Director, Real Estate and Leasing

Job summary

Lead the expansion of OPA! across Canada by identifying, negotiating, and securing new restaurant locations. Manage the entire real estate process from site selection and lease negotiation to restaurant opening while maintaining landlord and broker relationships.

Job details

OPA! is seeking a strategic and results-driven Director, Real Estate & Leasing to lead the continued expansion of the brand across Canada, with a strong focus on Ontario and Atlantic Canada. Reporting directly to the CEO, this role will lead OPA!’s real estate development and leasing initiatives, including identifying and securing new restaurant opportunities, negotiating new leases and renewals, building relationships with landlords, developers and brokers, and managing the real estate process from site selection through restaurant opening. The ideal candidate will bring strong commercial leasing and real estate development experience within QSR, restaurant, retail, or franchise environments, along with the ability to build relationships, negotiate effectively, and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, growth-focused organization. Key Responsibilities Develop and execute OPA!'s real estate strategy to support the company's annual and long-term growth plans. Identify, evaluate, negotiate, and secure new restaurant sites across Canada, with a strong focus on Ontario and Atlantic Canada. Build and maintain a strong pipeline of new location opportunities. Lead negotiations for LOIs, new leases, lease renewals, extensions, relocations, and other real estate agreements. Build and maintain strong relationships with landlords, developers, brokers, and other key industry partners. Evaluate markets and potential sites based on demographics, competition, visibility, access, economics, and long-term viability. Partner with franchisees throughout the site selection, leasing, approval, and store-opening process. Manage lease renewals and other real estate requirements for existing locations. Work closely with Operations, Finance, Construction, Legal, and Franchise Development to move locations from site approval through opening. Provide regular reporting on the development pipeline, market opportunities, risks, and progress against annual growth objectives. Represent OPA! with landlords, developers, brokers, franchisees, and at relevant industry events. Travel within Canada as required. Skills & Qualifications 8+ years of progressive experience in commercial retail real estate, leasing, or development. Experience within restaurant, QSR, retail, or multi-unit franchise systems preferred. Strong knowledge of Canadian commercial real estate and retail markets. Proven track record of identifying, negotiating, and securing high-quality retail locations. Strong understanding of LOIs, leases, renewals, and commercial negotiations. Established relationships with landlords, developers, and commercial real estate brokers. Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills. Strong commercial judgment and the ability to evaluate site economics and long-term business potential. Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple transactions, markets, and priorities simultaneously. Bachelor’s degree in business, real estate, or a related field is preferred. Why Join OPA! of Greece? OPA! of Greece is Canada’s leading Quick Service Greek Restaurant brand with over 120 locations nationwide. This is an opportunity to play an important role in the next phase of our growth and have a direct impact on where and how OPA! expands across Canada.

What you’ll do

Lead the expansion of OPA! across Canada by identifying, negotiating, and securing new restaurant locations. Manage the entire real estate process from site selection and lease negotiation to restaurant opening while maintaining landlord and broker relationships.

Requirements

Requires over 8 years of experience in commercial retail real estate or leasing, preferably within the QSR or franchise sector. A bachelor's degree in business or real estate is preferred along with a proven track record of securing high-quality retail sites.

Listed skills

• Project management · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Commercial Leasing
• Real Estate Development
• Site Selection
• Lease Negotiation
• Relationship Management
• Market Analysis
• Strategic Planning
• Project Management
• Commercial Judgment
• Franchise Development
• LOI Negotiation
• Demographic Evaluation

Job areas

• Management & Leadership
• Food & Beverage
• Retail
• Sales
• Construction