The Role
The Construction Project Manager is responsible for the full lifecycle management of construction projects that brings our new locations to life. In a fast-growing restaurant group, this role is both strategic and hands-on, ensuring new store construction, remodels, and facility projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in compliance with all regulations and safety standards. The Construction PM serves as the central hub of communication between internal stakeholders, general contractors, architects, vendors, and local authorities. This person thrives in a fast-paced environment, brings a hospitality-first mindset to every project, and takes pride in opening great restaurants.
As A Construction Project Manager, You Will…
Project Planning & Execution
- Own the end-to-end project lifecycle for new restaurant builds, remodels, and rollout projects from pre-construction through final closeout.
- Develop and maintain detailed project schedules, milestone timelines, and critical path analyses to ensure on-time delivery.
- Coordinate all construction phases including permitting, site preparation, build-out, FF&E installation, health inspections, and Certificate of Occupancy.
- Manage multiple concurrent projects across different markets, balancing priorities and resources effectively.
- Anticipate and proactively mitigate project risks, delays, and scope changes before they impact timeline or budget.
- Support the VP of Development & Construction in strategic planning for pipeline projects and multi-year growth initiatives.
Communication & Stakeholder Management
- Serve as the primary point of contact and liaison between the internal corporate team, general contractors, architects, engineers, vendors, landlords, and local municipalities.
- Facilitate weekly project status meetings and provide clear, concise updates to all key stakeholders.
- Collaborate closely with the Design team to ensure design intent is accurately executed in the field.
- Partner with the Facilities Management to coordinate post-construction handoffs and permit requirements.
- Maintain transparent, proactive communication with Operational leadership to align construction timelines with staffing and opening readiness plans.
- Prepare and distribute project status reports, executive summaries, and opening readiness checklists.
New Store Openings & Growth Support
- Manage the construction component of all new store opening (NSO) processes, ensuring coordination with pre-opening operations and training schedules.
- Maintain a master opening tracker that integrates construction milestones with operational readiness checkpoints.
- Coordinate with the Operations team on utility activations, equipment commissioning, and restaurant walk-throughs prior to opening.
- Support accelerated growth by developing and refining repeatable, scalable construction processes and playbooks for new markets.
- Identify and onboard qualified regional GC and subcontractor partners as the brand expands territories.
- Participate in site selection due diligence, providing construction feasibility input and preliminary budget estimates for prospective locations.
Financial Tracking & Budget Management
- Own project-level financial management including budget creation, cost tracking, variance reporting, and final cost reconciliation.
- Review and approve contractor pay applications, vendor invoices, and change orders; coordinate with the Finance Department on deposit releases and payment processing.
- Identify and flag budget overruns early; develop recovery plans to bring projects back within approved spend.
- Assist in developing pro forma construction budgets and cost benchmarks for pipeline projects.
- Ensure all financial documentation is organized, current, and audit-ready at all times.
Procurement & FF&E Management
- Manage the procurement process for all furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E), including vendor sourcing, purchase order issuance, delivery coordination, and installation scheduling.
- Maintain an up-to-date FF&E tracker for every active project, ensuring no items fall through the cracks during openings.
- Evaluate vendors and negotiate contracts to achieve the best value while meeting quality and lead-time requirements.
- Coordinate with the culinary and operations teams to ensure equipment specifications meet operational needs and brand standards.
- Manage national vendor relationships for key equipment categories (ovens, refrigeration, POS, AV/digital menus, signage) as the portfolio grows.
Documentation, Compliance & Record Keeping
- Maintain a complete and organized project documentation library including contracts, permits, drawings, RFIs, submittals, change orders, warranties, and closeout documents.
- Ensure all projects are built in full compliance with local building codes, health department regulations, ADA requirements, and fire/life safety standards.
- Manage the permit application and approval process with local authorities, coordinating with architects, engineers, and the Licensing Manager as needed.
- Administer construction contracts, including reviewing scope of work, managing RFI and submittal processes, and enforcing contract terms.
- Track all warranty information and facilitate timely warranty claims and repairs post-opening.
Issue Resolution & Punch List Management
- Proactively identify, document, and resolve construction-related problems, discrepancies, and quality deficiencies.
- Develop comprehensive punch lists at project completion and manage the closeout process through 100% resolution.
- Track and report punch list status to all stakeholders until all items are resolved to brand standards.
- Coordinate post-opening warranty work and contractor follow-through on outstanding punch list items.
Systems & Technology
- Work within Procore, Ecotrak, AutoCAD, Adobe, and Microsoft Office platforms to manage projects, documents, and reporting.
- Maintain organized digital project files and leverage project management technology to improve efficiency and communication.
- Support the evaluation and implementation of new construction management tools as the portfolio grows.
Role Competencies
Attention to Detail
- Taking responsibility for a thorough and detailed method of working across all project phases.
- Reviewing contracts, drawings, budgets, and schedules with precision to catch issues before they become problems.
Organizational Excellence
- Exceptional ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously without losing track of critical details.
- Developing and maintaining systems, processes, and tools that drive consistency and scalability.
Communication
- Clear, proactive, and professional communication with contractors, vendors, internal teams, and executive leadership.
- Ability to translate complex construction information into concise, actionable updates for non-technical stakeholders.
Financial Awareness
- Actively monitoring project finances and identifying opportunities to optimize costs without compromising quality or timeline.
- Strong understanding of construction budgeting, change order management, and financial reporting.
Integrity & Accountability
- High integrity and professionalism in all vendor and stakeholder relationships.
- Owning outcomes, both wins and setbacks, and taking action to correct course proactively.
Job Requirements
Technical
- Proficiency in Procore (required) for project management, document control, and financial tracking.
- Proficiency in AutoCAD, SketchUp, or equivalent for reading and redlining construction drawings.
- Strong skills in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams) and Adobe Acrobat.
- Experience with facilities/asset management platforms a plus.
- Familiarity with restaurant equipment, commercial kitchen layouts, and health department requirements preferred.
Language
- English (required)
- Basic Spanish (preferred but not required)
Experience
- 3–6 years of construction project management experience, with at least 2 years in a restaurant, retail, or hospitality build-out environment strongly preferred.
- Experience working within or alongside a general contractor, design-build firm, or corporate real estate/development team.
- Demonstrated track record managing multiple concurrent projects from pre-construction through grand opening.
- Experience managing budgets of $500K–3M+.
- Familiarity with tenant improvement (TI) projects and landlord coordination.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, or related field preferred; or equivalent professional experience.
Work Environment
- This is a hybrid role based at our corporate office with regular travel to project sites with up to 40–50% travel expected on a weekly basis.
- Must be available and responsive during critical project milestones, including pre-opening periods.
- Must be able to work on your feet and navigate active construction sites safely.
- Valid driver’s license and transportation required.
Pay: $110,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
