Associate Director of Real Estate

Studs is a category-defining ear piercing and earring brand named one of “the 10 most innovative companies in retail for 2023” by Fast Company. Studs connects ear piercing with aftercare and earring shopping to create an end-to-end Earscaping® experience. We offer a better retail and digital experience that prioritizes safety and expertise in a cool, fun and welcoming environment, along with a wide earring assortment—all at an accessible price point.

Salary Range: $155,000–$175,000

Location: New York, NY

The Associate Director of Real Estate plays a central role in Studs’ retail growth engine — translating expansion strategy into executed, high-performing studios. This role owns market diligence, site selection, and deal execution across multiple U.S. markets, ensuring each new studio strengthens Studs’ brand presence and financial performance.

Acting as both dealmaker and operator, the Associate Director partners across Finance, Store Development, Legal, and Retail Operations to bring analytical discipline and pace to every project. They evaluate markets, negotiate leases, manage brokers and landlords, and maintain an active, insight-driven portfolio view.

This is a high-impact, execution-focused role for a real estate leader who can connect data and deal sense — identifying where Studs should grow, building the business case for each site, and ensuring every opening lands on time, on budget, and on brand.

Key Responsibilities:

Market Strategy & Site Selection

• Execute Studs’ multi-year expansion plan through disciplined market analysis and site pipeline management.
• Conduct market and trade-area diligence using data, demographic, and traffic analytics to identify high-performing locations.
• Maintain relationships with brokers, landlords, and developers to source and qualify new site opportunities.
• Present market insights, deal analyses, and site recommendations to senior leadership for decision-making.
• Conduct site tours and due diligence visits; prepare detailed evaluation reports and business cases.

Deal Negotiation & Lease Management

• Negotiate new leases, renewals, and amendments in partnership with Legal and Finance.
• Prepare and maintain deal term sheets, pro formas, and internal approval documents.
• Support lease administration and critical date tracking to ensure compliance and timely renewals.
• Coordinate internal approvals and execution steps, ensuring complete and accurate documentation.
• Help refine Studs’ real estate playbook and deal process to improve speed, visibility, and consistency.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Execution

• Partner with Store Development to ensure new sites transition smoothly into construction and opening phases.
• Collaborate with Retail Operations to align opening timelines and performance expectations.
• Work closely with Finance to model deal economics, validate assumptions, and manage budget-to-actuals tracking.
• Communicate progress across internal teams, maintaining clear visibility into timelines, risks, and dependencies.

Stakeholder & Partner Management

• Serve as Studs’ key contact for brokers and landlords during active deal cycles.
• Manage broker performance and deal pipelines across multiple markets.
• Build effective relationships with external partners to accelerate access to high-quality opportunities.
• Represent Studs’ brand and business standards with professionalism and commercial savvy.

Requirements:

• 6–8 years of experience in real estate, with at least 4 years in retail, hospitality, or service-driven brands.
• Demonstrated success executing multi-market expansion, lease negotiation, and site diligence.
• Strong financial acumen; able to evaluate deal economics and interpret market data.
• Skilled communicator and negotiator, comfortable working directly with landlords, brokers, and executives.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented; able to manage multiple deals and deadlines concurrently.
• Collaborative and confident, with strong cross-functional communication skills.
• Operates with ownership, curiosity, and sound commercial judgment in a fast-paced environment.
• Significant travel required.

Benefits & Perks

• Flexible Work Environment (3 days in office, 2 days work from home)
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance (including a plan option with $0 in-network mental health visits)
• Access to Mental Health and Work/Life Resources including Online Therapy, Gender Affirmation Support Services, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Health and Commuter Tax-Advantaged Accounts
• Stock Options in connection with the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
• Paid Time Off, Paid Safe & Sick Leave, and Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Sabbatical After 4 Years of Service
• Exclusive Employee Discounts on Piercings and Jewelry (we’ve got your friends and family covered too!)
• Access to PerkSpot and additional benefits such as pet insurance, discounted tickets, personal finance coaching, healthy rewards, and more!

Studs is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a work environment that fosters diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity without regard to race, color, gender, age, creed, sex, religion, national origin, disability (physical or mental), marital status, citizenship, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, or any other legally protected status. Studs considers qualified applicants with criminal histories. We comply with applicable state and local laws prohibiting discrimination in employment in every jurisdiction in which we operate. If you require an accommodation for the application process, please fill out this form.

Massachusetts Applicants: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. 

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