Commercial Store Expansion Director (Business Development)

Location: Quezon City

Work Set-up: Fully Onsite

Work Schedule: Dayshift | Monday - Friday

The Store Expansion Director (Business Development) is responsible for driving the company's commercial growth strategy through strategic site acquisition, market expansion, lease negotiation, and commercial business development initiatives. This role leads end-to-end store expansion activities, from market assessment and location scouting to contract negotiation and store opening execution.

The position plays a critical role in identifying high-potential markets, securing profitable commercial locations, building landlord and developer relationships, and ensuring expansion plans align with the company's long-term commercial objectives and profitability targets.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience in restaurant, QSR, coffee chain, or food retail expansion, with a strong background in real estate, leasing, and multi-site development.

Key Responsibilities

Store Expansion Strategy

• Develop and execute nationwide or regional retail expansion strategies aligned with company growth objectives
• Identify new market opportunities, high-potential trade areas, and emerging commercial zones
• Conduct market feasibility studies, demographic analysis, and competitive assessments
• Create expansion pipelines and prioritize store rollout schedules
• Evaluate store formats, footprint optimization, and territory coverage opportunities
• Monitor retail trends, consumer behavior, and competitor expansion activities

Site Acquisition & Location Management

• Lead end-to-end site sourcing and acquisition activities for new retail stores
• Scout strategic retail locations including malls, commercial centers, standalone sites, and mixed-use developments
• Assess site viability based on foot traffic, accessibility, visibility, demographics, and commercial potential
• Conduct financial and operational analysis of proposed sites
• Coordinate due diligence, site documentation, and internal approvals
• Build and maintain strong relationships with landlords, brokers, developers, and property owners

Lease Negotiation & Contract Management

• Lead lease negotiations to secure commercially favorable terms
• Review and negotiate rental rates, escalation clauses, fit-out terms, lease tenure, and operational provisions
• Collaborate with Legal and Finance teams on contract review and risk mitigation
• Manage lease renewals, amendments, and store closure negotiations when necessary
• Ensure compliance with lease obligations and regulatory requirements
• Maintain centralized lease and expansion documentation

Business Development & Partnerships

• Identify strategic business partnerships that support retail growth initiatives
• Build relationships with mall operators, commercial developers, franchise partners, and local business stakeholders
• Evaluate joint venture, franchise, or partnership opportunities
• Support commercial negotiations and partnership agreements
• Represent the company in expansion discussions, industry events, and networking engagements

Project Coordination & Store Opening

• Coordinate with Construction, Operations, Marketing, Merchandising, IT, and Supply Chain teams to ensure smooth store openings
• Track project timelines, budgets, and operational readiness
• Monitor pre-opening requirements including permits, utilities, fit-out progress, and vendor coordination
• Ensure expansion projects are delivered on schedule and within budget
• Resolve issues impacting project timelines or commercial viability

Financial & Commercial Management

• Prepare business cases and financial projections for new store investments
• Analyze ROI, payback periods, profitability forecasts, and sales potential
• Monitor store performance post-opening and assess expansion effectiveness
• Recommend corrective actions or optimization initiatives for underperforming locations
• Manage expansion budgets and cost controls

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead and mentor the store expansion and business development team
• Collaborate closely with Executive Leadership on growth planning and strategic initiatives
• Present expansion updates, pipeline status, and commercial recommendations to senior management
• Build cross-functional collaboration across Operations, Finance, Legal, Construction, and Marketing departments

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Real Estate Management, Marketing, Finance, or related field
• MBA or relevant postgraduate degree is an advantage
• 15-20 years of progressive experience in retail expansion, commercial leasing, business development, or real estate management
• At least 5 years in a leadership or director-level role
• Strong experience handling multi-site retail expansion projects
• Background in retail, F&B, convenience store, pharmacy, supermarket, fashion, or commercial chain operations preferred
• Strong understanding of retail trade areas and commercial property dynamics
• Proven track record in lease negotiation and site acquisition