Manager, Real Estate Development

CHAGEE•Irvine, CA

2d•$101,400 - $152,100•Hybrid

About The Position

CHAGEE is a global modern teahouse with over 7,500 locations worldwide, committed to bringing people together through tea. We are expanding our presence in the US market and seeking a dynamic and deal-focused Real Estate Manager to drive site acquisition and lease execution for new store development across California. This role is responsible for identifying high-potential locations, negotiating leases, and managing broker and landlord relationships to support our aggressive market expansion strategy. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in retail real estate, a deep understanding of California’s urban and suburban trade areas, and a proven track record of securing prime retail locations. Join us in awakening a modern tea movement, grounded in authentic heritage, fueled by cutting edge innovation, and crafted to nourish body and spirit.

Requirements

5–7 years of retail real estate experience, including market planning, site selection and lease negotiation; F&B or QSR experience is preferred.
Proven track record of sourcing and securing sites in complex, competitive retail markets—particularly in California.
Strong knowledge of lease structures, deal terms, and trade area evaluation methods.
Excellent negotiation, relationship management, and communication skills.
Familiarity with GIS, mapping tools, and market analysis platforms.
Ability to travel frequently across California to conduct site visits and landlord meetings.
Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Business, Urban Planning, or a related field.
Demonstrated ability to evaluate trade areas using demographic, traffic, and consumer data.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting premium, design-forward, or brand-sensitive retail concepts is strongly preferred.
Experience working in high-growth or early-stage retail environments where systems are being built alongside expansion.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute market and trade area strategies aligned with CHAGEE’s North America growth plan, including cluster sequencing and persona allocation (Core, High Profile, Flagship).
Identify, evaluate, and secure new retail store locations throughout California in line with Chagee’s brand and growth strategy.
Classify each proposed site into Core, High Profile, or Flagship persona and ensure alignment between role, design complexity, and economic targets.
Support a portfolio mix heavily weighted toward scalable Core units, with disciplined use of High Profile and Flagship locations as strategic brand builders.
Manage site selection process, including working with local brokers, conducting trade area tours, and presenting recommendations to leadership.
Negotiate LOIs and lease agreements with landlords and developers to secure favorable terms and ensure timely deal closures.
Collaborate with the Real Estate Analyst to evaluate market data, demographic trends, and competitor positioning.
Partner with internal teams (Construction, Legal, Finance, Operations) to drive cross-functional alignment from site approval through store opening.
Structure deals to align with CHAGEE’s capex and occupancy cost targets; clearly flag and justify any exceptions requiring leadership escalation.
Partner with Finance to model sensitivity around rent, TI, and sales assumptions to ensure capital-efficient growth.
Maintain and grow strong relationships with landlords, property owners, brokers, and key local stakeholders.
Prepare and present site packages for internal real estate committee approvals, ensuring clarity on market rationale and financial implications.
Monitor and report on deal pipeline status, milestone tracking, and deal performance post-opening.
Stay up to date on zoning laws, permitting requirements, and retail market trends across key California markets.
Support lease renewals, relocations, and portfolio optimization as needed.
Protect CHAGEE’s premium positioning by prioritizing high-quality trade areas with strong residential density, meaningful AAPI presence, and strong afternoon/evening demand drivers.
Avoid opportunistic site selection that compromises long-term brand positioning or scalability.
Identify follow-on opportunities within approved markets to build logical clusters that improve brand visibility, operational leverage, and marketing efficiency.
Contribute to the development of best-in-class real estate processes, scorecards, and approval frameworks to support disciplined North America expansion.