Sr. Manager - Real Estate & Dark Store Expansion

Firstclub; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Firstclub is seeking an experienced Real Estate Manager to lead the end-to-end lifecycle for dark store expansion. You will scout markets, evaluate properties, negotiate leases, ensure regulatory compliance, and coordinate with Operations, Finance, and Legal for a seamless handover to the store setup team.

The ideal candidate has 7–12 years in commercial real estate, with strong negotiation, documentation, and project coordination skills to drive scalable expansion across regions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Real Estate, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or related discipline.
• MBA (Marketing/Operations/Real Estate) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identify suitable commercial properties for dark store operations based on expansion plans.
• Conduct market surveys and competitor benchmarking.
• Develop and maintain a strong network of property owners, brokers, developers, and channel partners.
• Prepare feasibility reports considering demographics, catchment, accessibility, rental trends, and operational suitability.
• Negotiate rental terms, lock-in periods, escalation, deposits, and CAM charges.
• Coordinate with legal for drafting, reviewing, and finalizing Lease/Leave & License MOUs.

Skills

Property acquisition

Lease negotiation

Real estate docs

Legal coordination

Site feasibility

Financial evaluation

Vendor management

Project coordination

Stakeholder management

Negotiation skills

Excel/PowerPoint/ERP

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration/Real Estate

MBA (preferred)

Tools

ERP/CRM tools

Job description

Job Summary:

We are seeking an experienced and result-oriented Real Estate Manager to lead the identification, evaluation, acquisition, and handover of commercial properties for our dark store expansion program. The role will be responsible for managing the entire real estate lifecycle-from market scouting and landlord negotiations to lease execution, statutory approvals, project coordination, and successful handover to operations. The ideal candidate should possess strong knowledge of commercial real estate, lease management, legal documentation, project coordination, and stakeholder management.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Property Identification & Market Scouting

• Identify suitable commercial properties for dark store operations based on expansion plans.


• Conduct market surveys and competitor benchmarking.


• Develop and maintain a strong network of property owners, brokers, developers, and channel partners.


• Prepare feasibility reports considering demographics, catchment, accessibility, rental trends, and operational suitability.


• Evaluate properties based on predefined business and technical criteria.

2. Site Evaluation & Due Diligence

• Conduct physical site inspections.


• Coordinate with internal teams (Operations, Supply Chain, Projects, Finance, and Legal) for site feasibility.


• Verify property ownership, title documents, zoning regulations, and statutory compliance.


• Assess utility availability, parking, loading/unloading access, and infrastructure readiness.


• Prepare site evaluation reports and obtain internal approvals.

3. Commercial Negotiation

• Negotiate rental commercials, lock-in periods, escalation clauses, deposits, fit-out periods, CAM charges, and other lease terms.


• Achieve commercially viable lease agreements while ensuring long-term business sustainability.


• Build and maintain strong relationships with landlords and property consultants.


• Manage negotiations through to commercial closure.

4. Agreement & Documentation

• Coordinate with legal teams for drafting, reviewing, and finalizing Lease Agreements, - Leave & License Agreements, MOUs, and other related documents.


• Ensure execution and registration of agreements within timelines.


• Track document collection, stamp duty payments, registrations, and property records.


• Maintain complete documentation for audit and compliance purposes.

5. Liaison & Approvals

• Coordinate with local authorities for statutory approvals where applicable.


• Liaise with landlords, government bodies, consultants, and vendors to facilitate smooth project execution.


• Ensure compliance with all local municipal, fire, and commercial regulations.

6. Project Coordination & Handover

• Hand over the approved site to the Projects/Fit-out team.


• Coordinate with internal stakeholders during the store setup phase.


• Resolve landlord-related issues during construction and fit-out.


• Facilitate utility connections and site readiness.


• Ensure timely handover of the completed dark store to Operations.

7. Stakeholder Management

Collaborate closely with:

• a. Expansion Team


• b. Legal


• c. Projects


• d. Procurement


• e. Finance


• f. Operations


• g. Supply Chain

8. Reporting & MIS

• Maintain a pipeline of prospective properties.


• Track project milestones from scouting to handover.


• Prepare weekly and monthly expansion reports.


• Monitor lease expiry schedules and documentation status.


• Maintain accurate property databases and dashboards.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Number of sites acquired against target.


• Average site acquisition turnaround time.


• Cost savings achieved through negotiations.


• Percentage of projects handed over on schedule.


• Compliance with documentation and legal requirements.


• Reduction in acquisition-related risks and delays.


• Quality of acquired locations based on business performance.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Real Estate, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or related discipline.


• MBA (Marketing/Operations/Real Estate) preferred.

Experience:

• 7-12 years of experience in commercial real estate, retail expansion, warehousing, logistics, or quick commerce.


• Experience in acquiring properties for dark stores, retail outlets, warehouses, or distribution centers is highly preferred.

Required Skills:

• Commercial property acquisition


• Lease negotiation


• Real estate documentation


• Legal coordination


• Site feasibility analysis


• Financial and commercial evaluation


• Vendor and broker management


• Project coordination


• Stakeholder management


• Strong communication and negotiation skills


• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and ERP/CRM tools Behavioral Competencies


• Strong ownership and accountability


• Excellent negotiation and influencing abilities


• Analytical and data-driven decision-making


• Problem-solving mindset


• Ability to work under tight timelines


• High integrity and attention to detail


• Strong relationship management skills


• Willingness to travel extensively

Preferred Industry Experience:

Quick Commerce, E-commerce, Retail Chains, Grocery & FMCG, Warehousing & Logistics, Commercial Real Estate, Supply Chain & Distribution