Job Title: Real Estate Director (USA)
Location: Miami, FL (Hybrid: Field & Office Based – Coconut Grove)
Reports To: Chief Growth Officer
Role Overview
The Real Estate Director is responsible for leading Black Sheep Coffee’s US site acquisition strategy, delivering high-quality openings that support long-term brand and financial performance.
We are looking for a self-starter who actively hunts for the best real estate opportunities. The Real Estate Director is expected to be in market, building the pipeline, uncovering off-market opportunities, partnering with brokers and driving deals forward with pace and conviction.
This role owns market planning, site sourcing, and partner relationships across franchise and corporate development in the US. The Real Estate Director will build and manage strong pipelines through close collaboration with franchisees, brokers, landlords, and developers, ensuring consistent execution against organizational growth targets.
The role requires regular travel to priority markets (Texas and Florida) and is office-based in Coconut Grove, Miami, when not in market.
Target Site Profile
The Director of Real Estate will focus on securing high-performing locations, including freestanding drive-thru sites, end-cap and pad sites in high-traffic retail centers, and high-street or urban infill locations in dense, high-income trade areas. Priority will be given to sites with strong commuter traffic and clear visibility. With an initial focus on major metropolitan and high-growth suburban markets in Texas and Florida.
Key Responsibilities
Site Selection & Growth Execution
- Lead the sourcing, evaluation, and approval of new locations across priority US markets.
- Own and continuously improve site selection standards to ensure consistently high-quality openings.
- Manage the end-to-end site acquisition process from initial sourcing through final approval.
- Chair and lead the US Real Estate Committee, preparing and presenting sites and investment cases for approval.
Process Development & Systems
- Build, implement, and continuously improve scalable real estate processes to support rapid US expansion.
- Develop and maintain standardized tools for site evaluation and approval, including pre-approval forms, appraisal templates, site scorecards, and approval frameworks.
- Own and optimize the use of real estate systems (including Kalibrate or equivalent) to support data-driven decision making, market planning, and pipeline tracking.
- Create and document clear, repeatable workflows across the full site acquisition lifecycle, from initial lead through approval and handover to construction.
Market Planning & Expansion Strategy
- Develop, maintain, and execute market development plans for assigned and new territories.
- Identify white space, priority trade areas, and phased market entry strategies.
- Translate corporate growth objectives into executable regional development plans.
- Continuously evaluate market performance and adjust strategies accordingly.
- Join the Franchise team on calls and visits with prospective franchisees to discuss site strategy.
Relationship Management & Pipeline Development
- Build and maintain strong relationships with franchisees, brokers, landlords, and developers.
- Support franchisees in identifying, evaluating, and progressing new sites.
- Develop and manage multi-year development pipelines to support current and future growth.
- Design, launch, and scale Black Sheep Coffee’s US drive-thru build-to-suit development program.
- Provide developers with all required brand standards, design criteria, operational specifications, and site requirements.
- Partner closely with Construction, Design, Operations, and Franchise teams in both the UK and US to ensure accurate, up-to-date pipeline visibility and timelines.
Lease Negotiation & Deal Structuring
- Lead negotiations for letters of intent, leases, renewals, and amendments.
- Optimize commercial terms, tenant improvement packages, and exit provisions.
Brand Representation & Industry Engagement
- Represent Black Sheep Coffee at franchise exhibitions, real estate conferences, and industry events.
- Strengthen brand presence within the US brokerage and landlords, positioning Black Sheep as a preferred tenant.
Work Pattern
- Will include travel to priority markets (Texas and Florida) for site visits, partner meetings, and deal execution.
- Office-based work focused on planning, analysis, reporting, and stakeholder management when not on the road.
- Onboarding for the role would include at least 1-2 weeks in the London, England HQ.
Key Qualifications & Experience
- Experience in multi-unit retail, QSR, or hospitality real estate.
- Experience in sourcing drive thru’s.
- Proven track record of scaling multi-site portfolios in the US.
- Strong network of brokers, landlords, and developers across key markets.
- Experience working with franchise and corporate development models.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Comfortable operating in fast-growth environments.
Benefits:
- Performance-based bonus of up to 15% of base salary per year.
- Free coffees and drinks at any of our locations, plus 30% off food items.
- 15 days’ PTO plus 6 federal holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Independence Day, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day).
- Mobile phone allowance of up to $100 per month.
- Quarterly take home coffee orders - pods, beans or ground coffee.
- Eligibility to participate in our 401(k) retirement plan.
- Access to comprehensive health insurance, including medical, dental, and vision.
- Career development opportunities within a high-growth international business.
- Summer and winter staff social events.
About Black Sheep Coffee:
Join the thriving team at Black Sheep Coffee, the rapidly expanding 4th largest coffee chain in the UK, now making its mark in the United States. With locations open across Texas and Florida, we’re bringing our mission to "Leave the Herd Behind" to a new audience.
Since our establishment in 2013, we’ve captivated coffee lovers with our commitment to quality, innovation, and bold branding. As a testament to our ambition, we’ve grown from a UK success story into a global brand, with stores now operating across the UK, the Middle East, and the US.
With continuous expansion plans, there has never been a more exciting time to join us. As a member of our team, you’ll help shape our US growth story, contribute to our global journey, and redefine what specialty coffee can be.
We foster a dynamic, entrepreneurial, and collaborative work environment where your ideas are valued, and your professional growth is encouraged.
Don’t miss the chance to help build the next chapter of Black Sheep Coffee in the U.S.