Network Planning Analyst

Network Planning Analyst

7-Eleven is an iconic family of brands with over 86,000 locations, surpassing every retailer in the world. We revolutionize convenience, restaurants and fuel through cutting edge innovation — working hard to be the customer's first choice. 7-Eleven empowers our employees to "activate awesome" and make a meaningful impact in their stores and communities every day. If you're ready to grow, lead and make a difference, come join our team and help shape the future of convenience.

An essential position, relative to our aggressive new store growth, that focuses on the creation and maintenance of a Network Plan by metro area for our existing operational markets as well as those that will be pursued in the future. Network Planning is the application of strategy and rationale to identify where we should most effectively place new 7-Eleven stores.

The second major component revolves around planning for the future state of our existing store base. Town Planning is collaboration that defines a plan for all individual stores. The Network Planner plays an essential role is developing and discussing these long-term strategies. The goal is to continuously transform our network of stores to enhance and upgrade our brand position and overall store performance.

The position is within the Network Planning team which thrives on creativity and creation of change relative to successful new store growth. The Network Planning role is exposed to and works closely with many departments within the company. This allows for personal exposure and insight into their functions and lends well toward assessing future career path opportunities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Use strategy, data, and tools to develop and maintain the Network Plan for each metro. Based on our overall new store count goals for each area, establish very specific points (Trade Areas) where we would ideally want to place new stores. Through understanding the dynamics of each trade area compared to others, availability of potential sites, and an estimation of the performance potential, a collection of planned locations can be built. Apply the same logic to trade areas containing our existing stores. Assess need/opportunity by store for relocation to enhance performance and value to the overall network of stores.
• Collaborate with the field Real Estate team on specific details of the Network Plans for their individual areas. Give feedback on new sites they are pursuing relative to planned trade areas.
• Interact cross-functionally with internal stakeholders including but not limited to Operations, Asset Optimization, Planning, etc. This ongoing collaboration constantly feeds the hypothesis of the Network Plan by metro.
• Continuously refine Network Planning strategy and tactics to enhance our ability to improve store performance.
• Constantly develop and implement new tools and approach to analysis.
• Measure execution of Network Planning efforts by the field team in each area relative to developing new stores that fill the plan. Provide regular insight and communication relative to progress.
• Evaluate financial impact of efforts by area at short and long-term intervals to assess improvement. Provide analysis and findings.
• Provide formal training on Network Planning methodologies and GIS tools to new Real Estate team members as they come onboard.
• The position will interact with the other functions of the Network Planning team including GIS tool development, trade area score modeling, analysis of store data, attributes, and performance. This interaction provides insight and learning that ties back to Network Planning effectiveness.
• Assist Asset Optimization team on decisions relative to renewal of store leases based on long term plans for the specific stores relative to their value to the overall Network Plan.

Position Requirements:

• Education: Prefer Bachelors/4-year Degree
• Experience: Real Estate or Development experience a plus but not required. Operational experience would also be very beneficial to the role.
• Analytical skills: Key to the role is the ability to comfortably apply strategy to data. Day to day will require advanced use of Excel and other analytical tools including the extensive use of various GIS/mapping tools. Experience in these areas is valuable to the start-up and long-term success of the position.
• Communication: Effective verbal and written communication including the ability to build a strong case for decisions with fact-based direction. There will be regular opportunities for coaching sessions involving presentations to large groups as well as one-on-one interaction with the field team. Applicant should be experienced and comfortable in both settings.