Senior Manager - Business Development (Project Manager-Property Acquisition)

Location: Mumbai (Andheri East) Department: Business Development (Retail) Reporting to: Associate Director – BD & MBO

About the Role Skechers India is looking for a dynamic and result-oriented Business Development Manager to drive the company's retail expansion strategy across India. This role will be instrumental in identifying and securing premium retail locations, managing end-to-end commercial negotiations, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to achieve the organization's ambitious growth target of 1,000 stores by 2030. The ideal candidate should possess excellent relationship management skills, strong commercial acumen, and the ability to negotiate and close high-value retail agreements. ________________________________________

Key Responsibilities

Retail Expansion & Business Development

• Identify, evaluate, and secure strategic retail locations for Mall Stores and Company-Owned Company-Operated (COCO) stores across assigned regions.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with mall developers, landlords, property consultants, and channel partners.
• Develop a robust pipeline of prospective retail locations aligned with Skechers India's expansion strategy.

Negotiation & Commercial Closures

• Lead commercial discussions and negotiations with mall developers, landlords, and property owners.
• Liaise closely with Mall Management, Legal, Finance, and internal stakeholders to secure Letters of Intent (LOIs) and ensure timely execution of lease agreements.
• Drive end-to-end closure of commercial agreements while ensuring compliance with company policies and financial objectives.

Strategic Planning

• Develop and execute a comprehensive Business Development Strategy to support Skechers India's goal of opening 1,000 stores by 2030.
• Monitor expansion progress against defined milestones and recommend corrective actions wherever required.
• Analyze market trends, competitor expansion, and emerging retail opportunities to support strategic decision-making.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate with Legal, Finance, Projects, Retail Operations, and Leadership teams to ensure smooth store opening timelines.
• Work closely with project execution teams to facilitate seamless handover from site acquisition to store launch.
• Provide regular business updates, expansion reports, and forecasting to senior management.

Market Intelligence

• Conduct market research to identify emerging retail hubs and high-potential catchment areas.
• Maintain an updated database of upcoming malls, high streets, and commercial developments.
• Evaluate business feasibility based on demographics, footfall, competition, and commercial viability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Real Estate, or a related discipline.
• MBA will be an added advantage.

Experience

• 4–6 years of relevant experience in Retail Business Development, Real Estate, Leasing, or Expansion.
• Experience in the retail, footwear, fashion, lifestyle, or consumer brands industry is preferred.
• Proven track record of successfully negotiating and closing commercial retail agreements.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong negotiation and influencing abilities with demonstrated success in deal closures.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen.
• Relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strategic thinking with strong planning and execution capabilities.
• Highly organized with excellent project management skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, target-driven environment.
• Professional, confident, and effective in client-facing interactions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and business reporting tools.

Behavioral Competencies

• Results-oriented and self-driven.
• Strong ownership and accountability.
• Collaborative team player with cross-functional influencing skills.
• High level of integrity and professionalism.
• Adaptable and capable of managing multiple priorities simultaneously.

Success Metrics

• Achievement of annual retail expansion targets.
• Timely closure of LOIs and lease agreements.
• Successful execution of the expansion roadmap toward 1,000 stores by 2030.
• Speed and quality of store acquisition and commercial negotiations.
• Strong stakeholder and developer relationship management.
• Adherence to project timelines and commercial objectives.

About Skechers

Skechers, a global Fortune 500® company, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel, and accessories. Serving over 180 countries and territories, Skechers connects customers to products through department and specialty stores, e-commerce and digital stores, and through our more than 5,300 Skechers retail locations.