Real Estate Development Manager

Circle K•Akron, OH

About The Position

The Real Estate Development Manager identifies and advances commercial real estate opportunities from initial market planning and site sourcing through negotiation, due diligence, entitlements, approvals, and turnover to Construction. The role develops market growth plans, evaluates locations and financial and operational feasibility, negotiates real estate transactions, coordinates consultants and municipal processes, and presents recommendations to management. The manager works with internal partners across Operations, Construction, Finance, Legal, Fuel, and Design, as well as brokers, landowners, developers, municipalities, and other external partners. The position requires regular travel throughout an assigned territory, including occasional overnight travel, and management of multiple active opportunities. The work environment includes computer-based work, moderate noise, natural and fluorescent lighting, minimum direction, and periodic supervision. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

Requirements

At least three years of experience in commercial real estate, site acquisition, land acquisition, development, corporate real estate, commercial brokerage, or a closely related field.
Demonstrated experience identifying, evaluating, acquiring, or developing real estate opportunities.
Experience participating in or leading negotiations involving purchase agreements, leases, letters of intent, land contracts, or similar transactions.
Strong relationship-building and negotiation skills.
Ability to manage multiple active projects, deadlines, and priorities simultaneously.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work successfully with cross-functional teams and external partners.
Self-motivated and comfortable working independently with limited day-to-day supervision.
Ability and willingness to travel regularly throughout the assigned territory, including occasional overnight travel.
Valid driver's license and satisfactory driving record.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business, or a related field; relevant professional experience may be considered instead of formal education.
Experience in retail, convenience store, fuel, restaurant/QSR, automotive, car wash, or other single-tenant commercial development.
Experience sourcing off-market development opportunities.
Existing relationships with commercial brokers, developers, landowners, and other real estate professionals.
Experience with zoning, entitlements, permitting, municipal approvals, or public hearings.
Experience preparing or supporting financial analyses for real estate transactions.
Knowledge of North Carolina and Southeast commercial real estate markets.
Experience using mapping, demographic, market research, financial analysis, or project-management software.

Responsibilities

Develop market growth plans, divide assigned markets into trade areas, and identify opportunities for new store development and strategic acquisitions.
Travel throughout assigned markets to evaluate growth corridors, intersections, competition, traffic patterns, new development, and available properties.
Source on-market and off-market sites through broker relationships, property-owner outreach, market intelligence, field research, and direct prospecting.
Build and maintain relationships with commercial real estate brokers, developers, landowners, municipalities, and other market participants.
Monitor competitive activity and market conditions for acquisition and development opportunities.
Evaluate sites based on access, visibility, traffic, demographics, competition, zoning, utilities, development constraints, market conditions, and strategic fit.
Partner with internal teams to assess potential sites against financial and operational requirements and provide information and assumptions for financial models and investment recommendations.
Evaluate development costs, risks, timing, and other considerations; prepare market summaries, site recommendations, and materials for management review and approval.
Negotiate letters of intent, purchase terms, purchase agreements, ground leases, and other transactions with internal and external legal resources.
Work with sellers, landlords, brokers, developers, attorneys, and other parties to advance transactions and address issues affecting closing or feasibility.
Lead and coordinate due diligence for approved development opportunities, working with architects, engineers, attorneys, environmental consultants, surveyors, and other consultants.
Coordinate entitlement and municipal approval activities; build relationships with local municipalities and government officials; participate in zoning meetings, public hearings, and planning commission meetings as needed.
Identify development risks and coordinate investigations into environmental, access, utility, zoning, permitting, and other development matters.
Manage opportunities from initial site identification through approval and turnover to Construction, maintaining schedules, priorities, budgets, forecasts, project information, and status updates.
Coordinate with Operations, Construction, Finance, Legal, Fuel, Design, and other internal partners throughout development.
Present opportunities and recommendations to management, ensure compliance with company policies and requirements, and reassess opportunities when economics, constraints, or market conditions change.