Business Development & Expansion Lead (F&B)

We are hiring Business Development & Expansion Lead (F&B) at Upartners.

Role Overview

Drive outlet expansion from location sourcing and commercial evaluation through leasing, fit-out coordination, and opening handover, ensuring each site fits the brand, business model, and investment criteria.

Key Responsibilities

Develop the expansion pipeline

Identify and prioritize potential locations across malls, office buildings, transit hubs, campuses, hospitals, and neighborhood commercial areas.

Define and apply location criteria

Work with management to establish site requirements, including target customers, traffic, visibility, accessibility, outlet size, utilities, and rental affordability.

Evaluate site potential

Conduct site visits and assess customer behavior, relevant footfall, competition, neighboring tenants, and demand across different times of day.

Prepare commercial recommendations

Build site proposals covering estimated sales, rent and service charges, investment requirements, outlet economics, and projected payback, together with Finance.

Manage leasing relationships

Build and maintain relationships with landlords, mall leasing teams, property agents, and other location partners.

Negotiate commercial terms

Negotiate rent, fit-out periods, escalation, lease duration, and other terms; coordinate agreement review with management and legal support.

Coordinate design and fit-out

Manage designers, contractors, equipment vendors, and landlord teams to deliver outlets according to the approved layout, budget, and timeline.

Assess technical feasibility

Coordinate checks on electricity, water, drainage, exhaust, storage, delivery access, and other requirements before committing to a site.

Manage opening requirements

Track landlord approvals, relevant permits, documentation, and project milestones; resolve issues that could delay opening.

Deliver outlet handover

• Coordinate with Operations on equipment testing, defect rectification, site readiness, and handover before launch.
• Support pre-opening operational activities
• : including equipment and supplies requirements.
• Candidate Criteria
• Ideally
• 4–6 years of relevant experience
• in

F&B

• or
• retail
• expansion, leasing, business development, or outlet development.
• Proven experience taking outlet projects from
• site sourcing and lease negotiation through fit-out and opening

An established network with mall leasing teams, landlords, property agents, or commercial property operators, particularly in the intended expansion areas.

• Strong judgment in evaluating locations based on customer fit and commercial viability.
• Able to prepare and assess basic outlet financial models, including occupancy costs, capital expenditure, break-even sales, and payback.
• Strong negotiation and relationship management skills, with the ability to secure workable commercial terms.
• Practical understanding of retail fit-out processes, contractor management, project schedules, and budget control.
• Able to coordinate technical requirements with Operations, designers, and contractors; an engineering background is not required.
• Organized and proactive, with the ability to manage multiple site opportunities and opening projects simultaneously.
• Willing to conduct frequent site visits, travel, and work closely with external partners.