Director of Construction Development

Great American Restaurants is seeking an experienced, hands-on Director of Construction to join our growing construction team. This on-site role is based out of our support center office in Fairfax, Virginia, with frequent on-site work expected at all new and existing locations. Established in 1974, Great American Restaurants operates thirteen high-volume, upper casual restaurants, an upscale dining location, three artisan bakeries, and a fast-casual BBQ joint in Northern Virginia and Maryland, with several new locations in progress and more in the works.

We operate a lean construction team so this role requires hands-on involvement, personal accountability, and a willingness to solve problems directly. This position is ideal for an experienced hands-on construction leader (Senior Construction Manager/Director, Director of Construction & Facilities) who understands restaurant construction from the ground up and is comfortable being close to the work - reviewing plans, walking job sites, solving problems in real time, and ensuring projects are delivered to a high standard.

Key Responsibilities

• Demonstrate hands-on leadership of ground-up restaurant builds and major remodels from planning through opening.
• Collaborate with architects, engineers, kitchen designers, general contractors, vendors, and internal stakeholders to deliver projects on time and within budget.
• Apply strong technical expertise in construction processes and building design, working with architects, engineers, and trades to build complex, high-quality restaurant environments.
• Review and validate architectural and MEP plans. Identify and address issues prior to mobilization.
• Implement permitting strategy with authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs).
• Partner with internal construction and operations teams to execute facility improvement projects efficiently and effectively.

Minimum Requirements

• 8-12 years of progressive, hands-on construction leadership experience, with significant restaurant or hospitality project exposure.
• Strong background in restaurant, retail, or hospitality construction.
• Deep working knowledge of MEP systems, commercial kitchens, life safety, and health codes.
• Proven success operating in a lean organization with limited internal support.
• Comfortable making decisions and holding others accountable.
• Clear, confident communicator with trades, operators, and executive leadership.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary: $200,000 - $250,000
• 3 weeks Paid Time Off (PTO) to start plus 6 additional holidays
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance
• 401(k) with generous employer match
• Monthly dining card
• Gym and educational reimbursement