Manager, Development

Church's Texas Chicken

Employee Job Description

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

Job Summary: 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.

Key Duties/Responsibilities:

• 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 escalate risks early.

Position Requirements (Education, Qualifications, Experience):

• 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.

Competencies:

• 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.
• Influencing Others - Convinces and persuades others in either positive or negative circumstances to accomplish goals and objectives; responds to objections successfully; uses tact when expressing ideas or opinions.
• Initiative - Acts proactively; addresses issues or opportunities without supervision; focuses on desired results and accomplishments; demonstrates clear purpose, enthusiasm, and a "can-do" attitude.
• Innovative and Creative - Looks for ways to improve oneself, the job, the project, the system, and the organization; challenges conventional practices, generates new ideas to create novel solutions to problems.
• Managing Execution - Manages multiple projects and effectively prioritizes tasks and goals; uses goals to guide actions and create detailed action plans; organizes and schedules people and tasks; utilizes resources effectively to meet goals.
• Negotiating - Presents issues or ideas in a clear and influential manner; maintains an open-minded and non-judgmental attitude; listens to others' views and empathizes.
• Relationship Management - Initiates and develops relationships with others; demonstrates credibility; confronts conflict quickly and professionally; inspires confidence in others.

Physical Requirements:

Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Travel:

Approximately 20% travel for site visits, jurisdictional meetings, and public hearings, including occasional evening hearings. Office or remote-based with regular field time at prospective and active sites.

1. If you're hungry for a career that's fun, fast-paced and loaded with opportunity, then you've come to the right place. At Church's®, we're not your typical quick service restaurant. We make real comfort food that makes a difference in peoples' lives. And for over 60 years, our restaurant has been a place where hard-working people can get ahead and go on to do amazing things by serving others.

2. Church's Chicken is an equal employment opportunity employer and makes hiring and employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or any other factor prohibited by applicable law.