Senior Manager, Corporate Real Estate Portfolio

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Corporate Real Estate Portfolio Senior Manager plays a strategic and hands-on role in managing Potbelly's nationwide retail lease portfolio. This person ensures our real estate footprint supports operational needs, financial goals, and long-term growth. From lease negotiations to system optimization, you'll serve as a key partner across departments, helping us stay proactive, organized, and aligned with our development strategy. The Lease Portfolio Manager will report to this role, comprising a small but critical team in support of Potbelly's overall growth objectives.

FOCUS

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Lead strategic planning initiatives for the corporate real estate portfolio to align with organizational growth and cost optimization goals
• Lead process improvement efforts to streamline lease administration, approval workflows, and landlord communications, ensuring efficiency and compliance.
• Drive continuous improvement in lease approval workflows and data systems; identify opportunities for automation and better reporting.
• Manage the entire portfolio of leases, including oversight of renewals, expirations, and negotiations, ensuring accuracy and timely execution.
• Collaborate and anticipate needs of cross-functional teams (Operations, Legal, Development, Accounting, Finance and Facilities) to ensure lease terms support business objectives and operational needs.
• Facilitate engagement with consultants to support negotiated extensions and lease modifications, when necessary.
• Maintain and enhance the Lease Administration system, ensuring data integrity and leveraging analytics for decision-making. Review abstract and entry of new leases as well as lease renewals for accuracy.
• Analyze market trends and portfolio performance to recommend footprint optimization strategies. Manage landlord relationships and respond to ad hoc landlord and lease inquiries, providing strategic guidance and resolution.
• Prepare and deliver reports for executive leadership regarding lease status, opportunities, risks, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Lead the leasing function and the Lease Portfolio Manager role while also providing hands-on support to the organization as needed.

PHYSICAL FUNCTIONS

• Must have the ability/stamina to work a minimum of 45 to 55 hours a week.
• Will frequently reach, feel, bend, stoop, carry, finely manipulate and key in data.
• Must be able to engage in problem-solving skills to help identify and solve potential issues in the field.
• Must be able to communicate heavily through telephone, e-mail and in-person communications.

EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION AND BEHAVIORS

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Real Estate, Finance, or a related field strongly preferred. Equivalent work experience will be considered.
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in commercial real estate portfolio management, with a focus on retail or multi-unit operations.
• Demonstrated expertise in lease negotiations, legal lease terms, and real estate strategy.
• Proficiency with Lease Administration software (CoStar preferred; Tango, Accruent, or similar acceptable).
• Strong Microsoft Excel and Office Suite skills required.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; able to work across departments and with external stakeholders.
• Analytical mindset with a proactive approach to solving problems and identifying efficiencies.

Potbelly actively creates and promotes an environment that is inclusive of all people and their unique abilities, strengths, and differences. We respect and embrace diversity in each other, our customers, suppliers, and all others with whom we interact as an essential component in the way we do business. Diversity only strengthens our Potbelly vibe, who we are, and how we work.

We're an equal opportunity employer. Each applicant will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted by [5/31/2026] to be considered for this position. The posting may close earlier if a suitable candidate is selected before the deadline.

Company: Potbelly Corporate

Position: Senior Manager, Corporate Real Estate Portfolio

Status: Full Time

Shift: First (Day)

Req #: 10898882

Date Posted: February 09, 2026

Location: Chicago , Chicago,
US,
IL,
60611

Job Category: Corporate