Site Acquisition Specialist | Bilingual Mandarin

Job Description

Job DescriptionSalary: $65,000 - $80,000/year

General Description:

Vertex Hospitality is seeking a proactive, detail-oriented Site Acquisition Specialist to identify, evaluate, and secure new restaurant and retail locations that align with our growth strategy and brand positioning. This role is responsible for managing the full life cycle of site acquisition from market research and broker coordination to LOI negotiation and lease execution. The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of retail site selection, real estate negotiation, and cross-functional collaboration.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Identify and evaluate potential restaurant sites in target markets using demographic, traffic, and market data.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with brokers, landlords, and developers in current and emerging markets.

• Conduct site tours with key internal stakeholders and provide detailed site packages for review.

• Negotiate Letters of Intent (LOIs) and lease terms in collaboration with legal, finance, and executive teams.

• Coordinate due diligence activities including zoning, permitting, environmental studies, and entitlement timelines.

• Work closely with operations, construction, and finance to align site selection with operational feasibility and ROI targets.

• Track and manage deal flow through CRM or internal tracking systems from lead to lease.

• Prepare market maps and trade area analyses for expansion planning.

• Support real estate committee presentations and board-level reporting as needed.

• Monitor real estate trends, competitor movements, and market saturation in key territories.

• Additional responsibilities as assigned.

Essential Functions:

• 3+ years of experience in real estate, site acquisition, or retail development (restaurant experience preferred).

• Strong understanding of retail leasing, site selection criteria, and real estate transaction process.

• Excellent negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.

• Ability to travel regularly to evaluate sites and conduct in-market work.

• Self-starter with strong organizational and project management abilities.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and mapping tools (e.g., Placer.ai, CoStar, ESRI).

• Bachelors degree in Real Estate, Business, Urban Planning, or related field (preferred).

• Bilingual in Mandarin is required.

• Ability to travel to locations within the United States as needed.

• Ability to work primarily on-site at the head office in Flushing, NY.