Director of Real Estate

BJ's Restaurants•Huntington Beach, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

At BJ’s Restaurants, we’ve been bringing people together to celebrate life’s moments since 1978. We’re more than a restaurant, we’re a team of passionate people who take pride in creating great food, memorable experiences, and a workplace where everyone feels valued. If you’re energized by teamwork, motivated to keep learning, and passionate about creating great experiences for others, you’ll feel right at home here.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field; MBA or other relevant advanced degree preferred.
10+ years of progressive experience in restaurant or retail real estate, corporate real estate, real estate development, or a closely related field, with demonstrated success supporting a multi-location portfolio.
Strong site-selection expertise, including market, demographic, competitive, and financial analysis.
Proven success negotiating complex leases, renewals, purchase agreements, terminations, and other real estate transactions.
Deep understanding of real estate law, zoning, entitlement, due diligence, and development processes.
Strong financial acumen with experience evaluating feasibility, ROI, capital requirements, and portfolio performance.
Experience managing landlord, broker, developer, and other external partner relationships.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and communicate recommendations effectively to senior and executive leadership.
Leadership experience with the ability to coach, develop, and hold a team accountable for results.
Proficiency with real estate technology and analytical tools such as CoStar, Argus, MRI, or comparable platforms.
Excellent communication, negotiation, relationship-building, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
Commitment to ensuring real estate decisions support BJ’s brand standards, community presence, and sustainable growth.
Portfolio-optimization mindset with experience identifying opportunities through relocations, renewals, dispositions, and other strategic actions.
Ability to lead cross-functional collaboration across Construction, Legal, Finance, and Operations to support timely restaurant openings.
Strong external network and relationship-building skills with brokers, developers, landlords, and other real estate partners.
Proven success leading and developing high-performing real estate teams with a strong culture of accountability and integrity.
Ability to serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, using market insights and risk analysis to guide investment decisions.
Strategic leadership experience aligning real estate decisions with long-term brand, growth, and financial goals.

Nice To Haves

MBA or other relevant advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a comprehensive real estate strategy aligned with corporate goals.
Analyze market trends and recommend real estate investments, divestitures, or relocations.
Lead site selection processes based on market, demographic, and financial analysis.
Oversee a portfolio of owned and leased properties across various markets.
Ensure efficient utilization of real estate assets and identify opportunities for consolidation, expansion, or disposition.
Maintain accurate records of leases, property data, and renewal schedules.
Identify and negotiate real estate acquisitions and development opportunities.
Lead due diligence, financial modeling, and feasibility analysis.
Partner with legal, finance, and operations teams to close transactions.
Lead lease negotiations (new leases, renewals, terminations).
Manage landlord and broker relationships.
Ensure compliance with lease terms and timely execution of obligations.
Collaborate with construction and design teams on build-outs, renovations, and capital projects.
Ensure timely delivery and cost control on all real estate projects.
Partner with operations, finance, legal, and HR to support business expansion and space planning.
Act as the real estate subject matter expert for internal stakeholders and executive leadership.
Manage real estate budgets, forecasts, and capital expenditure plans.
Analyze ROI for real estate decisions and drive cost-saving initiatives.