Director, Non Traditional Development
About Pret A Manger: Building the US Future of a Beloved Global Brand
Pret US is at a defining moment. Backed by substantial investment and strategic commitment, we are not simply operating, we are transforming a beloved brand in the American market. With a newly established US Board and an entirely rebuilt senior leadership team, we are assembling exceptional talent to drive this ambitious vision forward.
This is an opportunity to join a winning team built on an ownership mindset, rapid learning, bias for action, and competitive drive. Our ideal candidates are resilient, flexible, comfortable with ambiguity, and data-driven. We are seeking leaders who thrive in dynamic, high-stakes environments and are energized by the challenge of building something remarkable.
As part of the Pret US team, you will work directly with seasoned leaders who understand turnarounds, scaling operations, and delivering results. If you are driven to exceed ambitious goals, make bold decisions, and build a brand that matters, this is where you belong. Join us in writing the next chapter of Pret in America.
About the Role
Pret A Manger is expanding into high-traffic, nontraditional venues – airports, high volume transport hubs, and college campuses. The primary route to market runs through master concessionaires and food service management companies such as HMSHost, SSP America, Areas USA, ASUR, and Paradies Lagardère. The Director of Non-Traditional Development owns Pret's relationships with these operators and leads the pursuit, negotiation, and launch of new nontraditional locations across North America. This individual will also be responsible for forming strong relationships directly with key airport personnel to facilitate development.
This is a business development role, not a store operations role: success is measured in contracts won, terminals entered, and the strength of Pret's standing with the small set of companies that control access to these spaces.
Key Responsibilities
- Identify, pursue, and win nontraditional development opportunities in airports, high volume transport hubs, and college campuses by building and maintaining relationships with master concessionaires and airport/university personnel.
- Lead RFP response strategy and represent Pret directly in negotiations with HMSHost, SSP America, Areas USA, ASUR, Paradies Lagardère, and other operators.
- Structure and negotiate licensing/brand agreements, including revenue share, capital investment splits, and operating terms.
- Maintain a rolling, multi-year pipeline of terminal expansion and renovation projects across target markets, tracking RFP timelines years in advance given 8 - 10 year contract cycles.
- Partner with Operations, Legal, Real Estate, and People to plan operating models, subcontracting structures, and opening timelines for each new nontraditional site.
- Own deal economics: build and present financial models (revenue share, capex, ROI) to senior leadership for go/no-go decisions.
- Represent Pret at industry events (e.g., airport restaurant and travel retail conferences) to build the relationships that drive future contract awards.
- Report pipeline status, deal outcomes, and win/loss analysis to senior leadership on a regular cadence.
Qualifications & Experience
- 7+ years in business development, concept/brand development, or concession management within the nontraditional foodservice channel (airports, transit, stadiums, campuses, or travel plazas)
- Direct experience at, or negotiating with, master concessionaires or on a restaurant brand's nontraditional growth team, strongly preferred
- Demonstrated track record of winning and negotiating concession contracts, including RFP response and deal structuring
- Working knowledge of ACDBE program requirements and prime/subcontractor relationships
- Experience presenting deal terms and pipeline updates to senior/executive leadership
- Bachelor's degree in business, hospitality management, or a related field; MBA (preferred )
- Strong existing relationships in the airport industry or in other nontraditional industries preferred.
- Willing to travel up to 50%
Skills & Competencies
- Relationship-driven negotiator who can operate credibly with concessionaire executives and airport authorities alike
- Strong commercial acumen, able to build and defend deal economics (revenue share, capex splits, ROI) independently
- Comfortable managing long sales cycles and multi-year pipeline visibility, given that RFP awards are 8 -10 year contracts
- Cross-functional collaborator, particularly with Operations, Legal, Real Estate, and People
- Polished written and verbal communicator with executive presence for external, high-stakes deal conversations
Benefits and Salary
- Competitive salary and performance bonus targets
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
- 401(k) with company match
- Generous paid time off and company holidays
- Free Pret food and coffee
- Professional development and career growth within a global brand
- The base salary pay range for this role starts at $150,000. Compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, depth of experience, certifications, and the specific work location of New York, New York, United States. In addition, you will be eligible for a discretionary bonus if you are an active employee as of fiscal year-end.