Regional Real Estate Dir

The Regional Real Estate Director leads franchise real estate activity within an assigned territory to support Five Guys' domestic development strategy. The role partners with franchisees to build and advance a sustainable pipeline of high-quality restaurant sites, evaluates proposed locations, and guides site approvals in alignment with brand standards, market strategy, development commitments, and longterm performance objectives. Essential Duties and Responsibilities:  Develop and execute territory-level real estate strategies that support franchise growth plans, market priorities, relocations, renewals, and other portfolio needs.  Partner with franchisees to establish market plans, prioritize trade areas, develop site pipelines, and maintain momentum toward required openings.  Monitor franchisee development pipelines, milestone progress, and market coverage; identify delays or gaps and escalate risks with recommended actions.  Provide timely, practical guidance to franchisees and their brokers on site criteria, trade-area strategy, submission requirements, and potential issues that could affect approval or development.  Review and evaluate franchise-proposed restaurant sites using field review, demographic and competitive analysis, sales forecasting, financial considerations, site plans, access and visibility, and other relevant decision tools.  Review key deal terms for alignment with operational and development needs, including lease economics, term, exclusivity, co-tenancy, signage, access, parking, delivery conditions, and construction-related provisions; identify material risks for the franchisee and internal stakeholders.  Coordinate closely with Franchise Development, Market Planning, Construction, Design, Operations, and other internal teams throughout the franchise site review and development process.  Prepare clear, decision-ready site packages and present proposed franchise locations for internal approval.  Recommend approval, revision, or rejection of franchise site submissions based on brand criteria, market strategy, supporting analysis, and long-term performance potential.  Manage multiple franchise transactions and priorities simultaneously while supporting annual development goals and maintaining sound business judgment.  Maintain accurate and timely records in the company's real estate pipeline and project-tracking systems; provide routine forecasts, approval updates, and territory-level reporting.  Build productive relationships with franchisees, brokers, landlords, developers, and other market participants to support franchise development objectives.  Perform other related duties and special projects as assigned. Qualifications Guidelines: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Education/Experience:  Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Business, Finance, or a related field preferred; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.  At least eight to ten years of commercial real estate experience, preferably in restaurant, retail, or multi-unit development.  Demonstrated experience evaluating restaurant or retail sites, reviewing letters of intent and lease business terms, and presenting transactions for approval.  Working knowledge of restaurant or retail development, site due diligence, permitting, construction coordination, and lease administration. Language Ability: Excellent written, verbal, presentation, interpersonal, and relationship-management skills are required, including the ability to provide timely and practical guidance, present site recommendations, and communicate clearly with franchisees, brokers, landlords, developers, internal teams, and other market participants. Math Ability: This position requires strong financial acumen and quantitative reasoning, including the ability to review lease economics, sales forecasts, demographic reports, financial models, and other real estate analyses used to evaluate potential restaurant sites. Reasoning Ability: The position requires strong problem-solving, influencing, business judgment, organization, and followthrough, with the ability to interpret leases, site plans, demographic reports, financial models, and other complex real estate documents. The role must be able to work independently, collaborate effectively across functions and with external partners, manage multiple priorities across markets, and support annual development goals. Computer Skills: Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and contemporary real estate, mapping, demographic, and project-tracking platforms is required. Supervisory Responsibilities: This position has no supervisory responsibilities. Physical Demands: This position operates in both office and field environments and requires frequent travel within the assigned territory and occasional travel elsewhere, generally 50%-60% depending on business needs. The role routinely requires working at a computer and visiting active or prospective restaurant sites, including construction environments. Special Requirements/Certification: None The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor, policy and company management. Work location and onsite attendance requirements will be determined by the company in accordance with company practice and business needs.