About the Role

What you'll do

• Lead new restaurant projects from initial site planning and test-fit through design, permitting, construction, closeout, and opening.
• Develop project scopes, preliminary budgets, cost estimates, project schedules, milestones, and critical path activities in coordination with internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate cross-functional project requirements across Development, Design, Operations, Finance, Facilities, IT, Marketing, and other internal teams to ensure projects remain aligned and opening requirements are met.
• Coordinate architectural, engineering, consultant, and project deliverables to ensure alignment with operational requirements, brand standards, and budget objectives.
• Serve as the primary project manager and owner representative throughout the development and construction process.
• Manage relationships and performance of architects, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, millwork, signage, equipment, and other project vendors.
• Support site due diligence and coordinate test-fit layouts, design development, construction documents, and project planning for new locations.
• Review project scopes, plans, specifications, and construction documents to ensure alignment with company standards, operational requirements, and approved budgets.
• Manage general contractors, subcontractors, and vendors to ensure projects remain on schedule, within budget, and consistent with approved plans and specifications.
• Conduct regular jobsite visits, progress meetings, and punch walks to monitor progress, quality, safety, and adherence to plans and specifications.
• Maintain project trackers, schedules, action logs, budgets, and status reports; lead project meetings, document decisions, and maintain accountability for follow-up.
• Review and manage contractor and vendor invoices, change orders, and other project costs; validate costs against approved scopes and budgets and coordinate approvals as needed.
• Monitor critical-path activities and proactively identify schedule risks, delays, and dependencies; develop and implement recovery plans when projects are at risk.
• Manage and track permitting, inspections, utility requirements, and municipal approvals, coordinating with landlords, permit expediters, municipalities, utilities, and other agencies to keep projects on schedule.
• Coordinate procurement and track long-lead equipment, furniture, fixtures, millwork, signage, technology, and other materials required for project completion and opening.
• Develop and manage the transition from construction completion to restaurant opening in partnership with Operations, Facilities, and other internal teams.
• Coordinate punch list completion, final inspections, equipment commissioning, turnover documentation, and warranties; manage post-opening construction and warranty items with contractors and vendors through timely resolution.
• Provide regular project updates to leadership, including schedule, budget, risks, milestones, decisions, and opening readiness.
• Identify opportunities to improve the restaurant prototype, design standards, construction processes, project delivery, and opening procedures. Capture lessons learned and incorporate best practices into future locations.

What we're looking for

• 5–7 years of project management, construction, architecture, or development experience, preferably within restaurant, retail, hospitality, or other multi-unit environments.
• Experience managing projects from site planning and design through permitting, construction, closeout, and opening.
• Strong understanding of architectural drawings, construction documents, specifications, permitting, and commercial building systems.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage project scopes, budgets, schedules, contractors, vendors, and multiple stakeholders.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, communication, and follow-through skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Nice to have

• Experience with restaurant construction, new-store development, remodels, or multi-unit restaurant openings is preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and project management tools such as Asana, Smartsheet, Monday.com, Procore, Microsoft Project, or similar platforms.