Construction Manager, Store Development

Welcome to the Table. At Sur La Table, community, culinary joy, and celebration are at the heart of who we are. From monthly spotlights to the Golden Whisk awards and cooking class perks, our culture blends recognition with hands‑on experiences. New team members are welcomed with care and inspired by wellness events, inclusive stories, and a personal touch that makes you feel right at home.

Reports to: Senior Manager of Construction

Location: Remote US (preferred locations: Florida; Atlanta, GA; Pittsburgh, PA; Washington, DC)

Sur La Table is expanding its East Coast store portfolio with multiple new builds slated over the next two years, and this role exists to serve as the sole on‑the‑ground construction leader for the region. As Construction Manager, New Store Development
, you will independently manage the full lifecycle of new store builds, remodels, and tenant improvements — from pre‑construction through closeout — with full budget accountability on projects ranging from $50K to $2.5M+.

Success in the first year means delivering your first new store build on time and on budget, establishing reliable GC and subcontractor relationships across East Coast markets, and building the forecasting and reporting cadence that keeps leadership informed without surprises. Given that our stores include commercial‑grade teaching kitchens, experience with restaurant or grocery construction is critical.

This is a lean team. You will own a lot, move fast, and make decisions with full end‑to‑end responsibility.

• Independently manage the full lifecycle of construction projects ($50K–$2.5M+), including new store builds, tenant improvements, and remodels — from pre‑construction through punch list and closeout
• Own project budgets, forecasts, and cost tracking end‑to‑end — building initial budgets, maintaining cost‑to‑complete forecasts, and proactively flagging variances to leadership before they become overruns
• Solicit, review, and award bids; negotiate contracts with general contractors, subcontractors, and vendors
• Serve as the primary owner's representative on‑site and in all project‑related communications
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders including Real Estate, Store Operations, Visual Merchandising, IT, and Finance
• Oversee commercial kitchen buildouts including hood systems, ventilation, gas, plumbing, and equipment connections in compliance with health code requirements
• Manage project permitting, inspections, and certificate of occupancy processes in coordination with architects and local authorities
• Deliver detailed, recurring budget and forecast reporting to leadership, including variance analysis and corrective action plans
• Maintain detailed project documentation: RFIs, submittals, change orders, lien waivers, and closeout packages
• Prepare landlord closeout packages and submit for TIA reimbursement
• Proactively identify and resolve risks before they impact timeline or cost

• 5–7+ years of construction project management or project engineering experience in commercial retail, restaurant, or grocery environments
• Must be based in the Midwest or East Coast
• Demonstrated independent ownership of new store builds from $50K to $2.5M+ — not just remodels or TI work — with full budget accountability
• Track record of increased project responsibility and effective management of project teams
• Strong background in construction budgeting and financial forecasting — building project budgets from scope/GC bids, tracking actuals vs. forecast, and managing cost‑to‑complete projections
• Direct experience with commercial kitchen construction: hood systems, grease interceptors, gas lines, and health department coordination
• Proficiency reading and interpreting construction drawings,…