Senior Design Manager, Restaurant Architecture; US & Canada

We have an exciting opportunity available for a Senior Design Manager supporting US & Canada headquartered out of our corporate office in Bloomington, MN. This role provides design, food service equipment, and building systems direction to expedite plan completion and project commencement within the established time frames for each project. Responsible for managing accurate documentation and timely implementation of prototypical design and operational standards for both new store development and reinvestment projects.

Review project submissions to align with prototypical design criteria. Manage and oversee new store and reinvestment project tracking progress and performance against established timeline and unit opening goals.

• Provide design, building systems, and food service equipment guidance to franchisees, architects, engineers, and general contractors utilizing Auto Cad/Revit software and in accordance with current prototype documentation. Requires strong restaurant background, in-depth knowledge of various building construction types, current food and treat equipment specifications, and understanding of electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems in preferably the restaurant industry. Generate innovative, cost‑effective solutions to current building design issues and implement those in future projects.
• Manage reinvestment and new store development documentation standards reflecting current prototype design and operational criteria. The design support documentation, and ensuing feasibility drawings, are to be created in accordance with prevailing building codes and ADA accessibility standards and are expected to be precise in their representation of a proposed location to provide a franchisee with a reasonable assessment of project viability and cost.
• Review project submissions from outside architects and designers promptly and accurately for alignment with either completed project feasibility drawings or current established design criteria guidelines and operational layout standards. Reviews are to be completed utilizing Bluebeam software with subsequent entry to the Synuma tracking software. Approved drawings are to be promptly distributed to necessary parties.
• Manage new store and reinvestment project tracking performance daily to achieve assigned timeline and opening unit goals utilizing the Synuma tracking software. Manage and/or monitor critical milestone tasks during the design phase and report status to franchisees, corporate staff and others to facilitate the restaurant development process. Based on prototype issues/discrepancies encountered by architects, builders, vendors, and internal departments, provide technical and design feedback to the Director of Design/Architecture to advance the accuracy of our prototype drawings.
• Perform liaison tasks with corporate staff in Operations, USCI Supply Chain, Marketing, and R&D as well as with outside vendors (signage, equipment, and graphics) to assure consistent facility design standards are implemented at each new store location.

The US national base salary range for this position is $115,037 - $143,796. This position is also eligible for a bonus. The base salary range displayed reflects the targeted hiring range for positions across all US locations. Individual pay is determined by job‑related skills, work location and relevant education or experience.

• M.A. or M.S. Degree in Architecture, Engineering Technology or related field.
• Architect or designer with a minimum of 7-10 years project management and design experience and a multiple restaurant project background (QSR preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex cross‑functional design projects independently and successfully.
• Directly related food service design and documentation experience including custom design and plan preparation, knowledge in the International Building Code (IBC) and compliance, and collaboration experience with architects, engineering disciplines, general contractors, and franchisees on construction plan interpretation.

• Strong ability to multi‑task and prioritize multiple projects and requests…