The Chief Development & Property Officer is a senior Nordic leadership role accountable for driving company growth through the development and optimization of the property and restaurant portfolio of approximately 500 restaurants across the region.
The role is responsible for securing new sites, obtaining investment approvals and regulatory permits, and leading the delivery of new restaurants, while also driving growth through capacity expansion and redevelopment of the existing portfolio, with a core focus on overall growth measured through restaurant expansion, sales development, and guest counts.
The CDPO leads a team of approximately 25 people, both through a direct organization and through market leads responsible for their respective markets and plays a key role in executing the company’s overall growth strategy.
Sustainability is embedded in the growth agenda, ensuring new builds and capacity projects incorporate sustainable solutions and long-term environmental responsibility.
Strong stakeholder management is essential in a franchise-led organisation, requiring trusted and effective collaboration with franchisees and key partners.
Reports to: CEO
Department: Development & Property
MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES
Core responsibilities:
- End-to-end responsibility for store development, relocations and closures
- Management of real estate projects and construction activities
- Lease management and negotiations
- Optimization of the property portfolio value
- Oversight of refurbishment, maintenance and property standards
- Governance of property frameworks and guidelines responsibilities
Key projects:
- New store development and roll-out programmes
- New restaurant formats and concept development
- Store lifecycle refurbishment and upgrade programmes
- Construction and cost optimization initiatives
Services provided to Franchisees:
- Development of design, construction and property standards
- Project management support for strategic roll-outs and key initiatives
- Advisory support for market and local development projects
- Concept, layout and portfolio optimization across markets
- Regional cost optimization and alignment with global and regional stakeholders
Property support & administration:
- Ownership of property master data and systems
- Reporting, budgeting and financial input
- Collaboration with external advisors and suppliers
- Support in sourcing and procurement processes
- Interface between property and finance
- Lease tracking and administrative coordination
Capacity & construction delivery:
- Delivery of market-wide roll-out and capacity programmes
- Coordination of refurbishment and lifecycle upgrades
- Planning and execution of construction and refurbishment projects
- Implementation of new store formats and design standards
- Delivery of cost optimization initiatives in construction
The position is suitable for a senior, commercially driven leader with strong experience in real estate, development, and cross-market operations.
Education:
Experience:
- Experience in commercial real estate project development, preferably within retail or restaurants
- Proven track record in business development and growth strategies focused on new site expansion
- Experience managing geographically dispersed, cross-border teams
- Strong stakeholder engagement experience, including municipalities and planning processes
- Established network within the construction and real estate industry
- Experience working in complex stakeholder environments
- Understanding of construction, design, and project risk management
Skills & competencies:
- Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills
- Strong execution focus with high accountability and delivery orientation
- Commercially driven with strong business ac
