Real Estate Strategy

About Cult -

Role Overview -

The Lead Real Estate Expansion (New Cities) is responsible for launching and scaling new markets. This role owns the entire process end-to-end from micro-market to handover to the Projects team. It involves driving the strategy for new cities, conducting feasibility studies (rental benchmarks and supply mapping), building a strong consultant network, managing end-to-end site acquisition, and leading cross-functional execution to establish the brand quickly and sustainably.

Key Responsibilities

New Market Strategy & Planning

• Identify and evaluate potential new cities for expansion.
• Conduct deep-dive market feasibility (demographics, competition, rental benchmarks, legal environment).
• Create city-launch plans, including target locations and priority micro-markets.

Site Sourcing & Deal Making

• Build a strong ground network of brokers, developers, and landlords across new cities.
• Identify, evaluate, and shortlist properties aligned with expansion strategy.
• Lead commercial negotiations and close deals with landlords.

Due Diligence & Compliance

• Oversee due-diligence processes(DDR & LFR Process), documentation, and legal agreement closures.
• Ensure compliance with city-specific legal norms, licensing requirements, and statutory needs.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Drive end-to-end execution with Projects, Design, Legal, Expansion, Finance
• Ensure timely handover, construction readiness, and pre-opening readiness.
• Own the project timelines and deliver store openings as per AOP.

Market Activation & Stabilisation

• Support launch marketing plans and local market activation.
• Monitor early performance and coordinate with Operations to ensure stability.

Team & Stakeholder Management

• Mentor regional teams during new-city rollouts.
• Present new-city feasibility and expansion progress to senior leadership.

Required Skills

• Strong negotiation and stakeholder management
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Strategic thinking with strong execution capability
• High agility and ability to work in ambiguous, new-market environments
• Strong analytical skills; proficiency in MS Office & market research tools
• High travel readiness

Candidate Profile

• Qualification:

  Postgraduate degree (Sales & Marketing / Strategy / Finance preferred)

• Experience:

  14+ years, with at least 45 years in new-market expansions

• Industry:

  Retail, QSR, FMCG, Co-working, or any multi-city expansion domain