Expansion Manager - New Markets (m/w/d)

We are convinced that padel is a magical sport – one that captivates people through its unique combination of lightness, dynamics, and social interaction. Padel is for everyone: from young to old, from beginner to professional – anyone can participate in this passion. It's more than just a game; it's an experience that connects, brings joy, and creates friendships.

mitte is a boutique padel club, offering top-notch playing conditions and a stylish setting for our dynamic, modern community. Our clubs combine high-quality facilities in central inner-city locations with digital innovation and human warmth to make padel a permanent part of everyday life – whether it's for a quick game or as a 'Third Place' for various experiences.

What makes us special:

• Our Indoor-Clubs are located so that you can reach them in under 15 minutes – ideal for urban life
• Our vollautomatisierten Systeme ensure a seamless, modern playing experience
• Our Community Leader live hospitality and customer service-like care and dedicate themselves fully to the task of being excellent hosts
• Our Interior Design comes from a renowned boutique architect

Our ambition: To become the first address for padel in Europe.

Aufgaben

As Expansion Manager – New Markets (m/w/d), you will be responsible for market entry and pipeline building in our international growth markets. You will work directly with the CEO/Founder and translate our expansion logic into new countries – with sensitivity to local market conditions, regulatory differences, and cultural peculiarities.

Your goal: a repeatable market entry mechanism that makes mitte internationally scalable – without quality loss and with clear economic logic.

Your tasks:

• Market analysis & prioritization: You analyze new markets regarding demographics, competitive environment, regulatory framework, and economic viability – and make recommendations for prioritization.
• Pipeline building & lead screening: You build local pipelines and conduct thorough initial assessments – with clear deal KPIs and country-specific location criteria.
• Financial evaluation: You model P&Ls and CAPEX scenarios under local conditions – with a view to tax structures, salary levels, and country-specific cost bases.
• Negotiation & deal closing: You conduct negotiations with owners and brokers – with the understanding that every market negotiation has its own rules.
• Permitting & legal feasibility: You work closely with external local consultants, clarify local building regulations and permit issues, and steer the legal review.
• Market entry playbook: You build a playbook for market entries – that makes every new market faster, more precise, and more effective than the previous one.
• Interfaces: You ensure a smooth transition to architecture, construction, and launch – and align with Brand, Operations, and the CEO.

The special thing about this role is that…

• You shape the international growth path of mitte – every new market you open up expands the playing field.
• You work at the interface of strategy, market building, and deal closing – a rare combination that requires international benchmark thinking.
• You bear real deal responsibility – from lead to signature, in multiple markets parallel.
• You work directly with the Founder/CEO – with short decision-making paths and genuine design freedom.

Qualification

• International market experience: You have demonstrable experience in or for multiple markets – ideally with independent responsibility for market entries or cross-border deals.
• Deal & number understanding: You bring strong analytical skills, understand P&Ls, CAPEX analyses, and can evaluate economic feasibility under different market conditions.
• Professional experience: At least 5 years of experience in a transactional or international environment – e.g., at an immobiliene developer, in a top-tier consulting firm with international track, PE/VC, investment banking, an expansion team with cross-border responsibility, or as an operator in a scalable international company.
• Negotiation confidence & cultural sensitivity: You conduct deal conversations confidently – even in different business cultures.
• Self-management: You manage yourself, navigate complexity without micro-steering, and drive your markets forward with initiative.
• Structure & Drive: You can coordinate multiple markets parallel, work focused, and never lose sight of what's essential.
• Hands-on mentality: You go where deals are made – with high travel readiness, entrepreneurial thinking, and genuine implementation power.
• Languages: You communicate confidently in German and English – additional languages are a clear plus point.
• Location & flexibility: You live in Berlin (or are willing to relocate) and bring high travel readiness to our international markets.
• Company building: You have the desire to actively contribute to the build-up of Europe's leading padel operator – with ideas, initiative, and genuine responsibility. Nothing happens unless we make it happen.

Benefits

• Become part of a success story: Our goal is clear – to become Europe's largest padel operator. You are part of the team from the start, with the chance to take on real responsibility and shape this vision actively.
• Remuneration: A competitive salary with long-term development prospects.
• Your uniform: We equip you with our exclusive mitte Teamwear from Adidas. These are the special features in sports that move us every day.
• Sport & Wellbeing: Regular padel matches on our courts – for your physical balance alongside daily work. You can also participate in one of the daily community events or work with our coaches to improve your skills.
• Strong community: You will be part of an active, appreciative community that identifies with the brand and contributes to its further development together.
• Start-up experience from first-hand: In this role, you'll experience firsthand what it means to build a company – with everything that comes with it.
• Collaboration with Founder: In this role, you will work directly with our founder and shape the future of mitte together.