader business opportunity.

What we offer:

- Salary: $60k/yr-$67k/yr

- Comprehensive health coverage with multiple medical plan options, including preventive care covered at 100%.

- Company-paid benefits including life and AD&D insurance, along with employee support resources.

- Financial wellness resources including Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options.

- Paid time away from work to support personal time, rest, and well-being.

- Wellness and fitness benefits , including opportunities to participate in EDENS' wellness program and fitness subsidy.

If you're energized by being out in the market, discovering what's next in retail and restaurants, building relationships, and learning the business of commercial real estate, we'd like to hear from you. Join EDENS and help us create places that enrich communities through human connection.