Job Summary:

We are looking for a proactive and commercially driven Expansion Associate to support our franchise expansion journey by managing the partner-to-site mapping process. The role begins once a franchise partner has been onboarded by the Business Development team and involves identifying the right commercial property, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders, and driving the expansion journey through site closure.

The ideal candidate should have strong stakeholder management, negotiation, and analytical skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Partner Management & Mapping

- Take ownership of franchise partners once they have been onboarded by the Business Development team.
- Act as the primary bridge between franchise partners and the Real Estate (RE) team throughout the site identification and closure process.
- Understand partner investment capacity, preferred micro markets, and business objectives to identify suitable opportunities.
- Match approved partners with commercially viable sites based on business potential, catchment, and investment fit.
- Maintain regular engagement with partners, providing updates and ensuring a seamless onboarding and expansion experience.
- Drive partner-to-site mapping with the objective of reducing partner aging and improving conversion.

Real Estate & Site Development

- Identify and evaluate commercial properties across assigned micro markets.
- Conduct market surveys and competitor analysis to identify high-potential expansion opportunities.
- Evaluate sites based on accessibility, visibility, demographics, competition, catchment potential, and commercial viability.
- Coordinate partner site visits and facilitate discussions with landlords and brokers.
- Support commercial negotiations, including rent, security deposit, lease tenure, and landlord scope of work.
- Prepare site evaluation reports, business cases, and recommendations for internal approvals.

Stakeholder Management





- Coordinate closely with Business Development, Real Estate, Design, Projects, Legal, Finance, and Operations teams to ensure timely execution.
- Track partners and sites through each stage of the expansion lifecycle and proactively resolve bottlenecks.
- Ensure smooth communication between partners, landlords, and internal stakeholders until lease execution and site handover.
- Maintain accurate records of partner pipelines, site status, and expansion progress.

Desired Skills & Competencies

- Strong relationship management and stakeholder coordination skills.
- Excellent negotiation and influencing abilities.
- Commercial acumen with the ability to evaluate business opportunities.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and prioritize effectively.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
- Willingness to travel extensively for market visits and partner meetings.

Preferred Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Commerce, Real Estate, or a related field.
- 2–5 years of experience in Business Development, Franchise Development, Retail Expansion, Commercial Real Estate, Channel Sales, or Strategic Partnerships.
- Experience working with franchise businesses, retail brands, fitness, QSR, healthcare, or other multi-location businesses is preferred.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

- Partner-to-site mapping turnaround time.
- Partner aging and pipeline health.
- Site closure and lease execution timelines.
- Number of successful partner-site conversions.
- Quality and accuracy of business cases and site evaluations.
- Expansion targets achieved within assigned markets.

What We're Looking For

- We're looking for someone who enjoys building relationships, solving commercial challenges, and driving expansion through strategic partner management. The ideal candidate is proactive, detail-oriented, commercially minded, and thrives in a agile, target-driven environment with a strong sense of ownership.

📌 Expansion Manager (Secunderabad)
🏢 Cultfit Healthcare
📍 Secunderabad