New Store Development & Project Manager (Restaurant Group)
Position Overview The New Store Development & Project Manager is the master orchestrator of our brand expansion. You will take restaurant concepts from lease-signing (or concept approval) through design coordination, permitting, landlord relations, GC management, commissioning, and a seamless handoff to operations on opening day. You bridge the gap between creative design, legal/real estate, finance budgets, external contractors, and internal restaurant operators. Success means on-time, on-budget, code-compliant, and operationally ready store openings that match our brand standards down to the last tile and POS terminal.
Key Responsibilities
- Project Planning & Scheduling
Develop, maintain, and publish master critical-path schedules (using MS Project, Smartsheet, or equivalent) for every store opening pipeline.
Identify bottlenecks, lead times for long-lead equipment (kitchen line, custom millwork, HVAC units), and interdependencies early.
Run weekly progress alignment meetings with cross-functional stakeholders (Operations, Marketing, IT/POS, Supply Chain, Finance, Legal).
- Budget & Financial Management
Own individual store buildout budgets.
Track soft and hard costs, manage change orders, review contractor pay applications/invoices, and forecast variances against capital expenditure (CapEx) baselines.
Drive value engineering without compromising design integrity, food safety, or guest experience.
- Design, Permitting & Regulatory Coordination
Collaborate with internal/external architects, interior designers, and MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) engineers during schematic and construction drawing phases.
Navigate local municipality zoning laws, health department codes, liquor licensing milestones, building permits, grease trap/exhaust approvals, and fire/life safety inspections.
Ensure ADA compliance and brand prototype consistency across diverse real estate footprints (inline retail, standalone drive-thru, food halls, historical conversions).
- Procurement & Vendor Management
Coordinate procurement timelines for FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures, & Equipment) and OS&E (Operating Supplies & Equipment) alignment with construction milestones.
Manage General Contractors (GCs), sub-contractors, millworkers, and third-party expeditors through competitive bidding, leveling, contract execution, and punch-list completion.
Enforce site safety standards, quality control, and schedule adherence through regular site visits.
- Commissioning, Training Hand-Off & Soft Opening
Coordinate utility turn-ons, health/fire final inspections, equipment startup/calibration (refrigeration, combi ovens, hood systems, POS, CCTV, music/AV).
Facilitate store walk-throughs and punch-list sign-offs with General Managers, Operations Directors, and Facilities teams.
Manage the operational readiness checklist 7–14 days prior to soft opening/VIP night to ensure zero-defect store launches.
Conduct post-opening debriefs/lessons-learned reviews at 30/60/90 days post-launch.
Qualifications & Requirements
Education & Experience Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or Architecture/Architectural Engineering required). Non-engineering degrees will not be considered.
Minimum 8–12+ years of dedicated project management experience managing physical retail, hospitality, or multi-unit restaurant buildouts .
Proven track record of launching multiple restaurant/hospitality units concurrently on time and within budget .
Technical & Functional Skills Deep understanding of restaurant MEP requirements (commercial kitchen ventilation, grease interceptors, heavy commercial power loads, refrigeration drain lines).
Proficiency in reading architectural, structural, and MEP blueprints.
Working knowledge of scheduling software (Smartsheet, MS Project, Procore, or BuilderTrend) and budget tracking (Excel/ERP).
Familiarity with local permitting, health department submittals, and GC contract administration (AIA forms or equivalent).
Soft Skills & Competencies Obsessive organizational rigor: Capable of juggling 3–6 overlapping store builds at various lifecycle stages without dropping balls.
Crisis-solver/Decisive leader: Calm under pressure when structural delays, municipal pushback, or equipment shipment failures threaten critical paths.
Cross-functional diplomat: Able to translate contractor-speak for marketers and operational-urgency for strict building inspectors.
High mobility: Willing/able to travel to project sites regularly (approx. [20%–50%] travel/site supervision depending on regional footprint).