Chief of Staff
Spark Car Wash Overview:
Spark Car Wash is a high-growth, institutionally-backed express exterior car wash company serving the Northeast. Our mission is to become the premier brand in the market by providing consistent excellence to our customers and an enriching environment for our employees. Spark is in the process of launching multiple best-in-class locations with a vision of becoming the largest operator in the region by 2025.
Chief of Staff Position Summary:
As we grow our company, we are actively adding a skilled Chief of Staff to support our expanding 8-person Real Estate team. As the right-hand person to the VP of Store Development, this role is designed to improve the effectiveness of the Real Estate function through driving functional initiatives, strategic oversight and being the central point of the entire function’s operations.
The express car wash market is the most dynamic multi-unit retail category today, and one of the most vibrant sectors in consumer-focused private equity. The role represents the opportunity to join an emergent brand poised to be a regionally dominant player while being exposed to all aspects of real estate development including site underwriting, due diligence, entitlements, and store opening.
This position is ideal for individuals looking to catalyze the growth engine of a fast-paced, institutionally-backed organization. The role will also develop key functional expertise of the entire real estate development process while being mentored by a real estate team with over 150+ years of collective industry experience at leading national brands. Ultimately, this role will provide a robust opportunity to continue to develop within the Real Estate function as well as across other high-growth areas of the business overtime.
Responsibilities:
- Spearhead development projects against multiple concurrent timelines
- Lead due diligence efforts for third-party reports (e.g., ALTA Survey, Zoning Report, Phase I/II, Geotech) and report key findings to the real estate team
- Drive entitlement process in partnership with key external vendors (e.g., civil engineer, land use attorney, architect, traffic engineer)
- Partner with local municipalities to develop a complete and in-depth understanding of approval processes
- Optimize real estate processes to drive operational improvement within the function
- Ensure proper tracking of projects in the internal deal pipeline tool (DealPath)
- Work cross-functionally for internal site approval processes
- Participate in real estate committee meetings to discuss site pipeline progress
- Create site reporting packages for lenders, development partners, or internal stakeholders
- Support VP of Store Development with departmental responsibilities
- Assist the real estate function through ad-hoc special projects
Desired skills, education & experience:
- Bachelor’s degree
- 2+ years of relevant experience in a high-level, time-sensitive environment (management consulting, investment banking, civil engineering, real estate development experience)
- Experience or interest in commercial real estate development
- Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills
- An ability to meet tight deadlines and prioritize multiple concurrent workstreams
- Thrives in a fast-paced, often ambiguous, and lean environment
- Ability to work independently
- Strong analytical and organizational skills
- Microsoft Excel/ budgeting skills
- Project Management Tools
- Capability to travel up to 25-50% of the time across NJ, Eastern PA, and NY
Perks:
- A base salary plus annual bonus compensation package
- Excellent comprehensive health coverage, including medical, dental, and vision, as well as ancillary benefits
- Hybrid work schedule
- 401K with contribution match
- 3 weeks paid vacation
- Company laptop
- Branded company gear and free car washes
