This role requires the candidate to work in Singapore.

Client Overview:

The client is a global leader in the premium tea industry, positioned as a "Modern Tea House." The brand is dedicated to reviving traditional Chinese tea culture through its core philosophy of "Connecting the World with Oriental Tea." In a historic milestone, it successfully listed on NASDAQ in April 2025, becoming the first Chinese freshly-made tea brand to go public in the U.S. and marking the largest global F&B IPO since 2022.

Its product portfolio is headlined by signature "Original Leaf Teas" and innovative "Milk Teas," which have garnered a cult following for their premium quality and distinctive oriental aesthetics. With over 4,500 stores globally and a rapidly growing network of flagship branches across APAC, the company is aggressively capturing the high-end retail tea market.

Job Role:

As the company accelerates its international footprint, the APAC Regional Headquarters in Singapore serves as the central engine for growth. The focus is on scaling a sophisticated retail model across Asia-Pacific markets, blending traditional tea heritage with modern, high-efficiency operations.

The Distribution Development Director will architect the partner ecosystem and lead multi-market entry strategies, identifying prime real estate and securing high-caliber Joint Venture (JV) partners. This high-impact leadership role involves strategic acquisition of JV partners and Master Franchisees, managing the end-to-end journey from market mapping and feasibility studies to commercial negotiations and partner onboarding, ensuring operational excellence and sustainable market growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Franchise & JV Acquisition: Lead end-to-end partner acquisition initiatives, including market mapping, lead generation, partner evaluation, and contract negotiation.
• Strategic Market Expansion: Conduct comprehensive feasibility studies, investment analyses, and competitive benchmarking to support Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies in priority APAC markets.
• Operating Model Development: Establish and refine the real estate strategy, investment models, and JV/Franchise operating standards across the region.
• Distribution & Network Optimization: Identify strategic alliances to enhance brand accessibility and optimize distribution efficiency for both franchise and company-operated stores.
• Real Estate & Site Planning: Oversee regional real estate negotiations and guide partners in identifying prime, high-visibility locations that maximize profitability and brand prestige.
• Leadership & Reporting: Build and lead a high-performing regional team (1–10 direct reports), reporting progress on the expansion pipeline directly to the senior executive team.

Candidate Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or related field; MBA is a plus.
• Experience: 8–10 years in franchise development, business expansion, or strategic partnerships within the F&B sector; proven success in multi-market growth strategies and franchise acquisitions across the Asia-Pacific region; experience with large-scale enterprises preferred, smaller chains considered second tier.
• Financial & Strategic Expertise: Strong financial acumen; ability to build business cases, investment models, and franchise proposals; strategic thinker with hands-on execution capability and high commercial awareness.
• Leadership & Management: Strong leadership skills with cross-functional team management experience.
• Communication & Language: Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills across diverse markets; professional fluency in English for international reporting and stakeholder engagement.

Job Code: #607