Real Estate Development Manager

Excel Fitness•Austin, TX

8h•Onsite

About The Position

The Real Estate Development Manager is a key contributor to Excel Fitness’s growth strategy, supporting the Vice President of Development across all aspects of new club development and asset management while owning an independent deal pipeline. This position plays a critical role in sourcing, evaluating, and securing new Planet Fitness locations, with direct responsibility for driving deals from initial site identification through LOI negotiation and lease execution. The Real Estate Development Manager will work closely with brokers, landlords, legal counsel, and internal teams to ensure successful site delivery and the long-term performance of the portfolio.

Requirements

High School diploma or equivalent required.
5+ years of commercial real estate experience with a demonstrated track record of independently sourcing sites, negotiating LOIs, and executing leases for a national franchise, multi-unit retailer, or real estate developer.
Experience working in a Real Estate Department, preferably within a multi-unit retail or QSR environment.
Strong market analysis and site selection skills with a solid understanding of real estate processes, contracts, and deal structures.
Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and lease management systems (Visual Lease experience preferred).
Demonstrated project management ability with strong organizational and analytical skills.
Self-starter with an ownership mentality, sense of urgency, and commitment to meeting goals.
Excellent presentation and communication skills with the ability to work effectively across all levels of the organization.
Skilled at developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with brokers, landlords, and internal cross-functional partners.
Proven ability to problem-solve, manage competing priorities, and adapt in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
Dedicated learner who demonstrates curiosity, initiative, and continuous improvement.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business, or related field preferred.
Familiarity with franchise operations and franchisor compliance requirements is preferred.
Visual Lease experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Own and manage an independent pipeline of new site opportunities across assigned markets, driving deals from initial site identification through executed lease.
Manage broker relationships across assigned regions to identify and evaluate new site opportunities.
Lead the negotiation of Letters of Intent (LOIs) and lease agreements, representing Excel Fitness’s interests and partnering with legal counsel to finalize deal.
Develop and maintain strong relationships with landlords, developers, and real estate partners to ensure Excel Fitness remain tenant of choice.
Create and maintain real estate committee presentation decks for new site approvals and leadership review.
Liaise with the Planet Fitness Corporate Real Estate team to ensure compliance with franchisor requirements and reporting standards.
Own all facility-related functions related to landlord obligations including work tickets, notices, and reporting.
Serve as the primary point of contact for landlord communication, ensuring timely resolution of property and maintenance issues.
Partner with the legal team to manage and track ongoing facility-related issues across portfolio.
Maintain and oversee all real estate abstracts and portfolio data to ensure accuracy and completeness within the lease management system.
Maintain accurate and timely reporting of the real estate pipeline for internal stakeholders across the enterprise.
Partner with construction, design, and operations teams to ensure alignment on site delivery timelines and landlord deliverables.
Provide analysis and reporting for leadership and FP&A as needed to support strategic growth decisions and annual budgetary forecasting.
Lead market strategy discussions and drive multi-year development schedules in partnership with the Director of Real Estate.
Manage all asset management responsibilities across the portfolio, including lease administration, landlord relations, renewal planning, and proactive identification of portfolio risks and opportunities.
Lead disposition efforts for underperforming or closed locations, including assignment and sublease negotiations, to minimize financial exposure across the portfolio.