Sr. Analyst, Real Estate Development

Panera LLC; United States; On-site; USD 107,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Panera LLC in the United States is seeking a Sr. Analyst, Real Estate Development to drive market growth strategies and portfolio optimization. You will partner with Real Estate, Franchise Development, Operations, and Finance to deliver advanced analytics and actionable recommendations.

The role requires leading complex analysis, developing site selection models, and building BI tools to support executive decisions while balancing growth, risk, and asset performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Geography, Economics, Urban Planning, Finance, Business, Data Analytics or related field.
• Experience 5-7+ years in real estate strategy, market research, site selection, or related field.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Conduct advanced market, demographic, consumer, and competitive analyses to identify opportunities.
• Lead territory planning, inventory clustering, and market segmentation analyses for franchise development.
• Develop strategic recommendations for market prioritization, white-space opportunities, and portfolio optimization.
• Lead GIS-based trade area analyses and site selection discussions.
• Create dashboards and BI models to support executive decision-making.

Skills

Analytical thinking & problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Real Estate/Geography/Economics/Urban Planning/Finance/Business/Data Analytics

Master's degree or GIS/Data Analytics certification (preferred)

Tools

GIS software

Power BI/Tableau/Alteryx

SQL

Job description

Sr. Analyst, Real Estate Development

Job Purpose

The Sr. Analyst, Real Estate Development plays a critical role in developing and executing market growth strategies that support long-term business objectives, franchise development, and portfolio optimization. This position serves as a strategic partner to Real Estate, Real Estate Strategy, Franchise Development, Operations, Finance, and Executive Leadership teams by providing advanced market intelligence, predictive analytics, and actionable recommendations that drive informed decision-making. The Senior Analyst leads complex analyses yielding key insights related to market planning, site selection, trade area optimization, development prioritization, and asset performance. Leveraging spatial analytics, financial modeling, forecasting, and business intelligence tools, this role identifies growth opportunities, mitigates risks, and influences strategic real estate decisions across the portfolio. This position is expected to operate with a high degree of independence, manage multiple strategic initiatives simultaneously, and serve as a subject matter expert in market analytics, reporting, and development insights.

Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Market Planning & Growth Strategy Lead the development, maintenance, and refinement of strategic market plans that support corporate growth objectives and franchise expansion initiatives. Conduct advanced market, demographic, consumer, and competitive analyses to identify development opportunities and emerging market trends. Develop strategic recommendations regarding market prioritization, white-space opportunities, market penetration, and portfolio optimization. Translate complex analytical findings into actionable business insights and recommendations for senior leadership. Proactively identify risks and opportunities within existing and target markets.

Franchise Development & Portfolio Strategy

Serve as a strategic analytics partner to Franchise Development by providing market intelligence, territory planning, and expansion recommendations. Lead inventory clustering, territory optimization, and market segmentation analyses to support franchise sales efforts. Evaluate franchise development opportunities using market performance indicators, demographic trends, competitive positioning, and growth forecasts. Support long-range development planning and pipeline prioritization through scenario modeling and strategic recommendations.

Trade Area Analysis & Site Selection

Lead complex trade area analyses utilizing GIS, mobility, demographic, psychographic, competitive, and consumer behavior data. Evaluate site performance potential and provide recommendations regarding site viability, investment opportunities, and market positioning. Continuously enhance forecasting methodologies and analytical frameworks to improve predictive accuracy and decision quality. Provide strategic guidance on site selection decisions and real estate investment opportunities.

Cafe Performance & Asset Optimization

Lead post-opening analyses and performance diagnostics to evaluate investment outcomes and forecast accuracy. Identify performance drivers, operational challenges, market shifts, and competitive impacts affecting cafe success. Develop actionable recommendations for underperforming assets, relocations, remodels, and portfolio optimization initiatives. Partner with Operations and Finance teams to assess ROI, growth trends, and long-term asset performance. Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) that support informed portfolio management decisions.

