VP of Expansion

Position Summary

The VP of Expansion is a newly created executive role responsible for the strategy and execution behind Nuvia's physical growth. This person will own the company's real estate portfolio end to end — from site selection and lease negotiation through buildout and market launch — while also shaping where and how Nuvia expands next.

This is a build-and-run role: part real estate strategist, part market analyst, part operator. The VP of Expansion sets the criteria for where Nuvia opens next, leads the deal process for each new location, and ensures the existing portfolio is optimized for cost, performance, and growth. This role reports directly to the COO.

Key Responsibilities

Real Estate Portfolio Management

1. Own the full lifecycle of Nuvia's real estate portfolio — site selection, lease negotiation and renewals, buildout coordination, and ongoing lease administration
2. Build and maintain a real estate strategy that balances cost, location quality, and flexibility for future growth
3. Track portfolio performance (rent-to-revenue ratios, lease expirations, occupancy costs) and recommend renewals, renegotiations, or exits
4. Manage relationships with landlords, brokers, contractors, and architects/GCs on buildouts

Strategic Growth Planning

1. Develop and own Nuvia's multi-year growth strategy, including annual location targets and capital deployment plans
2. Build the financial and market models used to prioritize where and when Nuvia expands
3. Partner with Finance to build business cases and ROI projections for new locations
4. Present growth strategy and portfolio updates to the CEO and leadership team

New Market Entry

1. Lead market research and demographic/competitive analysis to identify and prioritize new markets
2. Own the end-to-end process for entering a new market — from initial market assessment through site selection, lease execution, and opening
3. Build repeatable playbooks and criteria (demographics, competition, real estate cost, regulatory/licensing requirements) to speed up future market entries
4. Coordinate cross-functionally with Operations, Marketing, HR, and Legal to ensure new locations open on time and on budget

Qualifications & Experience

• 10+ years of experience in commercial real estate, corporate real estate strategy, or multi-unit expansion (retail, healthcare/dental, restaurant, or similar brick-and-mortar sectors)
• Proven track record leading site selection and lease negotiation for a multi-location business, ideally having overseen a portfolio of 20+ locations
• Direct experience opening new markets — building the playbook, not just executing an existing one
• Strong financial acumen: comfortable building pro formas, ROI models, and rent/occupancy cost analyses
• Experience negotiating directly with landlords, developers, and brokers; existing broker/landlord relationships are a plus
• History of working cross-functionally with Finance, Operations, Legal, and executive leadership
• Excellent communication skills; able to present strategy and portfolio performance clearly to a CEO and leadership team
• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or related advanced degree preferred but not required with sufficient experience
• Willingness to travel regularly to visit sites, markets, and existing locations

Ongoing KPIs

• Number of new locations opened per year vs. target
• Time from market selection to site opening
• Occupancy cost as a percentage of revenue across the portfolio
• On-time, on-budget delivery rate for new location buildouts
• Lease renewal/renegotiation outcomes vs. market benchmarks

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary: $200,000
• Annual bonus target: 30% of base salary, tied to achievement of company objectives and goals
• Comprehensive healthcare, dental, vision, and 401(k) with matching
• Additional executive benefits per Nuvia's standard leadership package