Description
Job Title: Vice President of Real Estate
Location: Hybrid (Lynnwood, WA) or Remote
Reports To: Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Company: Zumiez Inc.
Status: Full-time, Exempt
About Zumiez
Zumiez is a leading specialty retailer of apparel, footwear, accessories, and hardgoods for young men and women who express their individuality through fashion, music, art, and the culture of action sports and streetwear. Operating under the Zumiez, Blue Tomato, and Fast Times brands, we serve customers through hundreds of retail locations and our ecommerce platforms: zumiez.com , blue-tomato.com , and fasttimes.com.au .
Position Summary
Zumiez is seeking a dynamic Vice President of Real Estate to lead all real estate and construction across North America. Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), this executive role combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution. The VP will oversee the full scope of real estate and construction activities, including site selection, lease negotiations, portfolio management, and store development. This role is instrumental in shaping Zumiez’s physical footprint and driving growth in key markets.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic & Organizational Leadership
- Develop and execute Zumiez’s real estate strategy in alignment with company growth and financial goals.
- Champion the Zumiez Philosophy: Culture × Brand × Sales Culture × BFM .
- Collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams and participate in executive-level strategy sessions.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing real estate and construction team.
Lease Administration & Portfolio Management
- Lead and manage the lease administration team to ensure accurate tracking of all lease terms, renewals, critical dates, and financial obligations.
- Oversee lease compliance and work closely with legal to address any disputes, amendments, or audits.
- Optimize the lease portfolio by identifying underperforming assets and executing strategies to mitigate risk and maximize value.
- Ensure lease administration systems and processes are accurate, up-to-date, and support effective decision-making.
- Maintain internal controls related to rent payments, escalations, and tenant obligations.
Real Estate Execution & Territory Management
- Personally lead site selection, lease negotiations, and real estate deals within an assigned territory.
- Build and manage a pipeline of new and optimized locations based on data-driven analysis.
- Maintain landlord and broker relationships, while navigating evolving lease structures and terms.
- Oversee construction execution for new stores, remodels and closures.
Financial & Operational Oversight
- Manage department budget, rent expense, and capital allocation for real estate initiatives.
- Present site strategies to executive leadership through real estate committee meetings.
- Collaborate with legal and external counsel on lease terms and real estate-related contracts.
Construction
- Manage and Oversee Director of Construction to ensure execution of new stores, remodels, relocations and closures within budget
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Real Estate, Finance, or related field required; MBA or JD preferred .
- 10+ years of experience in retail real estate , preferably with a national specialty retailer.
- Proven success negotiating leases and managing portfolios of 100+ retail locations .
- Strong financial acumen with experience managing P&L and ROI-focused initiatives.
- Excellent leadership, negotiation, and communication skills.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment .
- Willingness to travel 25-35% within North America
Benefits
- Annual Salary Range: $225,000 – 240,000 DOE
- Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance, following an initial wait period.
- 401k after meeting qualifications
- Long Term Incentive Eligible
- Bonus Eligible
- Paid Parental Leave
- Life Insurance
- Paid Vacation
- Paid Sick Leave
- Stock Purchase Program
- Open, casual, pet-friendly office environment
- Employee Discount on Zumiez product
- On-site skate park, on-site cafeteria
Job Title: Vice President of Real Estate
Location: Lynnwood, WA (Zumiez Home Office) & Remote Travel
Reports To: Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Company: Zumiez Inc.
Status: Full-time, Exempt
About Zumiez
Zumiez is a leading specialty retailer of apparel, footwear, accessories, and hardgoods for young men and women who express their individuality through fashion, music, art, and the culture of action sports and streetwear. Operating under the Zumiez, Blue Tomato, and Fast Times brands, we serve customers through hundreds of retail locations and our ecommerce platforms: zumiez.com , blue-tomato.com , and fasttimes.com.au .
Position Summary
Zumiez is seeking a dynamic Vice President of Real Estate to lead all real estate and construction across North America. Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), this executive role combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution. The VP will oversee the full scope of real estate and construction activities, including site selection, lease negotiations, portfolio management, and store development. This role is instrumental in shaping Zumiez’s physical footprint and driving growth in key markets.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic & Organizational Leadership
- Develop and execute Zumiez’s real estate strategy in alignment with company growth and financial goals.
- Champion the Zumiez Philosophy: Culture × Brand × Sales Culture × BFM .
- Collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams and participate in executive-level strategy sessions.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing real estate and construction team.
Lease Administration & Portfolio Management
- Lead and manage the lease administration team to ensure accurate tracking of all lease terms, renewals, critical dates, and financial obligations.
- Oversee lease compliance and work closely with legal to address any disputes, amendments, or audits.
- Optimize the lease portfolio by identifying underperforming assets and executing strategies to mitigate risk and maximize value.
- Ensure lease administration systems and processes are accurate, up-to-date, and support effective decision-making.
- Maintain internal controls related to rent payments, escalations, and tenant obligations.
Real Estate Execution & Territory Management
- Personally lead site selection, lease negotiations, and real estate deals within an assigned territory.
- Build and manage a pipeline of new and optimized locations based on data-driven analysis.
- Maintain landlord and broker relationships, while navigating evolving lease structures and terms.
- Oversee construction execution for new stores, remodels and closures.
Financial & Operational Oversight
- Manage department budget, rent expense, and capital allocation for real estate initiatives.
- Present site strategies to executive leadership through real estate committee meetings.
- Collaborate with legal and external counsel on lease terms and real estate-related contracts.
Construction
- Manage and Oversee Director of Construction to ensure execution of new stores, remodels, relocations and closures within budget
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Real Estate, Finance, or related field required; MBA or JD preferred .
- 10+ years of experience in retail real estate , preferably with a national specialty retailer.
- Proven success negotiating leases and managing portfolios of 100+ retail locations .
- Strong financial acumen with experience managing P&L and ROI-focused initiatives.
- Excellent leadership, negotiation, and communication skills.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment .
- Willingness to travel 25-35% within North America
Benefits
- Annual Salary Range: $225,000 – 240,000 DOE
- Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance, following an initial wait period.
- 401k after meeting qualifications
- Long Term Incentive Eligible
- Bonus Eligible
- Paid Parental Leave
- Life Insurance
- Paid Vacation
- Paid Sick Leave
- Stock Purchase Program
- Open, casual, pet-friendly office environment
- Employee Discount on Zumiez product
- On-site skate park, on-site cafeteria