Project Manager - Real Estate Development

Project Manager: Real Estate Development

Thrive Restaurant Group | Wichita-based | Full-Time

Help us grow the right way.

Thrive Restaurant Group is a family-owned company with a 50-year history in hospitality. We operate nearly 200 restaurants across 15 states, representing five brands—including Applebee’s, Qdoba, and our homegrown concepts like Carlos O’Kelly’s, HomeGrown and Modern Market. With over 8,000 team members, we aspire to help people flourish in their work and lives.

Now, we’re growing again—and we’re looking for a Project Manager: Real Estate Development to help lead that effort.

This role will guide the full development pipeline for 45 new Qdoba locations across the Carolinas over the next four years. You’ll work closely with our senior leaders and external partners to identify, evaluate, and secure sites that meet our standards for long-term success. From managing brokers to presenting sites for approval to negotiating LOIs and leases—you’ll keep deals moving and decisions informed.

We’re looking for someone who’s driven, thoughtful, and organized, with experience in real estate development and the confidence to lead complex, multi-stakeholder projects.

What You’ll Do

• Build and manage a pipeline of potential Qdoba sites in partnership with brokers and market experts
• Lead site selection meetings and present site packages to Thrive’s real estate committee
• Negotiate LOIs and lease agreements, balancing business goals and legal structure
• Organize in-market site review tours to help with decision making
• Coordinate with construction, finance, operations, and legal teams to ensure alignment
• Track progress across all deals and provide regular updates to internal stakeholders
• Maintain strong relationships with brokers, landlords, attorneys, and Qdoba’s development team
• Represent Thrive’s interests with professionalism and clarity in all external engagements
• Stay informed on market dynamics, industry trends, and development opportunities
  
  

What You Bring

• Experience managing retail or restaurant site selection and lease negotiations
• Ability to analyze lease agreements and evaluate deal structure for long-term success
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Project management capability—you can keep multiple deals and teams moving at once
• Comfort with a mix of field work, remote coordination, and in-person meetings
• An ownership mentality—curious, proactive, and committed to follow-through
• A steady, professional presence with the ability to navigate differing priorities and perspectives
  
  

What We Offer

• Competitive salary, full benefits (medical, dental, vision), and 401(k) profit-sharing
• Paid time off, company phone, and professional development support
• Flexibility in schedule and work environment
• Food discounts at all Thrive-owned restaurants
• A culture rooted in respect, integrity, and helping people thrive at every level
  
  

Location & Travel

This position is based in Wichita, KS and requires monthly overnight travel. You’ll spend time in the field reviewing sites, meeting with partners, and staying close to what matters on the ground.

Interested?

If you’re excited about building a thoughtful growth pipeline—and want to join a team that values people as much as performance—we’d love to hear from you.

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