Your Purpose

The Location Research Manager serves as expert for spatial analytics, gravity modeling, and location-based forecasting to support real estate investment decisions. This role is responsible for analytical models and geospatial tools used to forecast performance of new stores, expansions, and remodels, and track and estimate competitive activity impacts. You will oversee a set of 3rd party vendors and be the primary GIS resource for the organization, enabling data-driven decision making.

What You’ll Do

Principal Responsibilities Include:

• Create, maintain, and refine gravity models to forecast sales for new stores, expansions, remodels, and competitive activity
• Model fuel, pharmacy, and pickup/delivery impacts for new and existing capital projects
• Design, execute, and manage complex spatial analyses using Alteryx and enterprise GIS tools
• Oversee enterprise use of the Kalibrate (KLI) spatial analytics platform
• Manage third-party sales forecasting and location intelligence vendors, including scope definition, QA, and performance oversight
• Develop and distribute custom maps and spatial visualizations used across Real Estate, Operations, Marketing, Merchandising, and Finance teams
• Track and maintain competitive intelligence that will be used by the business to determine budgets, marketing and capital investment needs
• Serve as the primary GIS subject-matter expert for the organization
• Partner with Real Estate and Finance to request and validate capital project pro formas
• Conduct site tours with Real Estate and leadership to understand site and market dynamics
• Lead development of market tour materials and executive-ready presentations
• Assist in creation of SDC and KR Capital Committee presentations to tell the story of planned real estate projects and capital investments

Supporting Leadership Through the 5 Es  

• As a leader, you are expected to model and reinforce our leadership expectations through the 5Es Leadership Framework – serving as both an example and a multiplier of leadership impact across teams and functions:
  • Envision: Craft a bold, strategic vision that aligns with the company’s direction. Communicate clearly and consistently to ensure every team understands the “why” behind the work and feels connected to the bigger picture.
  • Energize: Cultivate a high-energy, resilient environment where passion, recognition, and urgency fuel momentum. Drive engagement across levels by being visible, present, and inspiring in your leadership.
  • Enroll: Build alignment and commitment by involving others early and often. Create clarity around change, communicate transparently, and ensure all stakeholders feel heard, valued, and empowered to act.
  • Enable: Break down barriers, advocate for necessary resources, and build capability across your teams. Champion development, empower decision-making, and foster a culture of continuous learning and ownership.
  • Execute: Deliver results that matter. Turn strategy into action with prevision and agility, ensure accountability, and continuously improve outcomes through clear priorities, strong follow-through, and data-driven decision
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