Sr. Manager, Real Estate Strategy

Panera LLC; United States; Hybrid; USD 136,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

Panera LLC in Newton, MA (hybrid) is seeking a Sr. Manager, Real Estate Strategy to lead strategic market plans for brand growth and cafe development.

You will conduct market research, validate findings in the field, and build plans for both new stores and asset optimization, aligning with franchisees and leadership. The role emphasizes spatial analytics, forecasting, and cross-functional collaboration with Real Estate and Franchise teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in real estate, geography, economics, urban planning, finance, or related field.
• 4+ years of related experience in market planning, business strategy, site location research, or real estate.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Market Plan Development and Maintenance: develop and maintain strategic market plans for brand growth through new store development and asset optimization.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Vision and purpose

Business savvy

Results mindset

Interpersonal influence

Communication skills

Problem solving

Decision making

Data-driven

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree

Job description

Sr. Manager, Real Estate Strategy

Job Purpose This position’s primary goal is the development and maintenance of strategic market plans through conducting research, field validation and analysis of markets, supporting field cross-functional partners in optimizing retail cafe development and asset optimization. The position will build strategic plans for both existing and new markets and cafes to facilitate brand, cafe and franchisee growth, while educating others and executing on aligned actions. Senior Manager of Real Estate Strategy educates leadership, field teams and franchisees through market diagnostics, spatial analytics, competitive analysis, post opening audits, field validation and support diligence on proposed development agreements, franchising sales, market points, sites and their impact/influence on the overall market plan. They will act as an UNBIASED strategic coach for the field teams and franchisees support cross functional goals and objectives by influencing the quality of decision making with respect to growth and performance in markets in both new store development and asset optimization.

Location

Newton, MA (hybrid)

Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Market Plan Development and Maintenance: Conduct market and brand research supported by field validation to develop and maintain strategic market plans for brand growth through both prioritized new store development (when and where) and optimization of existing assets.

Franchise Inventory: Develop, summarize, and maintain Franchise Sales Inventory to enable/compliment strategic market growth. Support cross-functional tactical clustering of inventory and alignment for sale to candidates both existing and new.

Trade Area and Site Analytics: Utilizing spatial (GIS) tools, demographics, competitive/business generator data/points of interest and mass mobile data, conduct analyses to identify success metrics for both trade area and site characteristics, as well as knowledge of comparable store characteristics and performance to deliver scenario-based sales and cannibalization forecasts utilizing forecasting tools/models, analog history and/or customer intercept surveys.

Cafe Performance Assessments: Assessing performance of existing assets including, but not limited to sales impact from proximate openings, asset optimization/brand strategies such as relocations, remodels and other changes, competitive landscape changes (openings and closings). Work with stakeholders to develop and prioritize actions based on market conditions and actions.

Cross-Functional Collaborations: Collaborate, educate, and enable knowledge-based decision making by Real Estate and Franchise partners based on the assessments and conclusions of the actions described above. Provide on-going education to stakeholders by providing recommendations, course corrections, scoping, and removing obstacles to optimize growth nationally, within markets and in micro scenarios as needed. Support teams throughout the organization via ad-hoc mapping, geospatial analysis and data requests. Maintain various location databases for use in mapping platforms, analysis, and tracking documents.

Qualifications (Education & Experience)

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (preferred) in real estate, geography, economics, urban planning, finance, or related field
• 4+ years of related experience in the field with a sound understanding and track record of market planning, business strategy and problem solving, site location research, strategic market planning, real estate, or finance

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking
• Operating with vision & purpose
• Business/organizational savvy
• Passion for results
• Interpersonal relationships and influence
• Communication and conflict management
• Problem solving and decision making

Strong FACT-BASED COMMUNICATION skills with an ability to present complex data and problems in a concise, simplified, and effective manner to large audiences (internal and external)

Strong BIAS TOWARDS ACTION through strong project and process management

Ability to lead a study in market and deliver on time

Experience with sales and cannibalization forecasting techniques and methodologies preferred.

Provider of CLARITY via excellent written and verbal communication skills

Customer service approach with ability to be HIGHLY RESPONSIVE to sensitive issues, complex inquiries and concerns from both Field-Based and Corporate-Based associates and leadership Willingness to travel (estimated 30-40%)

Working Conditions Required travel – 35-50%

Competitive Pay $136,383 - $155,477 annually

Equal Opportunity Employer: Disabled/Veterans

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.