Director of Real Estate

Soul Foods Group; Toronto; On-site; CAD 190,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Soul Foods Group is seeking a Director, Real Estate to lead nationwide development and portfolio strategy for Canada, spanning KFC, Taco Bell and Burger King brands. The role drives acquisition, market planning and portfolio optimization, partnering with executive leadership to maximize asset value and drive expansion across all brands.

You will build a multi-year real estate roadmap, establish governance, and lead a high-performing team to deliver superior occupancy economics and long-term

Qualifications

• 10+ years of real estate and development experience in multi-unit retail/restaurant settings.
• Proven experience presenting to executives and boards.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong financial/analytical skills: investment analysis and portfolio optimization.
• Established relationships with landlords, developers and brokers across Canada.
• Willingness to travel with a valid Driver’s License.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a multi-year real estate strategy aligned with growth and profitability.
• Lead market planning, growth corridors, relocations, and portfolio optimization.
• Coach and mentor the real estate team; succession planning.
• Provide data-driven recommendations on site selection, asset performance and development priorities.
• Establish portfolio metrics and improve occupancy economics and returns.
• Present strategies and risk analyses to executives and ownership groups.
• Build senior relationships with landlords, brokers, developers and franchisors.
• Assess market trends and lease terms to inform strategy and negotiations.
• Define best-in-class real estate review processes with governance and stage gates.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Market analysis

Team leadership

Relationship building

Travel readiness

Education

Real estate degree or diploma

Job description

As a senior leader within the Development & Construction team, the Director, Real Estate is responsible for developing and leading Soul Foods Group's real estate growth and portfolio strategy across Canada. The role will drive the identification, prioritization and acquisition of new development opportunities that support the Company's ambitious expansion objectives while optimizing the performance, value and long-term sustainability of the existing portfolio. The Director will provide strategic recommendations to Executive Leadership regarding market growth, portfolio optimization, lease strategy, asset management and development priorities to support strong returns and long-term enterprise value.

SCOPE AND MAGNITUDE:

The Director, Real Estate is responsible for the identification, prioritization and acquisition of new development opportunities that support the Company's ambitious expansion objectives across the KFC, Taco Bell and Burger King brands. Also accountable for the strategic management and optimization of a portfolio of more than 240 restaurants and cafés across Canada, including new unit growth, relocations, renewals, disposition recommendations, portfolio performance reviews and long-range development planning. The Director will be expected to challenge conventional thinking, identify new markets, unlock strategic growth opportunities, build a robust development pipeline, and provide data-driven real estate recommendations to Executive Leadership that accelerate growth while maximizing long-term portfolio value.

POSITION FUNCTIONS:

• Develop and maintain a multi-year real estate strategy aligned with the Company's growth, profitability, and brand objectives.
• Lead market planning activities, identifying priority trade areas, growth corridors, relocation opportunities, and portfolio optimization initiatives.
• Develop and mentor the real estate team, providing leadership, coaching, and succession planning.
• Provide Executive Leadership with data-driven real estate recommendations regarding site selection, asset performance, portfolio optimization and development priorities, including the real estate implications of proposed investments.
• Establish portfolio performance metrics and regularly evaluate opportunities to improve occupancy economics, portfolio quality, and investment returns.
• Present development strategies, growth pipeline updates, site approval recommendations, portfolio performance analyses, key risks and proposed actions to Executive Leadership and ownership groups to support alignment and informed decision-making.
• Build and maintain senior relationships within the landlord, brokerage, development, and franchisor communities to create competitive advantages and access off-market opportunities.
• Evaluate emerging market trends, demographic shifts, consumer behavior, competitive activity, and prevailing market rental rates, lease terms and transaction structures to inform real estate strategy and negotiations.
• Develop and present negotiation strategies, key commercial terms, risks and progress for major lease negotiations, renewals, redevelopment opportunities and strategic transactions, ensuring alignment with Executive Leadership at key decision points.
• Define and embed a best-in-class real estate review and alignment process, with clear decision criteria, governance, stage gates and regular portfolio and pipeline reviews across Development, Finance and Operations.

POSITION IMPACT:

Directly influences the growth trajectory, profitability and enterprise value of Soul Foods Group through the development and execution of real estate growth strategies and proactive portfolio management. Success will be measured by the ability to consistently deliver development commitments, optimize portfolio performance, strengthen market presence, improve asset value and build a sustainable pipeline supporting the Company's aggressive expansion plans across all brands.

Working Relationships:

List positions or external contacts with whom this position interacts regularly.

• Development Functional Team
• Finance, Operations and key Functional Teams
• External partners (landlord, property managers) and vendors as required
• Restaurant and Cafe Employees
• Franchisor Development and Design teams

Specialised or Technical Knowledge/Skills

Education

• College Diploma or University-level education with a specialization in real estate, legal, construction or urban planning

Experience

• 10+ years of progressive real estate and development experience within a multi-unit retail, restaurant, hospitality, or franchise organization, including demonstrated experience developing market strategies and leading growth initiatives.
• Proven experience presenting recommendations to executive leadership and boards.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong financial and analytical acumen, including investment analysis, portfolio optimization, and scenario modeling.
• Demonstrated success influencing senior stakeholders and negotiating complex transactions.
• Established relationships with major landlords, developers, and brokerage firms across Canada
• Flexibility to travel and hold a valid Driver’s License