The Real Estate Development Manager is responsible for growing the Chicken Salad Chick (CSC) brand through new restaurant development resulting in the highest quality and volume restaurants. This role will manage the restaurant development process from real estate site selection through to opening restaurant readiness. This role is also accountable for ensuring steady new restaurant growth, and for the negotiation and “closing” of development agreements with new and/or existing franchise operators and company-owned expansion within existing and future corporate markets.
Essential Responsibilities
Support the creation and execution of market development plans to reach the Brand’s growth objectives.
Provide full support to franchise owners, including review and interpretation of market analytics, site selection, financial analysis, submittal of proposed sites to real estate committee, and lease negotiations (to an advisory extent only, as franchisees are responsible for hiring an attorney).
Evaluate acceptability of given real estate sites for building a Chicken Salad Chick restaurant(s) to include onsite visits to the requested sites; analysis of restaurant building requirements compared to the site; summarization of strengths and/or weaknesses of the site (traffic flow); final acceptance or rejection.
Select and secure new locations to facilitate Company-owned expansion.
Work closely with members of Development Team to ensure compliance on processes and documentation. Provide regular updates as necessary.
Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in relevant industry preferred
5 years’ experience in retail real estate acquisition and site selection is required
Required experience in analyzing research data and touring trade areas/markets to confirm trade area/site viability, along with negotiating deals through to final lease execution.
Franchise company and/or Restaurant experience a plus
Physical Demands
Exert up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including papers, boxes and/or computer equipment.
Note: The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills of those in this job classification. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and subject to change at the discretion of the employer.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Ability to interface and maintain excellent professional relationships with a variety of audiences to include franchise partners and legal counsel; ability to collaborate with internal construction, operations, marketing and training departments to deliver the planned number of deals and store openings
Preparing and presenting sites to the real estate committee, assisting with lease negotiations, and communicating store opening processes.
Excellent oral and written skills to include formal presentation experience and the ability to prepare and present sales presentations and/or negotiate franchise agreements
Ability to define problems, gather data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
Team oriented
Ability to anticipate and solve practical problems or resolve issues
Ability to work independently and handle issues as they arise
Resourceful, solution oriented, and not afraid to try out-of-the-box ideas
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Power Point, Excel and Outlook
Ability to travel 75%+ to successfully execute development plans, and visit CSC corporate offices for presentations and meetings, as applicable.