Advanced Analytics & Business Intelligence

Design, develop, and maintain advanced dashboards, reporting tools, and analytical models that support business strategy and decision-making. Utilize business intelligence platforms and emerging technologies to automate reporting processes and improve data accessibility. Lead ad hoc strategic analyses and provide timely insights to support executive and operational decision-making. Drive innovation through the adoption of emerging technologies, AI-enabled tools, predictive analytics, and business intelligence solutions.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Stakeholder Partnership

Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic thought partner to Real Estate, Franchise Sales, Operations, Finance, and Executive Leadership. Lead and influence cross-functional projects that support market growth, development planning, and strategic initiatives. Prepare and deliver executive-level presentations, business cases, and recommendations. Effectively communicate complex analytical findings to both technical and non-technical audiences. Facilitate discussions and align stakeholders around strategic recommendations and business priorities.

Data Governance & Process Improvement

Ensure integrity, consistency, and accuracy across location databases, GIS systems, forecasting models, and reporting platforms. Develop and implement best practices for data management, reporting standards, and analytical processes. Identify process improvement opportunities that increase efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.

Qualifications (Education & Experience)

Education Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Geography, Economics, Urban Planning, Finance, Business, Data Analytics, or a related field required. Master's degree or advanced certification in GIS, Data Analytics, Business Intelligence, Real Estate, or related discipline preferred. Experience 5-7+ years of experience in real estate strategy, market research, site selection, geographic analysis, business intelligence, finance, development analytics, or a related field. Demonstrated experience leading complex analytical projects and influencing business decisions through data-driven insights. Proven experience supporting real estate development, franchise growth, market planning, or portfolio optimization initiatives. Experience presenting recommendations and insights to senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders preferred.

Skills & Competencies

Advanced analytical, quantitative, and strategic problem-solving capabilities. Ability to synthesize large, complex datasets into meaningful business insights and actionable recommendations. Exceptional verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at multiple organizational levels. Strong executive presence and ability to communicate complex concepts in a concise and compelling manner. Proven ability to independently manage multiple priorities and thrive in a fast‑paced, evolving environment. Strong project management and organizational skills with attention to detail and execution excellence. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Copilot, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook. Advanced experience with GIS software, Power BI, Tableau, Alteryx, SQL, or comparable analytics platforms. Strong understanding of demographics, market analysis, trade area modeling, forecasting methodologies, and site selection principles. Experience building financial models, business cases, and scenario analyses preferred. Ability to leverage emerging technologies and AI-powered tools to improve business insights and operational efficiency. Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority and build strong cross-functional partnerships. Personal commitment to excellence, continuous improvement, and business impact. Sound judgment with the confidence to make recommendations and the humility to seek input when appropriate. High attention to detail, intellectual curiosity, and a proactive approach to solving complex business challenges. Growth mindset with a passion for innovation and strategic thinking.

Working Conditions

Limited travel ~10%

Physical Requirements

While performing this job, the incumbent is regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear & use hands and fingers to operate keyboards.

Direct Reports

This position will have approximately 0 direct reports.

Competitive Pay

Competitive Pay $107,041 - $119,634 Annually. The actual pay offered will be determined by multiple factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s relevant experience, job‑related knowledge, skills, and geographical location. Individual compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.

Newton Support Center

With more than 2,000 Panera LLC and independent franchise bakery‑cafes in the Panera Bread® family, and more locations opening all the time, it’s no wonder our company has been an excellent source of career and personal growth opportunities for more than 25 years. In neighborhoods across the U.S. and Canada, customers enjoy flavorful, handcrafted meals centered around freshly baked artisan bread. To us, that means serving food like we serve our own families – free of any of the items on our 'No No' List. Along the way, we also like to give back to our community. We enjoy working together, shoulder to shoulder with our customers, to confront a serious problem plaguing communities across this country – Hunger. Through our Panera Cares community cafes, we offer a dignified dining experience in an uplifting environment. In addition, we support our communities through day‑end donations at our bakery‑cafe locations and partner with local non‑profit organizations. It’s this warmth that you’ll find when you join Panera Bread. From our competitive compensation and benefits packages to our unique cultural values, we’re confident you’ll find us a rewarding and fun place to work.