Director of Legal Compliance

Company Overview:

Specialty Restaurants is a leader in the hospitality industry, known for our portfolio of iconic restaurants and venues. We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional dining experiences and outstanding service. We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Operations to join our team and oversee the success of our restaurants.

Top-notch Benefits:

• Competitive salary
• Quarterly bonus
• Benefits including vacation pay, medical, dental and vision insurance
• Lifestyle Spending Account, this benefit supports you and your family in numerous ways such as through gym memberships, child care, groceries, student loans & more
• Company dining package with allotted spending amount each month
• Variety of Supplemental Benefit Plans for life’s unknowns
• 401k with annual employer match after 12 months (ER match 25% of the first 5% contribution)
• Employer paid life Insurance throughout the length of employment
• Paid/Floating holidays for 5 major holidays
• Education Assistance Program (EdAP) for hospitality related education growth
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to assist with work life balance
• Management Referral Program with up to a $4,000 payout for qualifying management positions

Position Summary:

The Director of Legal Compliance & Property Management is responsible for managing, developing, and enhancing the value of commercial real estate assets and overseeing the company’s aviation assets to maximize financial return. The Director will handle all lease administration duties (existing and new), ensuring compliance, reporting on financial performance, and advising on property selection and investment. This role requires expertise in contract negotiation, redlining, and legal contract review, with paralegal experience being a plus. The Director will also assist consultants with real estate assets as needed.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Document Preparation: Drafting and filing legal documents related to real estate transactions, such as purchase agreements, leases, subleases, and closing documents.
• Title and Insurance: Reviewing and analyzing title documents, title insurance policies, and tax bills.
• Transaction Support: Assisting in the closing process of property sales, including preparing closing checklists and attending closings.
• Client Interaction: Providing clients with updates on property leases, purchases, or sales, and answering their questions about real estate codes.
• Research and Compliance: Conducting legal research and ensuring compliance with real estate laws and regulations.
• Directs the day-to-day activities of loss prevention, risk management, safety/security of vacant properties, maintenance and marketing of properties for sale.
• Oversees lease negotiations, redlining contracts, and ensures lease agreements meet all legal and financial compliance standards.
• Acts as the company’s principal agent to ensure that efforts fully meet and exceed contractual property management obligations on all assigned properties.
• Develop comprehensive annual inspection process for properties and specific assets.
• Administers budgets, operational reviews, and analysis of corrective action needed including recommendation and implementation of programs that contribute to respective divisions’ profitability.
• Leads contract negotiations for property leases, improvements, and ensures all agreements are aligned with legal requirements.
• Participates in developing budgets, analyzing monthly financial statements including operating variances from budget, cash management, strategies for collection of receivables, CAM cost documentation, and ROI analysis for sale and purchase decisions.
• Administers all lease clauses, preparation of vacancy reports, enforcing client compliance and performing landlord obligations, identifying leasing prospects and occasionally respond to leasing inquiries.
• Bid work for improvements on rentable properties and keep accurate records of facilities conditions, files and records (including maintaining “show ready” conditions).
• Coordinates with the accounting team for collection and documentation of all revenues following lease obligations and engages, contracts and approves invoices for good/services required to maintain the properties or equipment up to company and owner standards within budget.
• Implement preventive maintenance programs to extend the lifecycle of facilities.
• Manages client relations and acts as liaison with other disciplines and departments to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships.
• Participates in weekly development meeting and reports on projects and properties, including A/R reporting, insurance reporting, budgets and cash flows.
• Demonstrates a positive, professional and client-oriented attitude about the company with coworkers, clients and the public whether contact is by mail, telephone or in person.
• Manages administration of aviation assets including tracking, maintenance, and usage.
• Performs other duties and projects as directed by the CEO, CFO or President of Restaurants.

Education/Experience:

• Associate’s degree in paralegal studies is required
• Certification: Paralegal certification from an accredited program, such as those approved by the American Bar Association (ABA), is preferred.
• Bachelor’s Degree (Legal Studies, Paralegal Studies, Real Estate, Property Management, or other related degree) preferred
• Paralegal or legal experience with contracts
• Experience in commercial property management/real estate is preferred.
• 2+ years of experience in retail, hospitality, or other customer-facing industries
• 3 years of experience demonstrating strong knowledge of leasing processes both locally and federally, with ability to analyze, summarize, and report findings
• Proven track record of managing large portfolios of properties, including capital projects and renovations.
• Strong knowledge of building systems, maintenance protocols, and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to develop and manage budgets effectively.
• Leadership experience with a strong ability to influence and drive results.
• 3+ years of experience managing multi-state and nationwide properties is strongly desired

Required Skills:

• Legal Knowledge: Strong understanding of legal terminology and real estate verbiage.
• Expertise in lease negotiation, contract redlining, and legal compliance in property agreements.
• Attention to Detail: High level of accuracy in reviewing and preparing legal documents.
• Strong proficiency in identifying suppliers/sources, securing bids, evaluating quote information, negotiating prices and terms and selecting vendors
• Exceptional organizational skills to manage multiple tasks and maintain detailed records.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and project management skills.
• Computer-proficient with strong experience with Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint programs
• Excellent hospitality and teamwork skills
• Ability to multi-task (prioritize crisis, problems, and needs)
• Ability to speak clearly and listen attentively to other employees and managers
• Ability to read and/or follow written and verbal instructions and implement the same
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions
• Ability to understand policies and procedures and to implement and enforce the same

Disclaimer

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; and is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We recognize that people are our finest asset. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of race, creed, color, religion or belief, national origin, sex, ancestry, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, medical condition, gender identity or sexual orientation or any other classification protected by law.

Specialty Restaurants Corporation maintains a drug free workplace. All job offers are contingent upon successfully passing pre-employment background check.