At LAP Coffee, our mission is to transform the coffee industry by tackling its biggest challenges: high prices, impersonal service, and outdated retail experiences. We believe that specialty coffee should be accessible to everyone, combining high quality with digital convenience while providing a truly personal customer experience. As digital interactions increasingly dominate our lives, we’re dedicated to bringing back the human touch—whether it’s the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, the warmth of a cup in your hands, or the meaningful conversations sparked by a barista’s smile.
We are redefining the traditional coffee shop model by rethinking everything from store design to pricing and customer engagement. Our goal is to create a fresh approach to coffee retail, making premium coffee a daily staple rather than an occasional luxury. With the support of leading investors and an ambitious team, we’re entering an exciting growth phase—expanding our presence across Germany and beyond. This is where you come in.
Your Role
As the Director of Store Development, you will play a crucial role in shaping our retail expansion strategy. This includes identifying prime locations, overseeing store openings, and ensuring that each new store embodies our brand ethos. You will collaborate closely with our founders and key stakeholders to drive the next stage of growth and establish LAP Coffee as a leading brand in the industry.
Tasks
Responsibilities
* Expansion Strategy: Develop and execute a structured plan for opening new stores across Germany, ensuring sustainable growth and strong unit economics.
* Real Estate & Site Selection: Identify high-potential locations using market research, demographic insights, and foot traffic analysis.
* Negotiation & Leasing: Lead lease negotiations, secure favorable terms, and manage relationships with landlords and property developers.
* Store Design & Construction: Oversee store fit-outs, ensuring they align with our brand identity, customer experience vision, and operational efficiency.
* Budget & Timeline Management: Own the financial planning for store openings, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget.
* Cross-functional collaboration: Work with internal teams (finance, marketing, operations) to create a seamless expansion process and optimize store performance.Performance Analysis: Track store performance, iterate on site selection criteria, and refine growth strategies based on real-world data.
Requirements
We are looking for an experienced retail development leader who is passionate about brand-building and possesses a keen sense for location strategy. The ideal candidates should have:
* 8+ years of experience in retail expansion, store development, or real estate, ideally within the F&B, hospitality, or lifestyle sectors.
* A proven track record of scaling multi-unit retail operations, from location sourcing to full store launch.
* Strong negotiation skills and experience managing lease agreements and landlord relationships.
* Deep knowledge of real estate markets, zoning laws, permits, and regulatory requirements.
* A hands-on mindset, ready to travel to scout locations and oversee project execution.The ability to thrive in a high-growth, entrepreneurial environment and work cross-functionally with teams to achieve business goals.
Benefits
* Be Part of a Brand on the Rise: LAP Coffee is building the future of accessible specialty coffee, with the backing of top-tier investors and a passionate team.
* Create Impact: Your work will directly influence the companys success, helping us scale across Germany and beyond.
* Growth & Ownership: You’ll have significant autonomy and the opportunity to shape a growing retail network from the ground up.Culture & Community: Join a team that values craftsmanship, innovation, and the social experience of great coffee.
If youre passionate about developing the next major innovation in speciality coffee and excel in fast-paced environments, we want to hear from you!