Real Estate Development Manager

Duties and Responsibilities

• Own and manage an independent pipeline of new site opportunities across assigned markets, driving deals from initial site identification through executed lease.
• Manage broker relationships across assigned regions to identify and evaluate new site opportunities.
• Lead the negotiation of Letters of Intent (LOIs) and lease agreements, representing Excel Fitness’s interests and partnering with legal counsel to finalize deal.
• Create and maintain strong relationships with landlords, developers, and real estate partners to ensure Excel Fitness remain tenant of choice.
• Develop and maintain real estate committee presentation decks for new site approvals and leadership review.
• Liaise with the Planet Fitness Corporate Real Estate team to ensure compliance with franchisor requirements and reporting standards.
• Own all facility-related functions related to landlord obligations including work tickets, notices, and reporting. Serve as the primary point of contact for landlord communication, ensuring timely resolution of property and maintenance issues.
• Partner with the legal team to manage and track ongoing facility-related issues across portfolio.
• Maintain and oversee all real estate abstracts and portfolio data to ensure accuracy and completeness within the lease management system.
• Maintain accurate and timely reporting of the real estate pipeline for internal stakeholders across the enterprise.
• Partner with construction, design, and operations teams to ensure alignment on site delivery timelines and landlord deliverables.
• Provide analysis and reporting for leadership and FP&A as needed to support strategic growth decisions and annual budgetary forecasting.
• Lead market strategy discussions and drive multi-year development schedules in partnership with the Director of Real Estate.
• Manage all asset management responsibilities across the portfolio, including lease administration, landlord relations, renewal planning, and proactive identification of portfolio risks and opportunities.
• Lead disposition efforts for underperforming or closed locations, including assignment and sublease negotiations, to minimize financial exposure across the portfolio.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• PREFERRED: Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business, or related field.
• 5+ years of commercial real estate experience with a demonstrated track record of independently sourcing sites, negotiating LOIs, and executing leases for a national franchise, multi-unit retailer, or real estate developer.
• Experience working in a Real Estate Department, preferably within a multi-unit retail or QSR environment.
• Familiarity with franchise operations and franchisor compliance requirements is preferred.
• Strong market analysis and site selection skills with a solid understanding of real estate processes, contracts, and deal structures.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and lease management systems (Visual Lease experience preferred).
• Demonstrated project management ability with strong organizational and analytical skills.
• Self-starter with an ownership mentality, sense of urgency, and commitment to meeting goals.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills with the ability to work effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Skilled at developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with brokers, landlords, and internal cross-functional partners.
• Proven ability to problem-solve, manage competing priorities, and adapt in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Dedicated learner who demonstrates curiosity, initiative, and continuous improvement.