Senior Director, Real Estate

About sweetgreen:

Sweetgreen is in a high-growth phase, expanding into new markets while strengthening compliance frameworks across our 280+ restaurant footprint. We’re seeking an experienced Senior Director of Real Estate who will be a key member of the Store Development Corporate Real Estate team and will be responsible for managing the company's NROs (New Restaurant Openings), Relocation, and real estate development activities for the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic regions with counterparts in Strategy, Real Estate, and Design. This position will report directly to the sweetgreen Chief Development Officer (CDO) and will lead Real Estate acquisition activities to meet corporate 3-year plan objectives while negotiating the most favorable business terms for sweetgreen.

Typical deal structures are 10-year lease terms, and the Real Estate Team works in conjunction with sweetgreen's external real estate vendors along with both inside and outside legal departments to accomplish expedited deal timing and appropriate terms.

This person must have an extensive real estate background regarding market knowledge and differing deal types and transaction methods. Comprehensive market strategy, acquisition, and deal management experience is required to assist field operations with business development and real estate needs. This is a high-visibility role that requires an expert deal-maker with a proven track record of successful site selection and lease negotiation.

Location: This role is based on the East Coast, ideally New York.

Core Responsibilities:

Real Estate Strategy & Market Planning

• Develop and execute a multi-year real estate growth strategy aligned with company goals and 3-year plan objectives

• Conduct market research, trade-area analysis, and competitive assessments to identify high-potential markets across the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic

• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of new restaurant opportunities across priority regions

• Analyze and make business recommendations on real estate trends and portfolio conditions

Site Selection & Development

• Manage internal and external real estate partnerships including leading site approval, coordinating lease execution process, and managing cycle time efficiencies

• Lead the end-to-end site selection process, including field tours, feasibility studies, and financial modeling

• Partner with Operations, Finance, Construction, and Design teams to evaluate site viability

• Present site recommendations to executive leadership and secure approvals through the real estate committee process

• Ensure that all areas of the store development process undergo appropriate review

Deal Negotiation & Portfolio Management

• Negotiate LOIs, leases, renewals, relocations, and terminations to optimize occupancy costs and secure the most favorable business terms

• Manage relationships with landlords, brokers, developers, and external partners

• Oversee the existing real estate portfolio to ensure performance and compliance

• Work with real estate vendors, developers and landlords in processes focused on ideal outcomes

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Reporting

• Collaborate with Construction and Design teams to ensure timely and cost-effective project delivery

• Work closely with Operations to accomplish goals, objectives, and strategic plans

• Oversee the preparation of reports to executive levels of the organization including sweetgreen C-Suite and monthly metrics

• Ensure that appropriate steps are taken to anticipate and correct any unsatisfactory operating results and vendor relationships

• Provide real estate insights and strategic recommendations to senior leadership

Desired Skills & Experience

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's Degree is required; Master's Degree (MBA) preferred

• A minimum of 10+ years of progressive corporate real estate experience, with at least 5 years in multi-unit restaurant, retail, or hospitality development

• 3-5 years as a tenant broker representative or portfolio manager preferred; development experience a plus

• Proven track record of successful deal-making, site selection, and lease negotiation

• Wide-ranging multi-state real estate experience and market knowledge required, with East Coast and Mid-Atlantic expertise strongly preferred

• Business management experience including financial, operational, and compliance responsibilities

• Strong understanding of market analytics, demographic tools, and financial modeling

• Ability to analyze the market and the competition, develop competitive strategies and recommend action plans

• Strategic ability to think through and partner with operations to deliver capital-optimized real estate solutions

• Exceptional communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills with strong executive presence

• Experience with Real Estate project management/tracking systems (e.g. Accruent, Co Star RE Manager)

• Real Estate Broker's License (Active and in good standing) preferred

• Ability to travel frequently (up to 50-75% of work schedule)

What Success Looks Like

• A Strong Deal Pipeline with Favorable Terms – Consistently secure high-quality sites with lease terms that optimize occupancy costs and protect sweetgreen's interests

• On-Target New Restaurant Openings – Meet or exceed annual NRO targets aligned with the 3-year growth plan

• Strong Cross-Functional Partnerships – Be a trusted partner to Operations, Construction, Design, and Finance teams, ensuring seamless handoffs and aligned priorities

• Market Expertise and Strategic Insight – Serve as the go-to expert on East Coast and Mid-Atlantic market conditions, competitive landscape, and real estate trends that inform growth decisions

• Efficient Deal Execution – Drive cycle time efficiencies from site identification through lease execution, enabling faster speed to market

What you'll get:

• Highly competitive pay + bonus plan

• Three different medical plans to suit your and your family's needs

• Dental and Vision insurance

• Flexible PTO plan

• 401k program

• Employee HSA and FSA

• Complimentary greens

• An opportunity to make a real impact on the people around you, both by growing them and by connecting them to real food

• To live the sweetlife and celebrate your passion + purpose

• A collaborative team of people who live our core values and have your back

• A clear career path with opportunities for development, both personally and professionally

• Free sweetgreen swag

Come join the sweetlife!

About sweetgreen

sweetgreen is on a mission to build healthier communities by connecting people to real food. We passionately believe that real food should be convenient and accessible to everyone. Every day in each sweetgreen, our 3,500 team members make food from scratch, using fresh ingredients and produce delivered that morning. And in our local communities, we’re committed to leaving people better than we found them. We’re in the business of feeding people, and we’re out to change what that means.

sweetgreen provides equal opportunities for everyone that works for us and everyone that applies to join our team, without regard to sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, any service, past, present, or future, in the uniformed services of the United States (military or veteran status), or any other consideration protected by federal, state, or local law.

sweetgreen participates in the federal government's E-Verify program to determine employment eligibility. To learn more about the E-Verify program, please click here.

Salary range for this role:Starting salary range based on experience**$160,000—$229,000 USD**

Sweetgreen provides equal opportunities for all employees and applicants, without regard to sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, any service in the uniformed services of the United States, or any other consideration protected by federal, state, or local law.

California residents: Review our applicant privacy notice HERE.

sweetgreen participates in the federal government's E-Verify program to determine employment eligibility. To learn more about the E-Verify program, please click here.