Manager, Development

Job Information

Job Title:

Manager, Development

Reports To:

Vice President, Domestic Construction & Design
Department: U.S. Franchising & Development

Location:

Atlanta On-site or Remote Texas
Revised:
September 2026

The Development Manager will lead the technical evaluation of new restaurant sites from initial review through permit issuance. This role owns due diligence — coordinating architects, civil engineers, surveyors, and utility consultants; assessing jurisdictional compliance, feasibility, and development risk; delivering a clear go / no-go recommendation to Real Estate and Development leadership — and then carries approved sites through entitlement and permitting with the internal design team and outside vendor partners.

This is a high-visibility position on the critical path of the company's new unit growth plan.

• Lead due diligence for new restaurant sites, from initial review through entitlement approval and permit issuance.
• Review Site Investigation Reports (SIRs) from architects, civil engineers, and consultants for completeness, accuracy, and unresolved risk.
• Evaluate sites for jurisdictional compliance, feasibility, and development risk.
• Manage entitlement and permitting strategy with local jurisdictions — pre-application meetings, submittal packages, and hearing schedules.
• Carry approved projects to permit issuance, coordinating building, site, health, fire, and utility permits and managing review cycles and comment responses.
• Direct the internal design team and outside vendor partners — architects, civil engineers, surveyors, utility consultants, and permit expeditors — through diligence, design, and permitting.
• Engage land use attorneys when zoning changes, variances, conditional use permits, or other special approvals are required.
• Develop and review conceptual site plans aligned with prototype standards and jurisdictional requirements; identify constraints impacting cost, schedule, operations, or constructability.
• Drive alignment between prototype standards, municipal requirements, and operational needs.
• Partner with Real Estate during site selection and approval, and hand off permitted sites to Design + Construction with budget and schedule inputs.
• Track milestones and permit status across the pipeline and elevate risks early.

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Architecture, Urban Planning, Construction Management, Real Estate Development, or a related field — or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years in site development, entitlements, or permitting for multi-site retail, restaurant, convenience, or commercial rollout programs.
• Ability to read and evaluate civil site plans, surveys, geotechnical reports, and utility studies.
• Working knowledge of zoning ordinances, land use approvals, variances, and municipal permitting processes.
• Experience managing external consultant teams and holding them to schedule and scope.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including presenting risk and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Proficiency with project tracking tools and Microsoft Office;
  AutoCAD, Bluebeam, or GIS familiarity a plus.
• Preferred: prototype-driven restaurant or QSR development experience, multi-state entitlement work, public hearing or design review presentation experience, and familiarity with drive-thru, stormwater, and ADA site requirements.

• Critical Thinking –Defines and resolves a situation or problem by analyzing issues involved, weighing options, and evaluating alternatives; maintains objective attitude; approaches situations and problems systematically; uses observation, experience, reflection, and/or reasoning to drive business forward.
• Influen…