Director, Market Planning (Irvine)

CHAGEE (pronounced CHAH-jee) is a modern tea house with over 6,500 locations globally.

Our teas have a rich cultural heritage stretching across several thousand years. We are one of the earliest regional teahouse chains positioned as the purveyor of modern tea culture. Our mission is to refresh and reintroduce the lifestyle of tea to the world, where guests can connect in a beautiful space and enjoy premium and diverse flavors of tea.

Through our stores across Malaysia, China, Singapore, and Thailand, we serve a staggering 100 million cups of tea monthly. CHAGEE is excited to expand to the US market, and this is your chance to be part of an exhilarating journey as we deliver the taste of authentic tea culture to America.

Overview :

Elevate your career with CHAGEE as our Director of Market Planning, where you will lead the strategic development of CHAGEEs U.S. market expansion by transforming spatial data and analytics into actionable growth strategies. In this role, you will drive national market planning and real estate decision-making through predictive modeling, geospatial insights, and competitive landscape analysis. You will partner cross-functionally with senior leadership across Real Estate, Operations, Finance, and Design to shape where and how CHAGEE grows across the United States.

This is a high-impact leadership role ideal for a strategic, data-driven professional with deep expertise in retail site analytics, market segmentation, and forecasting within a multi-unit restaurant or retail environment.

What you'll do :

• Own and drive CHAGEEs U.S. market planning strategy, overseeing end-to-end geospatial analysis to identify and prioritize high-potential trade areas and regions for expansion.
• Guide site selection and white space analysis efforts through market segmentation, demographic modeling, competitor mapping, and cannibalization forecasting.
• Build and maintain geospatial data integration processes from multiple sources, ensuring data accuracy and relevance.
• Develop and implement demand forecasting models to project store performance and inform investment decisions.
• Utilize GIS software (ArcGIS, QGIS) and spatial databases (DuckDB, PostGIS, GeoJSON) to perform complex analyses.
• Apply machine learning frameworks and statistical modeling to spatial datasets for predictive insights.
• Create engaging visualizations and reports to communicate findings to executives and cross-functional teams.
• Partner with Real Estate, Construction, Operations, and Finance leadership to align long-term development strategy with financial, operational, and brand objectives.
• Monitor emerging retail trends, demographic shifts, and consumer behaviors to proactively inform strategic planning and mitigate risk.
• Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability in a rapidly evolving environment.
• Be prepared for duties and responsibilities to evolve, and show a willingness to step outside of your usual scope to support the company's growth. Expect opportunities for personal and professional growth as you navigate new challenges.

Experience you need to be successful :

What We Offer :

CHAGEE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

The expected annual base salary range for this position is $200,000.00 - $270,000.00. Your actual base compensation will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on considerations including (but not limited to) : relevant knowledge and experience for this position, skills, education, certifications and more.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to be at the forefront of CHAGEE's expansion into the US market. Join us in shaping the future of premium tea culture and creating unforgettable experiences that will captivate global tea enthusiasts. Apply now and be part of something truly extraordinary!