Asset Strategy & Development Associate

The Opportunity:

We are seeking a driven and detail-oriented Associate to join our Asset Strategy & Development team. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to the ownership, management, and growth of WS Development's retail real estate portfolio. The ideal candidate brings a foundational understanding of real estate operations, strong organizational instincts, and the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and with external partners.

Overview 

• Partner with the Asset Strategy & Development (AS&D) Lead on day-to-day operations and development of the Company's shopping centers, including implementation of business plans and operating budgets. The Associate will be responsible for managing third-party service providers. 

• Communicate effectively with internal cross-functional teams, tenants, and third-party service providers to maximize the performance of our shopping centers. 

• Manage capital improvement (CapEx) projects by preparing RFPs, soliciting and evaluating bids, negotiating contracts, and overseeing project execution and closeout. Projects may include roof replacement, sidewalk repair, parking lot maintenance, painting, and landscaping. 

• Support development projects within existing shopping centers, including due diligence, regulatory research, plan review, document organization, schedule and budget compliance, and coordination across internal teams and stakeholders. 

• Serve as the AS&D point of contact for tenants by addressing operational needs, answering routine questions, and researching lease terms to clarify landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities. 

• Conduct regular shopping center visits to ensure efficient, clean, safe, and code-compliant operations. 

• Partner with the Accounting department to facilitate timely payment of operating costs, resolve billing and invoice questions, and support adherence to operational and capital budgets. 

• Bachelor's degree required; degree in real estate, construction management, engineering, architecture, or a related field preferred. 

• 1–5 years of experience in real estate development, construction management, asset management, property management, or a related field. 

• Prior experience with a developer, real estate owner/operator, architect, or engineer strongly preferred. 

• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, plans, and technical documents. 

• Experience reviewing LOIs and leases. 

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and workstreams simultaneously. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to coordinate across internal teams and external partners. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with Bluebeam a plus. 

• Experience with operating budgets, CapEx project execution, and invoice processing a plus. 

• Passion for real estate with a strong work ethic. 

The expected salary range for this position is $70,000-$77,000 per year. Actual compensation will be based on factors such as skills, qualifications, experience, and location. This role is also eligible to participate in our annual bonus program. 

About WS 

Massachusetts-based WS Development is a mixed-use developer with a singular mission: creating places people want to be. With an approach that values art, science, innovation and, above all else, people, WS strives to engage each community it serves with best-in-class installations and activations. Established in 1990, WS is a vertically integrated company that conceptualizes, owns, operates and leases more than 100 properties that range from cutting-edge urban spaces to lifestyle and community centers. With over 20 million square feet of existing space and an additional five million square feet under development, it is one of the largest privately-owned development firms in the country. 

WS is where great ideas and great people come together to design, build, and operate some of the best loved real estate projects in the country. We live at the intersection of entrepreneurship and establishment. We have the infrastructure of decades supporting a culture of free-thinking excellence. 

We expect every WS employee to feel welcomed and valued irrespective of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, and life experiences. Or for any other reason.