Sales and Leasing Strategist

Reports To: Vice President, Operations Partnership

The ideal candidate is experienced in residential leasing or real estate, skilled in pricing strategy, and excels in relationship management. They are strategic, analytical, and capable of leveraging market insights and customer feedback to optimize leasing strategies.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leasing Initiatives:

• Develop and implement data-driven leasing strategies to address vacancies, enhance occupancy rates, and maximize revenue.
• Create targeted leasing plans for new high-grade assets and properties requiring special focus.

Business Relationship Management:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with brokers, placement companies, and other external partners.
• Collaborate with brokers to secure high-quality tenants and negotiate favorable lease agreements.
• Act as the primary contact for placement companies to ensure alignment with CAPREIT’s leasing objectives.

Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams:

• Partner with Customer Care, Pricing and Sales, and Operations teams to address prospective resident inquiries, analyze market trends, and ensure alignment on unit readiness and availability.

Market Analysis & Insights:

• Monitor market conditions, competitive offerings, and customer behavior to identify opportunities and challenges.
• Conduct leasing performance analyses and prepare detailed reports for key stakeholders.

Customer Feedback Integration:

• Gather and analyze feedback from prospects to identify recurring themes or issues.
• Provide actionable recommendations to adjust pricing, marketing, or service strategies.

Marketing & Leasing Alignment:

• Collaborate with the Property Marketing team to align leasing initiatives with marketing efforts. Report and action mystery shop scores with relevant stakeholders.

Leasing Negotiations, Lease Target Setting & Support:

• Support leasing teams by refining sales tactics, creating and managing leasing targets, improving customer interactions, and assisting with lease negotiations to drive successful outcomes.
• Provide necessary remote and in-person support during lease-ups, acquisitions, and at high-vacancy assets, including monitoring and reviewing sales calls, analyzing leasing velocity, making and accepting sales calls, conducting property visits with prospects, and consulting with local operations teams on staffing and sales processes.
• Flexibility is required to travel as needed to lease units and provide on-site support at various locations, ensuring alignment with operational goals.
• Additionally, adaptability to work varying shifts, including evenings and weekends, is essential to accommodate prospective tenants’ schedules and meet leasing targets effectively.

Bulk Lease Negotiations & Support:

• Source, liaise and nurture relationships with organizations that require housing, parking or locker units for their clients, customers or staff. This role will represent the primary point of contact and facilitator of synergies between external entities and internal stakeholders.

Retention and Renewal Negotiations & Support:

• Collaborate with our Operations team and other key stakeholders to both support and create robust value-based retention and renewal programs.

Training & Development:

• Provide guidance and coaching to on-site leasing teams, emphasizing customer-centric strategies and operational excellence.
• Offer insights to improve the leasing process, strengthen tenant interactions, and ensure operational goals are met through streamlined and effective leasing practices.

Qualifications:

• Post-secondary education in business, marketing, or real estate management is required. A University degree is preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in residential leasing, real estate sales, or customer-facing roles.
• Demonstrated ability to execute leasing strategies, manage external relationships, and work collaboratively with diverse teams.
• Strong relationship management skills, particularly with brokers and placement companies.
• Expertise in pricing analysis, lease negotiations, and market research.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and property management software (Yardi preferred).
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively.
• Customer-focused mindset with the ability to interpret and act on customer feedback.
• Flexibility to travel domestically and work occasional evenings or weekends.