Manager, Strategic Real Estate Development

JOB SUMMARY

The Manager, Strategic Real Estate Development for Habit Burger & Grill is a key contributor to the brand’s growth strategy, responsible for supporting strategic market planning, pipeline development, and financial evaluation of new restaurant opportunities across North America.

This role blends analytical rigor, cross-functional partnership, and clear business storytelling to guide capital investment decisions. You will lead financial assessments of prospective developments, help shape the growth roadmap, and present recommendations directly to Habit leadership. This is a high-impact role that supports Habit’s evolving real estate strategy, including end cap, in-line, conversion, and freestanding assets.

Reporting to the Head of Real Estate & Franchising, you will collaborate closely with real estate and development teams, and drive alignment with franchisee and brand leaders.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Lead financial analysis of new store opportunities in the development pipeline, including IRR, ROI, cash-on-cash, and payback period.
• Prepare and present proposed developments to brand and executive leadership for approval.
• Identify and communicate strategic growth opportunities across the U.S.
• Develop and maintain financial and spatial models to support capital allocation and market prioritization.
• Partner with real estate and development teams to align market intelligence with pipeline activity.
• Represent trade area dynamics and forecasting in development decision-making.
• Conduct market tours and evaluate trade areas to inform long-term investment strategy.

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS

• Passion for restaurant growth, market strategy, and development analytics
• Strong ability to synthesize data and build clear, persuasive business cases
• Executive presence and confidence presenting to senior leaders
• Knowledge of real estate development processes and key financial metrics
• Collaborative and proactive approach with cross-functional stakeholders

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Finance, Real Estate, Economics, Geography, or related field; MBA a plus
• 5+ years of experience in market planning, strategic development, real estate finance, or a related role
• Proficient in Excel and PowerPoint; experience with GIS/mapping tools
• Experience in the restaurant, retail, or franchise industries strongly preferred

Salary Range: $118,600 to $135,000 annually + bonus eligibility.

This is the expected salary range for this position. Ultimately, in determining pay, we'll consider the successful candidate’s location, experience, and other job-related factors.