About the Role: This role is responsible for the full lifecycle management of a defined portfolio of restaurant leases across an assigned region or province. This role acts as the primary interface between the brand, franchisees, landlords, and brokers-driving value through proactive lease management, rent optimization, risk mitigation, and strategic real estate support.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:Lease Portfolio Management - Oversee a portfolio of restaurant leases, ensuring all critical dates, options, and obligations are proactively managed.
- Lead lease renewals, extensions, and renegotiations, optimizing terms to improve occupancy costs and flexibility.
- Identify and mitigate lease-related risks, including restrictive clauses, co-tenancy risks, exclusivity conflicts, and redevelopment exposure.
- Maintain accurate lease records and critical date tracking within internal systems.
Negotiation & Financial Optimization- Lead rent negotiations, including base rent, percentage rent, CAM/TMI structures, and landlord contributions.
- Execute lease liability negotiations, including early exits, assignments, subleases, and termination agreements.
- Develop and leverage rent comparables, market data, and portfolio insights to inform negotiation strategies.
- Partner with Finance and Development to evaluate occupancy cost ratios and portfolio performance.
Landlord & Broker Relationship Management- Build and maintain strong, strategic relationships with key landlords, REITs, developers, and brokerage partners.
- Represent the brand in negotiations to secure favorable terms and long-term partnerships.
- Act as the escalation point for landlord-related issues, including disputes, enforcement, and property concerns.
Franchisee Support & Advisory- Act as a trusted advisor to franchisees on lease matters, providing guidance on obligations, risks, and opportunities.
- Support franchisees through renewals, relocations, and restructuring discussions.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to align lease strategies with franchisee performance and market conditions.
Closures, Relocations & Risk Mitigation- Support closure mitigation strategies by negotiating lease exits, restructures, or temporary relief.
- Lead real estate aspects of relocations, including lease terminations and new site negotiations.
- Collaborate with Development and Operations to proactively identify at-risk locations and develop action plans.
Real Estate & Development Support- Partner with the Real Estate team on site selection, providing input on lease structures, landlord profiles, and market conditions.
- Support LOI negotiations, ensuring alignment with brand standards and long-term flexibility.
- Provide insights on trade areas, landlord quality, and deal viability.
Property Management & Issue Resolution- Support resolution of property-related issues, including maintenance disputes, CAM reconciliations, and landlord compliance.
- Review and challenge landlord charges where applicable to ensure accuracy and fairness.
Industry Engagement & Market Intelligence- Represent the brand at industry events such as ICSC and other real estate forums.
- Maintain strong awareness of market trends, landlord strategies, and leasing dynamics across regions.
- Continuously benchmark portfolio performance against market conditions.
Qualifications- Bachelor's Degree required.
- 5-8 years of commercial leasing, real estate, or asset management experience, preferably within QSR, retail, or franchised environments.
- Strong expertise in lease negotiation, including complex financial structures and legal clauses.
- Experience in market analysis and determining fair market rents
- Demonstrated ability to manage high-volume portfolios with competing priorities.
- Proven track record of delivering measurable value through rent reductions, lease restructures, or risk mitigation.
- Strong understanding of Canadian commercial leasing practices, including regional nuances.
- Experience working with franchise models and supporting independent operators is highly preferred.
- Proficiency in lease management systems and financial analysis tools.
- Bi-Lingual (English/French) capability an added asset
- Real Estate Designations an added asset
- Highly organized and self-motivated with the ability to manage workload independently and prioritize effectively.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work cross-functionally and engage franchisees professionally.
- Ability to adapt quickly and manage shifting priorities in a fast-paced development environment.
What do we Offer? - Insurance Plans (Medical/Dental/Vision/Life)
Actual pay is determined based on a number of job-related factors including skills, education, training, credentials, qualifications, scope and complexity of role responsibilities, geographic location, performance, and working conditions.
Job Details - Employment Indicator: Regular
