Head of Expansion - HQ (BARCELONA)

We are looking for a Head of Expansion who will be responsible for leading VICIOs growth into new geographies with speed strategic precision and operational excellence. This role is key to ensuring that every new location embodies the brands standards while meeting ambitious expansion goals. Youll drive the full expansion lifecyclefrom identifying markets to opening high-performing sitesand help shape the future of our physical presence.

Some of your main responsibilities will be:

• Lead the end-to-end expansion strategy for VICIO ensuring the brand scales successfully across new geographies with consistency agility and operational excellence.
• Use your deep retail experience to identify evaluate and secure high-potential locations that align with VICIOs business model customer profile and growth ambitions.
• Define and implement a rigorous site selection framework based on footfall analysis catchment area market saturation cannibalization risk and financial viability.
• Own the negotiation and closing of commercial leases leveraging your experience to secure the best possible conditions and mitigate long-term risk.
• Build and manage a strong pipeline of expansion opportunities working closely with brokers landlords city councils and strategic partners to ensure location readiness and local compliance.
• Collaborate with the construction and technical teams to carry out site feasibility analyses ensuring alignment on budget timelines and operational requirements.
• Evaluate technical essentials such as extraction systems utility connections licensing risks and construction needs to ensure smooth setup and sustainable operations.
• Define and scale the right business model mixfrom dark kitchens to hybrid and full retailin line with unit economics and effort ratios.
• Report weekly on expansion leads and pipeline status moving quickly and decisively in a high-growth startup environment.
• Work cross-functionally with Operations Finance Legal Brand and Tech to ensure seamless executionfrom deal signing to store handover and operational readiness.
• Develop scalable repeatable processes to open stores efficiently while adapting when entering new markets with unique challenges.
• Monitor post-opening KPIs and performance metrics continuously improving the expansion playbook using data-driven insights and field learnings.
• Keep a sharp pulse on retail and food & beverage trends benchmarking competitors spotting location opportunities and staying ahead of market shifts.
• Actively contribute to C-level strategic decisions providing insights on market prioritization capital deployment and long-term real estate strategy.
• Be based in Barcelona with full availability to travel across Spain and future international markets.
• Embody and promote VICIOs core values throughout your work:
  • F1 Pit Stop Execute fast and with precision
  • We Are Cooks Stay close to the product and the people
  • High Bar Set high standards and never compromise on quality
  • Hold My Drink Take ownership be accountable and deliver

• Take on the ambitious challenge of opening 10 new locations in 2025 and 20 in 2026 while also helping shape and evolve the store concept itself through value-adding feedback from the field.

Profile needed:

• 712 years of experience in retail expansion real estate development or new market openings in the hospitality food & beverage or multi-site retail industries.
• A proven record of opening dozens of high-performing locations with hands-on responsibility from market scouting to post-opening performance.
• Strong experience in lease negotiation and deal structuring securing favorable commercial terms and managing legal zoning and planning constraints.
• A robust technical understanding of retail site requirements: extraction utilities licenses square footage optimization and build-out feasibility.
• Expertise in evaluating and selecting location types based on model-fit (e.g. dark kitchen vs. retail) and their corresponding financial thresholds.
• The ability to analyze markets strategically and operationallyyou know what makes a store thrive beyond the surface-level metrics.
• A data-informed mindset combined with pragmatic execution capable of balancing growth urgency with operational precision.
• Experience in fast-paced high-growth environments ideally startups or scaleups where speed autonomy and adaptability are critical.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to work cross-functionally and communicate clearly with both internal teams and external partners.
• Fluency in Spanish (C2) and English (B2/C1); Catalan is a plus.
• You are based in Barcelona and have full availability to travel.
• Youre energized by ownership and obsessed with improvementyou move fast act smart and build with intention.